How about you? AQHYA is looking forward to giving out the Team Spirit Award at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

Teams from each state have the opportunity to complete three challenges for team awards. Participation in stall decorating and the parade of teams are required to win the Team Spirit Award. In addition, there will be other team challenges that will add to the overall score. Look for these at the stall office.

The parade of teams will be judged on meeting deadlines and punctuality, creativity and originality, script, incorporation of the theme “Taking Vintage off the Shelf,” and the overall performance. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, August 8.

Stalls for the stall decorating contest must be finished by 9 a.m. Sunday, August 7, and decorations must remain in place until 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 10. The stalls will be judged on cleanliness, use of the theme, originality and craftsmanship.

Remember, the Team Spirit Award is all about teamwork and group participation. Get your heads together and get creative!

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

As the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show gets under way, do you have an interesting story about meeting someone new there?

Post it on the AQHYA Facebook page, www.facebook.com/aqhayouth! We want to hear all about it.

Did you know that Two Bits met his best friend at the Ford Youth World in 1999? Two Bits’ best friend’s name is Tandy. They were competing against each other in the western riding class. Tandy took home the first-place trophy, and Two Bits knew he could get some pointers from him. So he went to congratulate him like a good sport, and they hit it off right away. From then on, they were inseparable.

They would go roll around in the mud and eat together in the barn. They still keep in touch on Facebook and visit each other throughout the year. Two Bits is looking forward to seeing his friend Tandy at the Ford Youth World this year.

You, too, can make a ton of new friends from all over the world at the Ford Youth World in Oklahoma City. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by! Two Bits encourages you to go out there and be social. You never know, your new best friend might be your college roommate one day!

Too hot at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show? Here are some ways to keep cool:

1. Drink plenty of water! Avoid drinking sodas and sugary drinks. They will cause you to dehydrate easier. Water and fruits with high water content will keep you hydrated properly.

2. Wear light-colored clothing. Darker colors absorb heat faster. Light-colored clothing will keep you cooler longer.

3. Go to White Water Bay. You will find discounted tickets to this water theme park at the AQHA booth in the trade show.

4. Have a water balloon or water gun fight! Bored between classes? Get out there with your friends and start a water fight. Keep cool and make new friends!

5. Snack on ice. Not only will snacking on ice cubes keep you cool, but it’s healthier than a candy bar. Stay hydrated and light on your horse!

6. Get a Slip ‘N’ Slide or tarp and hose it down. There’s nothing more fun in the summer than sliding downhill on a wet piece of plastic.

7. Sweat it out! Sweating is your body’s natural way of keeping you cool.

8. Carry a battery-operated hand fan. You know those spray bottles with the fan nozzles? Better get one!

9. Stay in the air-conditioned arena in between classes as much as possible. If you never go outside, you won’t have to deal with the heat!

10. Keep a change of clothes appropriate for heat with you for when you’re not in the arena. Wear a tank top under your show clothes for when you’re not competing.

It can get pretty sticky in August in Oklahoma City. Make sure you dress appropriately for the heat and stay hydrated!

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

Public policy will be a very important topic at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

AQHYA took Q-Contacts on a trip to Washington, D.C., to lobby for equine-related policies in June. Q-Contacts are asked to develop relationships with selected members of Congress who might be in a position to advance policies and regulatory goals of AQHA.

On this most recent visit, the most important issue they lobbied for was horse processing. Although it is a controversial issue, it is more humane than neglect or abandonment.

Here is what AQHYA Q-Contact Michael Felts had to say about his experience in Washington, D.C.:

Michael, an AQHA Region 5 director, says, “On the trip to D.C., I learned a lot about multiple issues, including  equine herpesvirus, the Unwanted Horse Coalition, USDA funding, but most importantly, horse processing. All of these issues are crucial to the equine industry as a whole, and I felt very honored to be selected to go on this trip to listen to the speakers talk about these issues and to represent AQHYA in the American Horse Council.  I had a great time and hope to attend again next year if I am able to!”

Find your voice! If equine policies are an area of interest to you, plan to attend an equine legislative seminar at 1 p.m. Monday, August 8, in the Sale Pavilion.

Need some entertainment at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show?

Go out and meet people. Use this scavenger hunt to find new friends!

