Each year, our readers nominate community members for an award we call Citizen Of The Year. Reporters write stories about the top five nominees. My nominee was Pat Currie, who was nominated for running the Celebrity Harness Race, a charity event that puts Mecosta County “celebrities” in sulkies to raise money for the organization of their choice. Pat dedicates a lot of time to training these people and donates the use of his horses and equipment.

Yesterday, for our interview, I went to his farm (he lives around the corner from me) and hung around while he worked his horses and had a vet appointment. They’re money-making athletes, so they have to trot a few miles a day either pulling a sulky or behind Pat’s Jeep, and Pat doesn’t miss a day.

If you know me, you know I rode horses growing up, but this is a segment of the sport in which I was never involved. Our neighbors across the street and behind us were harness racers though, so I’m at least a little familiar with it, but this was a cool way to learn more about it and “be at work” at the same time. Pat is hilarious - he also owns a local gas station, where he hosts the biggest coffee-and-gossip fest every morning - and made my morning much better than it would have been at my desk.

Now I have an open invitation for a harness racing lesson (which I think I’ll cash in in the spring) and to the gossip club (even though they meet at 7 a.m.)

Click here for my story.