AjPHA Presidential Service Project Thriving Under Leadership of Youth Competitor Meredith Milton
PHJ press release by: Megan Brincks
Meredith Milton, the 2014–2015 AjPHA president, took on a big project when she announced she wanted to create an endowment for the Youth Superior Sportsmanship Award to increase the annual scholarship from $500, sponsored by Hart Trailers, to a $2,500 scholarship. A natural leader and outgoing young horsewoman, she wasted no time in networking with Paint Horse industry leaders to help her generate ideas and organize fundraisers.
“I have had a blast so far, and it’s only month three!” Meredith said. “I can’t wait for the spring when things start picking up more.”
Meredith, a high school senior from Aledo, Texas, started by hosting a Calcutta at the 2014 World Wide Paint Horse Congress in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the end of July.
“We had a silent auction for all the horses in the Senior Trail,” Meredith said. “There were about 35 entries, and we raised just under $5,000.”
It was a successful jump start to her project, which she credits to Karen Kennedy, Diane Gage and the entire show staff at the WWPHC for helping her raise funds at one of the largest Paint shows of the year.
For October, Meredith plans to host several more Calcuttas.
“Nothing is completely finalized yet, but it’s getting close. I have been in contact with show managers all over the country recently, ranging from California to Illinois to South Carolina to Delaware,” Meredith said.
She is also planning some events for the spring season, but before 2014 wraps up, she’s thrilled to be doing a fundraiser unlike any before: a concert at the APHA World Championship Show.
Larry Steele will be playing in the West Sale Arena on Friday, November 7, at 8 p.m., to benefit the scholarship endowment.
“I cannot take credit for this genius idea, sadly. All the credit goes to my father, Larry,” Meredith said. “Jeffrey is a family friend of ours and he happens to be the mastermind behind some of country music’s most famous songs. My dad has had him come and do concerts for his clients multiple times, and it has always been a fantastic time. When thinking of a fundraising idea that I wanted to do at the fall World Show, I knew I wanted it to be different and unique.”
You can buy tickets for the concerts at the American Paint Horse Foundation booth during the show, at the concert door or online now.
If you have an idea for a fundraiser at your Paint Horse event or want to know more about upcoming fundraisers, contact Meredith directly at meredith.milton@regan.com or call her at (682) 667-2999.
