Teri Treftlin: Young Entrepreneur Award Winner, Geraldton.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: A Decade of Honouring Achievements

Geraldton's Teri Treftlin was fortunate enough to find her life's calling early on.

Propped up on a saddle as a toddler, she was bawling at being taken off a horse, rather than being intimidated by the powerful, yet docile animal.

There, the fascination with horses began. Though she's been bucked off and kicked by horses, and fought off cancerous tumours in her shoulder, Treftlin has always dusted herself off and followed her dream.

Her first ride came at age nine in the pony ring at the Calgary Stampede. Her steed was an ex-race horse. Sensing a small jockey-like body perched on the saddle, the horse immediately kicked it into gear, much to the dismay of her appalled grandmother.

"I just remember seeing my nana being very upset and yelling at the men running the pony ride to get in there and grab the horse. My grandfather just watched and applauded me for staying on.

"When they finally got the horse stopped and pulled me off the saddle, I was upset because I wanted to get back on and go again."

Treftlin was hardly spooked by the experience. "Are you kidding? That was the best ride of my life."

The farm manager of North Winds Farm, and a Geraldton high school teacher, has been called by one nominator "an inspiring example" of success, achieved only by combining hard work and dedication in following one's dreams.

Raised in Fort Frances and Atikokan, the Lakehead University grad took her first posting at Geraldton Composite High School in the fall of 1996. And there she remains.

Small town life means everyone pitches in many ways and spirited newcomers can make their own distinctive mark.

"People tend to be more accepting of someone who has more of an adventuresome side to them," says Treftlin. "I very much have been my own person growing up and being in a small town, I feel more tied to the community and the people I work with on a daily basis. "You do have more opportunity for that kind of lifestyle in a smaller community."

Located in the rugged hills and swamps of the Canadian Shield, Geraldton is better suited for skidders and diamond drill rigs, than horses.

But her passion for everything equine, both as a competitive rider and riding instructor, gave her the ambition to start her own business, a stable on a 20-acre property with husband Jason Napper, where she teaches recreational and competitive riding. Her horse rides are always a staple at local festivals and fundraisers.

"As soon as I bought my first two horses, the neighbourhood...