AQHYA Past President, Austin Halvorson, and AQHA Professional Horsewoman, Christy Landwehr, Named New Trustees for American Horse Council

AQHA Publicity

Source: American Horse Council

By unanimous vote of the American Horse Council’s board of trustees, three new at-large trustees have been elected to serve two-year terms starting in June 2022: Austin Halvorson, filling the young adult at-large seat; Christy Landwehr, filling the general at-large seat; and Justine Staten, representing the Coalition of State Horse Councils.

The AHC board consists of 12 equine industry leaders from major associations including the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Quarter Horse Association, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, The Jockey Club, United States Equestrian Federation and United States Trotting Association. In 2018, AHC added two at-large seats to the board (CSHC and general at-large) to provide a greater level of inclusion to ensure the organization is truly representative of a variety of stakeholder interest groups. In 2021, the board added a young adult at-large seat to further expand its diversity.

Austin Halvorson of Liberty Hill, Texas, has been passionate about equine-related advocacy since his first trip to Washington, D.C., on behalf of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association in 2014. Since then, Halvorson has worked in the halls of congress, the Texas Legislature, political campaigns, for lobbying groups and now for a political law firm. Halvorson is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has served as the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Youth Association president (2010-2014), American Quarter Horse Youth Association Board of Directors (2010-2014), AQHYA president (2013-2014), Phi Delta Theta fraternity pledge class president (2014-2015) and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Council at Texas A&M (2016-2018).

Christy Landwehr of Aurora, Colorado, is the chief executive officer of the Certified Horsemanship Association. Landwehr sits on the AQHA professional horsemen council and the AQHA Marketing Committee. Landwehr is past president of the American Youth Horse Council and past board member for the Colorado Horse Council. She also founded, competed on and coached the University of Colorado at Boulder Intercollegiate Horse Show Association equestrian team. Landwehr also sits on the Colorado State University Equine Sciences Advisory Council and Colorado Society of Association Executives Board. She is the current treasurer for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association and serves on the APHA professional horseman council.

Justine Staten of Kansas is the executive director of the Kansas Horse Council and incoming CSHC chair. Staten has extensive experience in the equine industry with family involvement in 4-H and the Blackjack Saddle Club. She provides equine education at the annual Riley County Farm Bureau Ag Kid’s Day and was a long-time volunteer with the On the Trail to a Cure benefit ride for cancer, as well as manager of several other American Cancer Society galas.

Dr. Rick Mitchell, AHC board chair, stated, “These outstanding individuals will bring great insight to board conversations, and we are pleased they have agreed to serve.”

About the American Horse Council

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse-related interests each and every day.

AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen’s associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.