Posted: September 21, 2017
Senior Caitlin Walsh donates painting of influential stallions; alumnus Joe Tylka and wife Julianne purchase it and gift it back to the Animal Science Department.
Painting of Penn State stallions on display in Penn State's Department of Animal Science. From left: Brian Egan, Joe Tylka, Artist Caitlin Walsh, Julianne Tylka, Burt Staniar and Terry Etherton.
For Penn State senior Caitlin Walsh painting three influential Penn State stallions was a natural melding of her love of horses and her love of painting. It was also a way to give back to a program which has been integral to her undergraduate years in the Department of Animal Science.
Ms. Walsh, of Womelsdorf PA, donated the painting to the Equine Science Showcase and Quarter Horse Sale in April with the proceeds of the sale designated to the Ward Studebaker Horse Farm Endowment.
For Penn State alumnus Joe Tylka and his wife Julianne, of Stormstown PA, purchasing the painting, having it framed and gifting it back to the Department was a way of showing their support for the equine program through the Studebaker Endowment. They have been long time supporters of the program and have donated several breedings at previous sales, one of which produced the youngest stallion at the Penn State Horse Farm, PSU He Rox The Nite.
The painting is of PSU Dynamic Krymsun, Lucky Zip, and Skip Sioux. The Tylkas presented the framed painting to Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department, last week and it now hangs in 311 Henning Building, the "Traditions Room" for the Department.
Etherton said, "We are elated at this very generous gift from Julianne and Joe and for the talent of Caitlin in creating the painting and donating it to our sale last spring. The proceeds are a significant addition to the Studebaker Endowment, and will enhance our ability to support our outstanding equine program and the opportunities it provides our students."
Brian Egan, Horse Farm Coordinator and Equine Science Instructor, added, "We are deeply grateful to the Tylkas for their continued support of our equine program. Caitlin's talent in portraying these three influential stallions is exceptional. It is a combined effort which will have a lasting impact on our program."
Thrilled with the full circle of her painting through the sale and the gifting to the Department, Walsh said, "I chose these three particular stallions, with help from Brian, because they have had the biggest impact on the farm's breeding program. They really resonate with alumni, students and owners of PSU-bred horses and it has been a lot of fun to hear people reminisce about their experiences with these stallions."
She added, "I wanted to help raise money for the Ward Studebaker Horse Farm Endowment and painting was a way I could do that." With an artist as a mother, she said she has always been encouraged to paint, and especially likes to use acrylic paint or pastel pencil to create pieces that focus on animals because "that's what I know and love."
Walsh adds her thank you to the Tylkas, saying, "The support we received from everyone the day of the sale was overwhelming. I can't thank the Tylkas enough for their extreme generosity and I am so incredibly grateful to have been a part of their amazing gift to the Animal Science Department. The frame they selected compliments the painting perfectly and I couldn't have chosen a better spot on campus for it to hang."
An animal science major with an equine science minor, Walsh says, "The PSU Animal Science Department has been my home away from home and I'm glad I get to leave a little something behind before I graduate this fall."
When she graduates, she hopes to establish a career in reproduction with either horses or cattle. "I have always loved all animals but I have a special interest in large animals like horses and cattle. Over the years I've been fortunate enough to have had opportunities working with both species through farm jobs, riding lessons, and showing so I knew that was the direction I wanted to go once I was at Penn State."
The Ward Studebaker Horse Farm Endowment was established in 2000 by Lynn Holleran and Charles Bowman to honor retired horse farm manager Ward Studebaker. Annual earnings from the principal of this fund are used to support the operations of the Penn State horse farm. The Penn State horse farm allows the faculty and staff of the Department of Animal Science to provide Penn State students and the equine industry a high quality program through teaching, research and extension.
