Congress Forecast – Justin Billings Continues The Congress Tradition
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186 – September/October, 2023
By Megan Sacia Ulrich
When Justin Billings first attended the All American Quarter Horse Congress with his family in 1992 as an 11-year-old horse crazy kid, he was in awe, soaking up the sights and falling more and more in love with each step of the way in his cowboy boots. More than 30 years since that visit, he has never missed a Congress. This year, he’ll walk the grounds in his new role as the Executive Vice President of Operations for the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, making him one of the faces behind the magic the Congress has to offer.
“I can still vividly recall making that first trip to the fairgrounds. I was already hooked on horses but experiencing the Congress in person solidified my love for the Quarter Horse. To think one day I would have the opportunity to serve in this capacity is very humbling,” Billings, a Columbus native, says.
Soon after that first Congress visit, Billings joined the OQHA affiliate and would serve on the youth, amateur and open boards of directors over the years. In 2017, Billings joined AQHA’s staff, eventually becoming Chief Show Officer.
“AQHA gave me an incredible opportunity to interact with the membership and learn the ins and outs of managing championship events across the country,” Billings says. Still though, his roots were in Ohio, so returning home after six years in Amarillo “was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” he says. “I am honored to stand alongside such passionate people who share my commitment to the success and growth of the Congress as we write this next chapter together. Learning from Dr. Myers has just been icing on the cake.”
Click here to read the complete article
186 – September/October, 2023
