Merle Wood Humanitarian Award Goes to Pat Hunt

AQHA Publicity

Pat Hunt of Cannelton, Indiana, received the 2014 Merle Wood Humanitarian Award from the American Quarter Horse Foundation on March 6 at the 2015 American Quarter Horse Association Convention in Fort Worth, Texas. Established in 1997 in honor of the late Merle Wood, this award recognizes an individual who exemplifies an ethic of kindness and benevolence in providing opportunities for young people to be involved with the American Quarter Horse.

Hunt became a youth adviser in the Indiana Quarter Horse Association not because her own children were members, but because she truly believed the organization had a lot to offer the youth involved.

As the Indiana youth adviser, Hunt served on the AQHA Youth Committee, led a group discussion at the first AQHA Youth Convention in Amarillo, and led a group discussion at the AQHA convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Hunt served as the Indiana Quarter Horse Youth Association adviser from 1984 to 2001; assisted the youth advisers in 1982-83; was instrumental in the development of the Indiana Quarter Horse Youth Association scholarship; organized and chaperoned the Indiana Hoosier Horse Fair youth booth; organized and chaperoned the Indiana State Horse Show youth booth; managed the Indiana youth-sponsored AQHA shows for 17 years; organized and chaperoned the Indiana team at the All American Quarter Horse Congress; was the Region 3 state youth leader in 1991 and 1992; and supervised the youth clinics for 4-H groups that included state and national clinicians, as well as the style show.

“During her 17 years as the IQHYA adviser, entries increased for the AQHA Youth World Show in individual competition and in judging team participants,” wrote Sarah Bradley in her nomination of Hunt for the award. “Under her leadership, the Indiana Youth World team won the Division 1 Merle and Ellen Wood Spirit Award in 1995; the team won the state of the year in 1993 through scrapbook competition; and the IQHYA received many awards for increased membership.”

Hunt received the Indiana Quarter Horse Service Award in 2008 for her work and dedication to the Indiana Quarter Horse Association. In 1993, she received the American Junior Quarter Horse Association (now AQHYA) state youth leader award.

For that dedication and the work she put into leading, encouraging and developing the youth of the Indiana Quarter Horse Youth Association, Hunt was an exemplary representative of what the Merle Wood Humanitarian Award signifies. The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Merle Wood Humanitarian Award is May 1, 2015. For more information, call 806-378-5029 or email foundation@aqha.org.

For more news on the Merle Wood Humanitarian Award, visit www.aqha.com/merlewood.

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