AQHA Youth World Contests Still On! With Social Distancing
AQHA Publicity
American Quarter Horse Youth Association members are invited to participate in contests outside of the arena at the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show July 29 – August 8 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Through speech, art and photo, scrapbook, boots and jeans, stall decorating and team spirit contests, members are increasing their equine knowledge, as well as developing skills that will last a lifetime. Registration forms are available online and are due back to AQHA by July 15.
Contests held at the 2020 Ford Youth World have been modified, due to the coronavirus pandemic and social-distancing mandates. Ford Youth World health protocols will be available soon at www.aqha.com/youthworld.
Exhibitors who want to show their more artistic side can enter the art and photo contest, scrapbook or the boots and jeans decorating contest. The decorated jeans and boots should reflect this year’s AQHYA theme, “The Power of YOUth.” Entries will be judged on how the boots and jeans represent this year’s theme, the state/provincial/international affiliate, artistic creativity, use of materials and presentation.
Entries for the art and photo contest will be displayed in Section 300 during the Ford Youth World for exhibitors to view. Scrapbook entries can be either traditional or digital scrapbooks, but entries must be submitted digitally. The winners of the art and photo contest and scrapbook contest will be announced on Monday, August 3, in the Jim Norick Arena.
The public speaking contests offer three options for involvement with an impromptu speech contest, a prepared speech contest, and a 13-&-Under public speaking contest. The topic for the prepared-speaking division is publicized to give competitors time to practice for the event. Impromptu topics are drawn five minutes prior to the contestant’s turn to compete. The speech contests start at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, and the location will be announced to contestants. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 4, in the Jim Norick Arena.
All affiliates are automatically entered in the stall decorating and team spirit contests. Stalls will be judged August 2-5. Winners in each division will be awarded based on maintenance and cleanliness, expression of the AQHYA theme, originality and craftsmanship.
Teams have the opportunity to showcase their team spirit through the stall-decorating contest and a variety of other events throughout the show. Other events that count toward the Team Spirit Award include entries in the scrapbook, art and photo, and the Wrangler Jeans and Justin Boots decorating contests. The Team Spirit Awards will be announced on Friday, August 7, in the Jim Norick Arena.
For more information and entry forms, visit www.aqha.com/aqhya-world-championship-show-contests.
The Ford Youth World will be held, pending local, state and federal government mandates. AQHA will continue to monitor the situation and potential effects on this year’s show. In the event the show is cancelled, AQHA will share additional information on AQHA.com, and exhibitors and contestants will receive a full refund.
AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.
