2026 Ava Boyce-Bender Memorial Grant Awarded

Lexington, Kentucky: The Morgan Horse Foundation, Inc. (MHF) is proud to announce that Logan Hunter of American Fork, Utah, is the recipient of the 2026 Ava Boyce-Bender Memorial Grant. Logan was selected by the Review Committee from a pool of seven outstanding candidates. The MHF thanks all of our candidates for their interest in the grant and commends them on their accomplishments and goals. 

Logan’s history with the Morgan horse began nearly six decades before he was born. In the mid-1940’s, his great-grandfather, Duane Shepherd, called up a family friend and staked his claim on a foal that was yet to be conceived. The next spring, Mary-Mels Fiddler made his debut into the world and started this family’s Morgan adventure. 

Fast forward to today, four generations later, Logan and his family are breeding and training gaited Morgans at their farm, Mountain Valley Morgans. Logan feels privileged to train horses and shares his joy through teaching others the basics and fundamentals of horsemanship. He manages the breeding and foaling operations of their farm, guided by the expertise gained at his job as an Equine Reproduction Technician. Building from these experiences, Logan is pursuing his dream to become an equine veterinarian. He is working towards his bachelor’s degree in Equine Science and Management at Utah State University in preparation for Veterinary School. 

Logan is proud to continue his family’s horsemanship legacy which he feels is “a version of richness, the joy that comes from the bond between humans and horses.” We can all agree that the bond we have with our Morgans is a richness to be treasured. 

Congratulations, Logan! And thank you for pursuing the demanding path to become an equine veterinarian. We wish you the best of luck with your education, career, and future Morgan endeavors! 

About the grant: This grant is offered in memory of Ava Boyce-Bender, a vibrant young woman who loved riding and driving Morgan horses, who was taken from us far too soon.  It is specifically for young adults (under age 40) who desire to further their equine education, skills, or proficiency and/or enhance their equine-related experiences and education that will further their business endeavors/careers. Learn more by clicking HERE.

To learn about other grants and scholarships offered by the MHF, click HERE.