Manuel Johnson, Virginia Horsey Set, Girl Scouts: D.C.
Manuel Johnson, co-chairman of Johnson Smick International Inc. and former Federal Reserve System vice chairman, says at heart he’s “pretty much a country boy.”
The Alabama native turned country squire in Virginia, where he keeps seven horses on his farm, is the president of the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, which ended yesterday. Aaron Vale, riding Admiral Clover, won top prize in the $75,000 Upperville Jumper Classic.
Among those taking in the bucolic scene amid the Blue Ridge Mountains were actor Robert Duvall, Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Paul Dietrich, chief executive officer of Foxhall Capital Management Inc.
Johnson said that his fellow economist Lyle Gramley, a former Federal Reserve governor, was an early mentor in his growth as an equestrian. But he himself is “too busy organizing,” Johnson said, to participate in the show’s jumping competition.
The day featured a carriage-driving competition and Jack Russell terrier races in 90-degree heat. Large hats and parasols shielded spectators. The scent of sunscreen wafted through the air.
Established in 1853, the show is the oldest in the U.S. The event has an annual budget of more than $1 million, Johnson said, most of which is spent on improvements to the fields and repairs of the 100-year-old oak trees that surround the area.
White Tent
At the Jumper Classic Luncheon, held at the top of the hill under a white tent, Tim Brookshire, the president of Pinnacle Properties Inc., and Tom McMillen, the former Maryland congressman and basketball star, partook of the pasta buffet and strawberry shortcake.
Dietrich joked about the seriousness of equestrian sports in Virginia country life: “Everyone fox-hunts or plays polo. If you talk about the Washington Redskins at dinner parties, people think you’re nuts.”
Girl Scouts
Selling Girl Scout cookies is the “largest financial literacy program,” Connie Lindsey, an executive vice president at Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS) and the national president of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
Lindsey, Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chavez, and actress Mandy Moore joined 200,000 girls for the Girl Scouts Rock the Mall Saturday in front of the Washington Monument.
It was a special celebration marking the organization’s 100th anniversary.
“It’s not just a girl issue, it’s a leadership issue,” said Chavez about the “skill set” and salesmanship girls learn through scouting.
She cited Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as prime examples of women using their Girl Scout teachings to achieve leadership positions.
Moore said she learned “what friendship means” during her Girl Scout years, as well as the joys of s’mores.
She came at the invitation of corporate sponsor Dove as part of its Dove Movement for Self-Esteem campaign.
Moore introduced women “who should be famous” as role models to the girls, such as mathematician Melanie Matchett Wood and molecular biologist Lydia Villa-Komaroff.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Muse highlights include: Jim Pressley on books and John Mariani on wine.
To contact the writer on this story: Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Upperville Horse and Colt Show president Manuel Johnson.
Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Upperville Horse and Colt Show president Manuel Johnson. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Barbara Sharp, Tim Brookshire, president of Pinnacle Properties, Inc., and his wife, Michelle Brookshire.
Barbara Sharp, Tim Brookshire, president of Pinnacle Properties, Inc., and his wife, Michelle Brookshire. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Former congressman Tom McMillen, and Paul Dietrich, the CEO and chairman of Foxhall Capital Management, Inc.
Former congressman Tom McMillen, and Paul Dietrich, the CEO and chairman of Foxhall Capital Management, Inc. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Carriage driving competition.
Carriage driving competition. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Michelle and Anne Beckley, and their dogs, who participated in the Jack Russell Terrier race.
Michelle and Anne Beckley, and their dogs, who participated in the Jack Russell Terrier race. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Victoria Colvin rides Monsieur Du Reverdy.
Victoria Colvin rides Monsieur Du Reverdy. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Upperville Colt and Horse Show
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Spectators shield themselves from blazing sun.
Spectators shield themselves from blazing sun. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Actress Mandy Moore and Girl Scouts Rock the Mall participants.
Actress Mandy Moore and Girl Scouts Rock the Mall participants. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Giselle Valera, vice president and managing director of global business for the US Postal Service.
Giselle Valera, vice president and managing director of global business for the US Postal Service. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scouts of the USA national president Connie Lindsey, and Girl Scouts of the USA chief executive officer Anna Maria Chavez.
Girl Scouts of the USA national president Connie Lindsey, and Girl Scouts of the USA chief executive officer Anna Maria Chavez. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scout troop 81747 from Maryland.
Girl Scout troop 81747 from Maryland. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scene near the Washington Monument.
Scene near the Washington Monument. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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