Hershberger, Steck to receive 2025 OHHA Outstanding Groom award

Grove City, Ohio – Katie Hershberger and Parker Steck have earned the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s Outstanding Groom Award for 2025.

Both individuals received multiple nominations for the award.

Hershberger has worked for trainer Rosy Weaver for three years. She grooms eight horses in Weaver’s stable in Beach City, Ohio, and jogs them when needed.

“Katie is an absolutely amazing girl. I consider myself extremely lucky to have her working in my stable,” Weaver said. “She is always ready to do anything I ask her to help with, without hesitation, and she is great with the horses. She truly loves her job and is deserving of this award.”

Another of Hershberger’s nominators, Dave Jury, highlighted her dedication and work ethic.

“Katie is so involved in her grooming job that she has little time for outside activities. She is always willing to jump in and help a neighbor or friend when needed,” Jury said. “She gives up a significant portion of her personal life to ensure her horses receive 24/7 care, often working long, demanding hours, including weekends and holidays.”

Steck grooms for her parents, Ron and Kila, at their training facility in Delaware, Ohio, doing so full time for the past three years after graduating from Ashland University with a degree in nursing. Her job responsibilities include transporting horses to and from the races and paddocking them. Her commitment to the job has not gone unnoticed.

“I have trained with the Steck stable for 25-plus years and have known Parker since she was born. I have experienced a multitude of grooms over the years taking care of my horses, and there has simply been none that are in the same league as Parker,” said Gary Condit, who was one of Steck’s nominators. “It is noteworthy that after passing the nursing exams, she has chosen to take care of horses over an alternative career in nursing. That is a testament to her passion for her work as a groom.”

Kila Steck also highlighted her daughter’s passion for horses.

“Parker works in the barn every day and goes to the races pretty much every day as well. If she does not go to the races, she organizes who is going in her place,” she said. “She sometimes takes a lot of heat from people because she chose to ‘just do horses’ instead of becoming a nurse, but I could not be prouder of her decision because of how lucky she is to be able to do what she loves every day.”

Hershberger and Steck will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 10 at the Renaissance Columbus-Westerville in Westerville, Ohio.

From Wes Mayberry for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association