AzQHA Year-End Results and Banquet Wrap Up
All photos courtesy of Debra Hrynyk.
By: Kristin Spinning
AzQHA held their annual awards banquet on January 16th, celebrating the accomplishments of AzQHA, AzQHYA and AZ Reined Cow Horse members during 2021. About 300 people joined the festivities at the Desert Foothills Event Center in Scottsdale. They were treated to an assortment of gourmet food and desert trucks, an open bar, and specialty coffee cart.
Awards Banquet coordinator Anica Reddick spear headed another memorable evening along with Jayne Vatcher and her Cre8tive Events crew who went the extra mile to design the perfect look and environment for the experience. Thanks to title sponsors AzQHA, SJ Ranch, and Cre8tive Events, the event and food were free to all members and their guests.
In addition to presenting class and High Point awards, the evening inducted Laurel Walker Denton into the AzQHA Hall of Fame. Laurel was on the board of the inaugural Arizona Quarter Horse Youth Association and, since that time, she has never stopped in her service to the AQHA community at large from breeding to judging, to teaching, to mentoring and serving as an AQHA Director. Laurel was also the recipient of the inaugural Dorn Parkinson Volunteer Award.
A silent auction kept members browsing the tables and upping their bids for a great assortment of items. There were tickets for dugout seats at a Diamondbacks home game, Martin Saddlery hand tooled briefcase, a Louis Vuitton handbag, artwork, a gift basket by WoodLife Ranch Provisions, a Farnam rolling trunk filled with products, horse care items, home decor and more. The auction raised over $11,000 for the Youth Scholarship program. Streakin B Art was on hand as part of the entertainment, producing a horse painting start to finish. It was raffled off at the end of the evening.
The celebration was a great way to kick off the new year and energize AzQHA members for 2022’s full calendar of AzQHA events. The Pinnacle Circuit and the Nutrena AQHA West Level 1 Champions have been added to the line up of events that includes Sun Circuit, the Fall Championship, 4 No Bling Shows, and several AzQHA Trail challenges.
Click here to view year-end results.
Click here to more great photos.