1. Find someone wearing Wrangler jeans.

2. Find someone in Justin boots.

3. Find someone in a black show hat.

4. Find someone in a polka-dot shirt.

5. Find someone riding a blue roan western horse.

6. Find someone using a neon-pink halter.

7. Find someone wearing personalized spurs.

8. Find someone wearing red boots.

9. Find someone wearing something vintage.

10. Find someone with a black belt covered in rhinestones.

There’s nothing more special than adding someone new to your Facebook page. In fact, you should take pictures with all the new people you meet and post them to the AQHYA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aqhayouth!

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

AQHYA will be hosting challenges for exhibitors to participate in at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

Every day, a new challenge will be posted by the stall office. If you complete all the challenges first, extra points will be given toward the Team Spirit Award.

These challenges are top secret and are designed to encourage and teach teamwork and fun! Put your heads together and get into the game. There is nothing like a good, old-fashioned challenge to make the Ford Youth World go round!

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

The 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show will be broadcast live online.

Can’t make it to the Ford Youth World in Oklahoma City? No worries! AQHYA is broadcasting the show online. Follow this link to watch all your favorite classes live:

http://aqha.com/youthworld

You can find all the information you need on the right side of this Web page. We hope you enjoy the show and can’t wait to see you next year!

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

Where are you going to college?

Parris Rice is a member of the Baylor University Varsity Equestrian team. Journal photo.

Some of you are already preparing to leave for the college experience during the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show. Some of you will be making the decision of which school to choose this coming year. The rest of you may not quite be considering college yet.

Regardless of where you are in your continuing-education search, AQHYA wants to help.

Two colleges will be attending the Ford Youth World, West Texas A&M University and St. Andrews Presbyterian College. We are excited to welcome them and are eager to get you all the information you need to make your decision.

West Texas A&M University is located in Canyon, Texas. It welcomed 16 faculty members and 152 students in its first year in 1910.  Since then, WT has developed an excellent reputation and is full of tradition. The equine program is top-notch and is a great place to meet fellow students with similar interests. Check out the West Texas A&M booth at the Ford Youth World for more information.

St. Andrews Presbyterian College is a liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina. St. Andrews has a championship equestrian team and is very active in the industry. The college’s equestrian program is very extensive. If you are interested in working in the horse industry, St. Andrews is a great place to start. Visit Debbie Bell at the St. Andrews Presbyterian College booth to find out how you can get there.

Don’t forget, each year the American Quarter Horse Foundation gives scholarships to dedicated members looking to get a higher education. Visit www.aqha.com/foundation for details on how to apply.

Check out this article for more information on varsity equestrian: americashorsedaily.com/life-after-youth/.

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

The American Quarter Horse Youth Association National Racing Experience will make you feel like you’re riding Easy Jet!

2011 AQHYA National Racing Experience logo.

Do you ever feel the need for speed while you’re out in the pasture, riding along leisurely on your American Quarter Horse? Come on, admit it.

The “need for speed” will be a common theme as AQHYA hosts the National Racing Experience October 5-9 at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana. If you are 16 as of January 1, 2011, you are eligible to participate. All applications must be received by September 1 in the AQHYA office.

The AQHYA National Racing Experience will not only offer $6,000 in scholarships, but also promises to be the most fun you will have this fall. Don’t believe it? Take it from one of your peers:

Chantz Stewart, AQHYA Secretary says, “The AQHYA Racing Experience is an informative and hands-on experience that most will never have the opportunity to experience. It’s an opportunity to learn about various aspects of racing, whether it be the horses, test barns or even the track itself.”

There you have it. The AQHYA National Racing Experience at Hoosier Park, October 5-9 will be a great opportunity to meet new friends, test your knowledge and spend time with some awesome American Quarter Horses!

Check out the AQHYA website for more information. Questions? Ask them via email at cmartin@aqha.org.

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern

If you’re a member of AQHYA and a strong leader, you won’t want to miss this scholarship opportunity.

One of the newest opportunities for our industry’s youth is a scholarship program offered through the dynamic Lindenwood University to AQHYA youth..

Four awards will be given to top high school graduates who have significantly shown both academic merit and leadership within AQHYA. The awards will range from $2,500-$9,000 annually.

Lindenwood University is a four-year liberal arts institution in Saint Charles, Missouri. Students have many options available to them with more than 150 majors offered. The university is home to approximately 15,000 students and is dedicated to excellence in higher education.

