2013 AQHA Youth Excellence Seminar is an Experience We Will Never Forget

The 2013 AQHA Youth Excellence Seminar started in June with a bang. Everyone got checked in on Day 1 and settled into the hotel before meeting up for a “Meet the Superheroes” reception and an ice breaker activity. Each youth member got a sticker to put on their back with the name of either a super hero or super villain. Then, we had to go around the room and ask different people questions in order to find out what character they were.

This fun activity was meant to encourage people to start talking and to meet new friends. We also heard from current AQHYA President Mark Mowbray and AQHA President Johne Dobbs. After the ice breaker activity, everyone split back up and either went to dinner or went straight to bed after a long day of travel.

It was a bright and early morning on Day 2 for all of the youth members and advisors in order to get to the civic center for breakfast. Immediately after breakfast we were brought to a large banquet hall for the director campaigning.

Each member running for a director spot had to set up a board and talk to the delegates in order to promote themselves to get a spot as a region director. Many of them even gave out goodies such as candy, stickers, or stress balls to persuade the delegates to vote for them. After everyone got a chance to see who was in the running for the director spots, a few retiring officers addresses were given. These were for Bailey Mierzejewski (secretary) and Lauren Diaz (sentinel), who became very close working together for the past year. Both got a little teary-eyed during their speeches about one another.

In the first youth breakout session they had us write a parody to a song and make it about AQHA, horses in general, or anything we could think of to tie it into the YES Seminar. Some of the regions even got their parodies on video. After the breakout session, we went back to the main room for our speaker.

Our speaker for the day was John Beede. He is an inspirational speaker, the author of multiple books, and an extreme adventurer. He told stories about his hiking and climbing adventures, along with his trip to Nepal to climb Mt. Everest, and shared his strategies for being successful. Everyone received two of his books, “Climb On” and “The Pocket Guide to Being Super Awesome.” He had nothing but positive things to say to all of the youth kids and gave us quite a few laughs. He was a very charismatic guy and was very entertaining to listen to.

Following the speaker, the candidates were announced for directors, lunch was served, and we went straight into another youth breakout session for the candidate speeches. Two more retiring officer addresses were given. One was for Austin Halvorson (treasurer), given by Mark Mowbray (president), and the other was for Jordan Boyd (vice president), which was given by Kaylee McCann (director). Each slideshow gave everyone a perfect summary of who the officers were and what they enjoyed doing. Then, we met back up in the banquet hall for the 2013/2014 AQHYA directors to be announced. Up to three directors from each region were voted on by its delegates.

Then, we were off to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. While we were there, we got to tour the Hall of Fame, check out the AQHA Outfitters store, tour the AQHA Headquarters and participate in a judging contest. Each youth member got a buy-one-get-one free coupon for Wrangler jeans at Cavenders, so we headed over there after the tours to shop. Since we’d already had a long day, we got to relax a little bit before the highlight of the night, the dance.

Pizza was served and then the music was on and everybody was up and dancing their hearts out. There were country songs, pop songs, rap songs, fast songs, and slow songs. In other words, there was something for everyone and everyone looked like they were enjoying every minute of it.

At breakfast the next morning, you could tell everyone was a little tired. Even though none of us wanted to admit it, no one went to bed at a decent hour the night before, but we got on with the morning nonetheless. We saw the officers campaign and got to hear tons of great speakers, who informed us about all of the jobs and careers that we could go into that relate to the equine industry. Speakers included Johne Dobbs (insurance), Dr. Lance Baker (equine careers), Zoetis (pharmaceutical), Orin Barnes (training/judging), and Dr. Marrow (veterinarian).

The 2012/2013 officers and directors did a little segment they called “Girl Code and Guy Code,” which was all about the different things you run into with guys and girls relationships at horse shows. The crowd favorite was when the girl said, “No one is impressed by your 2008 Halter Mares World Championship buckle,” and Austin Halvorson kicked his chair over and dramatically stormed out of the room leaving the crowd laughing behind him. The rest of their Girl/Guy code was very creative and fun to watch.

Next up were the officer elections. Every one of the candidates put their whole hearts into their speeches and it surely showed. It was very hard for the delegates to choose who to vote for but the new AQHYA board is as follows:

Austin Halvorson – President
Kaylee McCann – Vice President
Lizzy Coons – Secretary
Mary Claire Cornett – Treasurer
Austin Bond – Sentinel

The entertainment for the day was hypnotist Gerry Kelly. Youth kids got to volunteer to be hypnotized. Throughout the performance, they acted like they were on a roller coaster, acted like ballerinas, and even got to “meet” some famous people and “go” to Hollywood. Some of them said they didn’t even remember doing any of these things. In any case, it was very entertaining for the people in the audience.

The Aquaman Olympics was another fun activity during the day. We all went to a park and did various activities such as playing red rover or ninja, having a big water fight, and playing on the bouncy castles. I don’t think one person came out of there without getting a little water poured or splashed on them.

As the banquet started in the evening everyone was realizing that YES 2013 was unfortunately coming to a end. Mark Mowbray gave his closing remarks for the past year and thanked everyone. He got choked up at the end when thanking his parents for all that they have done for him over the past 18 years. Austin Halvorson said a few words about how the past year would never be forgotten but that he’s looking forward to the next year as president.

Everyone has their own superhero. Whether it is a leader, a friend, a parent or anyone else that you look up to. YES 2013 had so much to offer such as meeting new people, developing new friendships, making great memories, and recognizing who your superheroes are. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we will remember this weekend for years to come and appreciate the people that make us strive to be the best that we can be.