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About Our Staff |
Paulette
Bodnar
has been involved in horses her entire life as a third-generation
horse lover. As a youth, she competed successfully in showing and
jumping with her Morgan horses. Her family started Merriehill Farm,
Inc. in 1960, and they moved to Marengo in 1971, where she has
lived ever since.
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Some of her favorite horses were: Sue C,
Curtain Call (Merriehill Hooligan’s dam), and Merriehill Radiance (Merriehill
Isabeau’s dam). With the growth
of the farm, Paulette now prefers to manage the business and
breeding operation, as well as keep the rest of the family in line.
Her hobbies include antiquing, and anything to do with her two Boxer
dogs, Ethel and Hollie. |
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Stan Bodnar
has been working with horses his entire life as well. Growing up in his
native Canada, he showed Quarter Horses until his late teens, when he
moved to the United States and met Paulette. Stan has been training
Morgans for the last 30 years, with some of his favorites being
Merriehill Chicagoan, Merriehill Isabeau, Merriehill Home Town Hero,
Merriehill Hooligan, Futurity’s Miss Munitions and Futurity Chicago
WhiteSox.
His hobbies include antiquing and landscaping, but he is most
happy when he’s in the barn with a promising young horse.
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Whitney Bodnar grew up in
the horse business and has always wanted to train horses. He’s
been showing for most of his life, with some of his most memorable
horses being Medomak King Cobra, Montbelle Skywalker, and Merriehill Tiz
Me.
Current favorites include Merriehill Times Square, Merriehill
Destiny Bay and Cingate Lucky Star.
Whit’s hobbies are fishing and ATV riding, and when he’s not in the barn,
he’s working on a college business degree.
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Jessica Cavanaugh is
also a third-generation horse trainer, who grew up working with her
mother, Susan Martin, then for Sandy Sessink at Old Orchard farm.
Jessie has taken top prizes at both the Morgan Grand National and
the Saddlebred World Championships at the Kentucky State Fair.
Some of her favorite horses have been Cyderbay Sassafras, Plum Haven
Gunrunner, and most recently, the 2005 UPHA three-year Hunter
Pleasure Champion, Cingate Lucky Strike. Jessie heads up the
lesson program at Merriehill and enjoys bringing new teams along.
Her hobbies include reading, shopping, and playing with her Jack
Russell terrier, Kelsey.
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