Who knew the secret to roping a horse lover was toting a puppy?

But sure enough, 20 years ago Larry Zink brought a Chesapeake puppy to a trail ride at Tuck A Way Farm Camp in North Freedom. A young lady by the name of Kellie, more interested in the puppy than its owner, introduced herself. Puppy love turned into marriage.

"It worked out great," Larry said.

Today he finds himself married to the top dog of Wisconsin horse lovers: Kellie Zink has been named 2009 Wisconsin Horse Person of the Year by the Wisconsin State Horse Council. "I am the proudest person probably in the state of Wisconsin," Larry said. "I’m her biggest fan."

Kellie was nominated by the Sauk County 4-H Horse and Pony Project Advisory Board and its general membership for her 25 years of leadership.

"I was in very good company," said Kellie, one of 12 nominees. "It’s a very big honor to be able to win."

The award is given annually to a person who embodies the Horse Council’s goals of promoting horses through leadership, education, service and communication; and taking a proactive role in the future growth and development of the equine industry. Zink received her award at the 2009 Midwest Horse Fair held in Madison in April. The last Sauk County resident to take top honors in the state was Craig Sandmire of North Freedom, who was named Horseman of the Year in 2001. Kellie finished second that year.

Zink serves as secretary of the Sauk County Fair Board, and trains 4-H and FFA kids in horsemanship, stressing concepts such as safety and grooming. "It’s one thing for their mothers to tell them — it’s another thing when Kellie tells them," she said. "Usually when I get ‘em when they’re little, I keep them forever."

Her FFA horse judging teams from Baraboo, Reedsburg and Sauk Prairie have been state champs and have advanced to nationals. Kellie said youths pick up vital lessons while working with horses. These include the importance of cooperation, communication and commitment. "They learn a lot of life skills they don’t even realize they’re learning," she said.

She is a member of the Wisconsin 4-H Horse Association, and has presented workshops at the Wisconsin 4-H Horse Leaders Conference to help adults learn how to work with young people.

"There are literally hundreds of horse people who are better off for having known and learned from Kellie Zink, and undoubtedly there will be hundreds more in the upcoming years," the Sauk County advisory board noted in its nomination letter.

In addition to giving riding lessons and judging clinics, Kellie helps run the horse programs at the Sauk County Fair. She’s also the one who makes announcements over the loudspeaker from the fair office. "I’m the voice you hear over the PA system all the time," she said with a chuckle.

She grew up on the family farm in North Freedom where she and Larry have operated a horse boarding and training facility, Long Drive Bucks & Quarters, since 1988. Kellie recalls riding a horse to the fair while still in grade school, and entered one in competition every year thereafter. "The fair is a pretty big tradition in our family," she said.

She takes a week off from her job as the lead computer analyst at Foremost Farms to help run the fair. "I’m on vacation from work but I probably work harder at the fair," she said.

Working with the youth programs is a year-round job, but her schedule loosens up a bit after the state 4-H competition in September. That gives her more time to ride.

Kellie said she loves horses for their personality. "They’re very affectionate animals," she said. "They’re very good therapy."

Now, if only she could get her hands on another puppy.