The 2009 Ford Youth World Show featured great American Quarter Horses and talented AQHYA members.

It’s always fun to spend time with our AQHYA members and see the future of our association in action. Last week, I witnessed some top competition at the Built Ford Tough American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City.

There were 883 youth exhibitors from 45 states, four Canadian provinces, France, Germany and the United Kingdom who competed for 33 world championship titles. This year’s theme was “Rock Your World” and the AQHYA members did just that from the talent show, the contests and the show arena.

For nine full days the competition kept State Fair Park in Oklahoma City hopping. Oklahoma City rolled out the welcome mat for our exhibitors. It’s no wonder given the fact that the show provides an estimated $10.9 million boost to Oklahoma City’s economy.

There were some great stories from the show. The Gorsuch sisters earned world championships in opposite events – Mary Francis won the barrel racing title while older

Sage Christian competed in team penning at the 2009 Ford Youth World Show with American Quarter Horse Heza Dunn Charlie.

sister Kathryn took home the title in trail. Five-year-old Sage Christian was a crowd favorite when she was competing in the finals of team penning. There are many, many more great stories. If you missed any of the action, The American Quarter Horse Journal captured photos and stories from the Ford Youth World Show.

To see full results as well as special feature stories, interviews and photos of the world champions, visit www.aqha.com/youthworld. Also, The American Quarter Horse Journal will publish the full results in the October issue. In addition, highlights will be shown on America’s Horse TV, AQHA’s new online television initiative.

AQHYA members competed outside of the arena as well with judging, speech and team contests. In the horse judging competition, North Carolina swept the team competition winning the halter, performance and reasons categories to take home the overall award. The high-point overall individual was Jason Farrington of Navasota, Texas, with runner-up Bayley Bedford of Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

In the Horse Bowl competition, North Carolina took top honors again. AQHYA Region 8 Director Edwin Gaffney from Aurora, Colorado, and his sister Julia won the team demonstration competition. Edwin also won the prepared public speaking competition while Cori Elliott from Stockton, Illinois, won the impromptu speech.

At the talent show, Trisha Timmins and Christopher Luba proved that our AQHYA kids’ talents don’t end at the barn. Trish, who is from Laguna Beach California, won the instrumental division and overall talent show title while Christopher, who is from Louisville, Kentucky, won the vocal division.

Our AQHYA officers and directors were busy helping make the show a success and rewarding the finalists with their winning. The 2009-10 AQHYA officer team and directors were elected during the AQHYA Convention and Youth Excellence Seminar in Amarillo.

Cait Kerber was elected president of the 31,000-plus youth organization. Cait is a very poised young lady from Missouri and has some great ideas on promoting the American Quarter Horse Youth Association. In her campaign speech, she described AQHYA as a growing plant with the leadership team providing the foundation.

AQHA is very fortunate to have a group of such bright and promising young leaders to provide a vision for the future.

The following is a list of the 2009-10 AQHYA leadership team:

President Cait Kerber, Warrensburg, Missouri

Vice President Brent Dorn, Gentry, Arkansas

Secretary Jocelyn Tanner, Webster, New Hampshire

Treasurer Alison Ceresani, Tuckerton, New Jersey

Sentinel Rachel Pendergraft, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Region 1 Director Addie Davis, Vashon, Washington

Region 2 Director Hadley Eickhof, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Region 2 Director Brooke Ingstad, Fargo, North Dakota

Region 2 Director Andrea Uglem, Hatton, North Dakota

Region 3 Director Sarah Merkatoris, Brussels, Wisconsin

Region 3 Director Nick Murphy, Jackson, Missouri

Region 4 Director Dakota Diamond Griffith, Hilliard, Ohio

Region 4 Director Christopher Luba, Louisville, Kentucky

Region 4 Director Darian Renner, Vincent, Ohio

Region 5 Director Katie Jo Jones, Burlington, North Carolina

Region 5 Director  Abigail Pait, Sparta, New Jersey

Region 6 Director Kayleigh McDonnell, Rutland, Vermont

Region 6 Director Leah Thomas, South Royalton, Vermont

Region 7 Director Zoe Urrizaga, Spring Creek, Nevada

Region 7 Director  Jessi Vega, Elko, Nevada

Region 8 Director Edwin Gaffney, Aurora, Colorado

Region 8 Director Katy Krshka, Yukon, Oklahoma

Region 8 Director Paris Nottingham, Lawrence, Kansas

Region 9 Director Ariel Herrin, Pisgah, Alabama

Region 10 Director Britt Lynch, Monroe, Georgia

The Ford Youth World is made possible by several of AQHA’s corporate partners. In addition to Ford, the following partners serve as sponsors of this prestigious youth event: B&W Trailer Hitches, Featherlite, John Deere, Justin Boots, Markel Insurance, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena, Professional’s Choice, SmartPak, WeatherBeeta and Wrangler. Additional sponsors include The American Quarter Horse Journal, Cripple Creek, Kiser Arena Specialists and Metro Golf Cars.

America’s Horse in Art Opens Today

The America’s Horse in Art Show opens Friday, August 14 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. Check out some of the great pieces of art work featuring America’s Horse at www.aqha.com/foundation/halloffame/AHIA/index3.html. I’m looking forward to meeting the artists and viewing the artwork. The artwork will be on display until November 14 so stop by to see it if you’re in Amarillo.

Happy trails,

Don Treadway Jr.
AQHA Executive Vice President

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