For more information about the scholarship program and Lindenwood University, contact Dean of Day Admissions Joe Parisi at jparisi@lindenwood.edu. Or contact the admissions office at (636) 949-4949.

Here at AQHA, we are proud of our youth and want to give them every opportunity to excel. This new scholarship program is yet another way to continue to provide great opportunities for those who will become our leaders of tomorrow.

Teaching leadership skills to AQHYA members was the main focus of the 2011 Bank of America Youth Excellence Seminar and AQHYA Convention.

Lifetime friends were made as everyone built their friendships on the common bond of their American Quarter Horses. Journal photo.

There were many fun activities and educational moments that occurred during this year’s YES and convention, which took place June 16-18 in Amarillo. With around 150 participants, there was always a laugh being shared and a friend being made. Many of the participants said they made some lifetime friendships during the weekend. Here are a few highlights:

• Region 5 Director Michael Felts won the Wrangler Aspire Award at this year’s YES. Michael says that being involved with AQHYA, and especially YES, has taught him great leadership and public speaking skills. He also said that being in leadership in AQHYA “helps you become a role model.”

• The Kwahadi Dancers dazzled the youth with their Native American-inspired dances. They said that this year, they were dancing for the dreams of the participants, encouraging them to follow their dreams no matter what.

• The keynote speaker, Shannon Pickard, had everyone rolling in hysterical laughter, but he got serious as he told the youth about what it takes to be a leader.

“Being a good leader means bringing out the best in others,” Shannon said.

• Edwin “E” Gaffney said that through campaigning during YES, he has grown tremendously in his public speaking skills. E. ended up getting a job with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show at Disneyworld Paris.

• Participants at this year’s YES put their campaigning skills to the test as they attempted to create slogans and ad campaigns for SpongeBob, the cartoon character. Dakota Diamond Griffith, 2010-2011 AQHYA president, said that the ad campaigns “were honestly good enough to produce a national marketing campaign.”

At the end of the weekend, new officers and directors were elected for the 2011-2012 year. Many hugs were exchanged and congratulations given as the candidates saw their hard work pay off through the elections. Here are the new officers and directors of AQHYA:

Officers
President Abigail Pait from Sparta, New Jersey
Vice President Britt Lynch from Monroe, Georgia
Secretary Chantz Stewart from Cave Creek, Arizona
Treasurer Logan Pluhar from Canyon, Texas
Sentinel Sarah Ann Pendergraft from Fayetteville, Arkansas

Directors
Sadie Church – Region 2 Director
Ashley Hamling – Region 2 Director
Dylan Easley – Region 3 Director
Stacie Mitchell – Region 3 Director
Bailey Mierzejewski – Region 4 Director
Lauren Diaz – Region 4 Director
Abigail Pait – Region 5 Director
Michael Felts – Region 5 Director
Mark Mowbray – Region 5 Director
Alyssa Freitas – Region 6 Director
Jessica Stepanek – Region 6 Director
Sierra Arroyo – Region 7 Director
Chantz Stewart – Region 7 Director
Kelsey Vung – Region 7 Director
Austin Halvorson – Region 8 Director
Paris Nottingham – Region 8 Director
Logan Pluhar – Region 8 Director
Sarah Ann Pendergraft – Region 9 Director
Taylor Bevis – Region 10 Director
Jordan Boyd – Region 10 Director
Britt Lynch – Region 10 Director

To read more about what went on at YES and view many more photos, see the story in Journal Plus, the brand new online companion to The American Quarter Horse Journal.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year at the 2012 Youth Excellence Seminar. Follow AQHYA on Facebook for the latest youth news and happenings.

There are some important dates you must know for the Ford Youth World.

The 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA Championship World Show, August 5-13 in Oklahoma City, has many deadlines that must be met in order to participate.

July 1 is the registration deadline for the Ford Youth World. All registration materials must be in the AQHYA office on July 1, not just postmarked. For more information or questions, contact Sarah Smiddy at youth@aqha.org.

July 15 is the deadline for contest entries. If you are planning on entering a contest at the Ford Youth World, your entry forms must be turned in to the AQHYA office by July 15, not just postmarked. For more contest information, visit America’s Horse Daily or e-mail AQHYA at the address above.

We can’t wait to see everyone at the Ford Youth World. The competition and contests are sure to be more exciting than ever!

Kristen Zilligen
AQHA Youth Intern