Building the Future, Piece by Piece

EC Blog by: Mallory Vroegh, AQHA Region 3 Director (2015-2016)

The American Quarter Horse Association has its own board of officers and directors to drive the association. Not only does AQHA get to have a board for representation, the American Quarter Horse Youth Association gets to have its own as well. From July 7th- 9th, AQHYA held its annual Youth Excellence Seminar (YES Convention) to say farewell to retiring officers and welcome the newest members to the family.

Before the new members could be elected, they had to go through a process of being graded; their total score would be added to their individual score in the end. In total, each youth had to compose a two essays, a speech, and complete a workbook about the history of the American Quarter Horse.

After arriving in Amarillo, Texas, participants were asked a series of interview questions that were based around their platform for running and what they plan to do to make a change. Next on the list for the Regional Director candidates was campaigning with posters and handouts and giving their speeches to fellow youth members from their regions, as well as the judges.

The speeches highlighted the candidates’ platforms and focused on the difference they wished to see in the association. Shortly after, the voting began and the officer candidates began to campaign. Everyone was able to vote on which officers we thought would be best to represent our association as a whole.

Although there was a lot of stiff competition, there is more to the YES Convention than just electing new officers and directors. The YES Convention is about meeting new people who share your same love of the American Quarter Horse. It’s about being inspired and giving you something to work for. Everyone who attends, leaves with something, whether it be a new friend or a new outlook.

Even with all of the interviews, campaigning, and speeches, AQHYA Youth Leader Kate Vierthaler and the 2014-2015 board members were able to put on several fun activities. We did these activities together to break the ice and help give us the confidence to go out and talk to new people. Touring the AQHA Hall of Fame and AQHA Headquarters gave us all a look at the inner working of AQHA and how it became the association it is today. The keynote speaker, Sheila Glazov, taught us about the colors of our brains and what it means to be each color. We learned to accept each other for who we are, even those meticulous “greens” out there! But it wasn’t all about hard work and learning. We got to unwind with a dance where everyone got to hang out with their newfound friends and show their fun sides on the dance floor.

We closed the books on the YES Conference with an awards night that retired last year’s board members and introduced the new faces of 2015. I’m very excited to be on the board with this great group of people from all over the United States. I think it’s going to be a year of a lot of fun and change while we build the future, piece by piece.

Congratulations everyone!

The 2015-16 officer team:

President: Ann Elizabeth Tebow, Piedmont, Oklahoma

Vice President: Brock Murphy, Jackson, Missouri

Second Vice President: McKenzie Merritt, Lincoln Nebraska

Member: Madison Thiel, Dublin, Ohio

Member: Madelynne Herlocker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Directors
Region 1
Anwyn Deeks, Washington

Region 2
Sydnee Gemar, Nebraska
Andie Lacher, Montana

Region 3
Clara Johnson, Iowa
Mallory Vroegh, Iowa

Region 4
Paulina Martz, Ohio
Ellexxah Maxwell, Ohio
Anneleise Ritzi, Ohio

Region 5
Aubrey Braham, Pennsylvania
Maura Hynes, New Jersey
Austin Ralls, Virginia

Region 6
Valerie Slimskey, Connecticut

Region 7
Steven Paul Parker II, Arizona

Region 8
Meg Tebow, Oklahoma

Region 9
Ty Cornelius, Arkansas
Emily Wasson, Mississippi
Dalton Culpepper, Mississippi

Region 10
Jenna Beare, South Carolina
Katelyn Womack, Georgia

Region 11
Julia Bastian, Luxembourg
Jim Stors, Luxembourg