MICHAEL ACKER Stacy Butewicz of South River will attend events statewide to promote youth involvement in the equine industry. SOUTH RIVER — Stacy Butewicz is going to be a busy young lady this year.
On Jan. 25, the borough teenager was crowned “New Jersey Equestrienne of the Year” at the New Jersey-bred Equine Breeders Awards dinner in Freehold Township. Representing the Garden State Horse and Carriage Society, she won the title over seven other contestants in tough competition.
Among her duties will be attending events during her reign to help promote youth involvement in the equine industry. The New Jersey Equine Advisory Board arranges these appearances, which generally include the Jersey Fresh event at the Horse Park of New Jersey, Upper Freehold, in May; the Festival of the Horse at the Horse Park in August; and the New Jersey Agricultural Convention, among others. The New Jersey Equestrian is selected on the basis of poise, personality, ability to communicate, and knowledge of horses, according to the state Department of Agriculture.
Butewicz, who turns 18 this week, is a senior at Cardinal McCarrick High School in South Amboy. This fall, she plans to attend Rutgers University’s School of Environmental& Biological Sciences, majoring in animal sciences and minoring in equine science. After that, she hopes to attend law school and specialize in equine-related issues.
Along with her older sister Amy, Butewicz has two thoroughbreds. Hers, a 22-year-old bay mare, is named Cojaks Queen. The sisters are also involved in rescuing and re-homing former racehorses that could be in danger of being sent to slaughter. This year, Butewicz hopes to compete in horse shows in the hunter/jumper arena. She was introduced to carriage driving by Garden State Horse and Carriage Society members Rich and Debby Osborn of Upper Freehold, and that is a sport she also intends to pursue.
New Jersey Equestrian contestants are required to write an essay. Butewicz’s topic was “Going Green in the Equine Industry.”
“While the New Jersey equine industry contributes $1.1 billion a year to the economy, it may not be the only factor we contribute,” Butewicz wrote. “If horsemen are not careful, pollution and other unfriendly environmental detriments may be contributed. As partners in the equine community, we as equestrians can actually help the environment through small, yet effective changes in lifestyles.”
Butewicz cites composting as one way of going green, stating that farmers can pick up manure and use it for crops. “Many farmers will actually come pick up manure for free because it works as a great fertilizer,” she wrote.
On a larger scale, Butewicz cites research underway through which members of the equine industry can become informed about “going green.” At the 2008 Rutgers Equine Update, one presentation, “Transforming Waste to Wealth: Horse Manure to Bioenergy,” revealed the idea of using manure for energy. Typically, waste from horses goes through the cycle from the stall to composting, to later being used for land fertilizer. However, as research is being executed, the thought that manure can be used for its property of methane gas in order to produce biogas, and therefore energy, is being investigated, according to her essay.
Research has proven that energy can be obtained from horse manure. In fact, the manure from 10 to 15 horses per year could be used to heat a home throughout the winter. She states that the estimated value for methane among the 42,000-plus horses in New Jersey would amount to $3-7 million annually.
“Equestrians can do their part by attending such updates, which are able to inform us about environmental problems and the research being done to improve the situation,” according to Butewicz.