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72 – March/April, 2026
Legendary leather and silver cleaner Janice Eiland, of the All American Quarter Horse Congress House of Glass, has been a Congress fixture for 57 years. Known for ensuring that exhibitors of all ages and levels step into the arena with perfectly polished tack and boots, Janice is much more than just a vendor–she’s an expert in her field who believes in creating lasting relationships with customers who become more like family.
Humble Beginnings
The Columbus, Ohio, native’s journey to almost six decades as a Congress vendor started when she saw her brothers bringing home money from working at livestock auctions held at the fairgrounds.
“My brothers used to come down here and make money selling popcorn during livestock auctions,” she recalls. “One time they came home with a bunch of money from an auction, and I told ‘em that I wanted some of that money–that I wanted to work.”
Janice’s younger brother, Tyrone, took her to Paul and Amy’s Hobby Shop–and bought her a Kiwi shoeshine box. The group made their way to the fairgrounds, rounded up three metal chairs from the coliseum, and set up in the Gilligan barn to shine shoes. The rest is history.
When Janice’s first Congress rolled around, she was dazzled. “Everything was contained to the Bricker building, which is Congress Hall,” she says. “They had Stallion Alley, vending machines, a few jewelry stores, and maybe about two clothing stores. It was beautiful.”
Community Built on Connection
Click here to read the complete article
72 – March/April, 2026