Meet the 2025 USPC Founders Award Winners

Compiled by USPC Staff

The USPC Founders Award is one of the highest honors in Pony Club—reserved for individuals whose dedication has shaped the organization at the local, regional, and national levels for 20 years or more. This isn’t simply long service; it’s decades of mentorship, leadership, and quiet behind-the-scenes impact that helps Pony Club thrive for generations to come. During the 2026 USPC Convention in Lincolnshire, Ill., three extraordinary volunteers were recognized with the 2025 Founders Award at the Saturday Night Banquet held at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. Their stories reflect the heart of Pony Club—and are well worth the read.

Dick Adams

When I received my degree in livestock production, little did I know where life would lead me. From managing a feed lot in Minnesota to moving to Florida and meeting my wife to moving to Grand Junction, Colo. There was interest in starting a Pony Club there, so the Grand Valley Pony Club became a reality.

Having grown up with 4 H, helping with the club fell right into place. Becoming my region’s Vice Regional Supervisor started my many-year involvement with USPC. Little did I know that organizing the Rocky Mountain Region’s mega rallies would lead to even greater involvement in such a great organization.

Getting a call from Tammy Pardis asking who I used for Secretary for Quiz started my involvement in national Pony Club activities. I became Quiz Secretary at USPC Championships (then called Nationals) for three years. Yes, back then everything was done by hand!

Flying to events meant taking the total information for 400 competitors in my carry-on luggage. I do not want to even think what would have happened if it went with my checked baggage and was lost! From there, I became the organizer for National Quiz and chair of the Quiz Committee.

I have met some of the best people during my time with USPC. If you look at my contacts, 95% are connected with Pony Club. Watching these young people change over the years has truly been remarkable. When I went to the USPC Conventions, yes, it was to learn and share, but more importantly, to see friends that I only got to see twice a year.

As things have changed over the years, one thing has remained consistent: I watched the participants grow, and I became aware of how this changed me. I am honored to be receiving this award with my thanks.

Sue Beth Bunn

Sue Beth Bunn joined the United States Pony Clubs in 1977 at 7-years-old and is an H-A alum of Midland Foxhounds Pony Club. Throughout her career, she has dedicated her time to various committees within USPC, including the former International Exchange Committee and the D-1 Through C-2 Standards Committee, and serving as a Chief Horse Management Judge and a National Examiner. She has volunteered her time as a clinician for regional standards and certification clinics, Horse Management training, “Teaching to Teach” events, and upper-level certification preps.

Notably, Sue Beth played a pivotal role in the development of Quiz as a USPC competition discipline in 2000 and has since actively contributed to its growth as a committee chair, member, and an organizer at USPC Championships. Additionally, Sue Beth has served as Vice President of Activities and as First Vice President for two years. Presently, she is serving as co-District Commissioner of the Midland Foxhounds Pony Club, of which she has been involved for the past 50 years. Sue Beth’s children, Stephen and Suzanna, were both members of the same Pony Club and both achieved their H-B. Sue Beth and her husband, Ken, currently own a farm in Midland, Ga., where she is the instructor, boards for others, and is pursuing her own riding goals with her Thoroughbred, Hoke. 

Sydney “Syd” Lee Wilson, MPH

Sydney is a C-3 alum from Penobscot Pony Club and has been a Pony Club volunteer from 1985 to 2023. In 1986, she was the District Commissioner for Brandywine Hounds Pony Club, where many members have achieved the C-3 and above. Several Brandywine members have progressed to become top competitors in the horse world.

In 1990, Syd became a Chief Horse Management Judge and often judged at USPC Championships and regional rallies for many years. In 1993, Syd was asked to join the Horse Management Committee and spent the next 10 years helping to develop Horse Management volunteers.

In 1995, she also became a National Examiner (NE) and served as an NE until her health in 2023 caused her to step away. Some highlights from her time as an NE include helping to develop— along with the National Examiner Committee—new testing strategies to ensure continuity of testing across the country. Many hours were spent with this group working on the program. As an NE, Syd conducted the first H-B testing in Alaska. This was a nice gesture showing the committee’s faith in Syd to do a new certification test. She spent numerous hours in airports attempting to arrive on time to conduct the tests. Syd was one of the few Examiners willing to travel for certifications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2004, Syd assisted the Eastern Pennsylvania Region with organizing and obtaining speakers for the 50^th Year of Pony Club Celebration at the USPC Convention in Philadelphia. She was also the organizer and coach for the 2010 International Pony Club Quiz Exchange in Canada. One of Syd’s final Pony Club commitments in 2023 was helping organize and obtain horses for the PCIA International Foxhunting Exchange, which had riders from Great Britain, Ireland, and the U.S. in Aiken, S.C. Finding suitable horses to borrow for the hunts was a challenge. The exchange ended with a formal banquet at the Wilcox Hotel.

“Sydney Wilson was always at the heart of the Eastern Pennsylvania Region, setting a positive example for others, leading the way with innovative thinking, and just getting done whatever was required,” shared former Regional Supervisor Ann Dome. “With her tremendous enthusiasm and abundance of energy, she made Pony Club come alive for the kids and fun to work on for the volunteers.”

Learn more about the USPC Founders award and view past winners and read more bios from award winners.