Lexington, KY (October 9, 2019) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to announce that Ruby Tevis, of Lexington, KY, has been named 2019 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year. This prestigious award honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed, both nationally and locally, to USDF and dressage. As the winner, Ruby will be presented with a perpetual trophy, donated by the Akin family of Warwick, NY, in honor of Lendon Gray, which is on permanent display in the Roemer/USDF Hall of Fame. She will also receive a “keeper” trophy and be featured in the yearbook issue of USDF Connection.

Ruby is a member of the Kentucky Dressage Association (KDA) and, in 2018, she received the KDA “Merry Sunrise Award”, which is presented to the youth member who has most significantly contributed to the organization through volunteerism. In October 2018, she assumed the position of Junior/Young Rider Representative on the KDA Board of Directors, where she worked to form the recently launched KDA Youth Club. Since its launch, she has coordinated several educational club events, including a dinner with Lilo Fore and a discussion with the judges at a local ride-a-test program, where she asked them to share their perspective from C to the KDA Youth Club members. Ruby also serves as co-editor of the KDA newsletter Impulsion, in which she created the feature called “Youth Salute”, which recognizes the achievements of a KDA youth member and introduces them to the community. As a sophomore marketing major at Midway University, Ruby's studies have equipped her with social media skills that she has used to restore their KDA Instagram page, which has doubled in followers since she took responsibility for the account. She has also promoted KDA and the KDA Youth Club through USDF's new publication website YourDressage, sharing a how-to guide for starting a youth club with other GMOs.

USDF Youth Programs Committee Chair Roz Kinstler adds, "Ruby Tevis is a great example of what volunteering is all about.  Clearly she is passionate about dressage and has found a perfect way to both enjoy the sport and ensure a bright future in it.  It's very rewarding to those of us who have been involved in it for a long time, and still love it, to see a youth member have the same commitment. Because of her efforts, USDF is in good hands and guaranteed a great future."

For more information about the USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF office at [email protected].

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.