Gifts of Love: Exhibitors Anonymously Sponsor FWSSR Buckles in Memory of Jerry Vargo
“Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.” – David Wilkerson.
By Delores Kuhlwein
The loss of a parent, or any loved one, hits hard, and as many beloved industry horsemen grow older, it’s rare if we haven’t experienced that particular type of devastating sorrow.
But the heart of the horse industry we know and love beats beautifully beneath it, though in today’s harried and hectic (and often negative) world we frequently miss noticing that heart. We have been reminded of that love this week, however. And grounded by it.
Beloved exhibitor and clothing designer Tommy Vargo announced in January that his father and dedicated horseman, Jerry Vargo, had passed. It’s normal and expected to say we are sorry, and thinking of our friends, and Tommy’s friends did so — in droves.
But like those horsemen we know and love, Tommy’s horse friends went one step further at the recent 2026 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, where Tommy and the Show Off Designs team were meeting with customers for appointments.
“Several people donated buckles in memory of my dad, Jerry Vargo, but they didn’t want their names announced. I told them to give the credit to the Equine Chronicle. All the buckles were donated for the show high points,” says Tommy.
“My mom, Terri, and I very honored as we have both been in the industry for so many years, and of course, my dad longer than us. Now that my mom is showing the halter horses it means even more that people have been so supportive.”
Thank you to Tommy Vargo for the photos, and for his humble recognition of our magazine. But most of all, thank you to the exhibitors, friends, and family who continue to remind us what truly keeps our industry strong, as author Robert Ingersoll wrote: “We rise by lifting others.”
Jerry, Tommy, and Terri Vargo.
We’ve obtained a partial list of the following high point and reserve winners and will update as more are received — Congratulations!
View score sheets by individual class from FWSSR here:
Horse Show Working Orders, Results & Score Sheets
Amateur Walk Trot
High Point: RK Fearless N Lazy/Laurie Simpter
Reserve: Certainly Special/Sherry Taylor
Novice Amateur
High Point: Sacrd Assets Paindme/Brianna Lear
Reserve: MothersOriginalSplash/Gay Davison
Masters Amateur
High Point: MothersOriginalSplash/Gay Davison
Reserve: All Time Sensation/Tamara Troxlar
Amateur All Age
High Point: Payton Loxton
Ranch–Youth
High Point: HH Talegater/Ava Cate Pettigrew
Reserve: Gunner Rhyme/Emily Day
Ranch–Open
High Point: Pale In Comparison/S Lynn Walker
Ranch–Amateur
High Point: One More Whizkey/Karen Dean
Reserve: Pale In Comparison/S Lynn Walker
