The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 23, 2008 – The Ford American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show moves to a new location and has other changes in store for 2008.
After being held in Fort Worth, Texas, for the past 16 years, the Ford Youth World Show now moves to State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, August 1-9. The Ford Youth World is the pinnacle event for AQHYA members and is the largest single-breed youth world championship horse show.
“We are excited to be moving the Ford Youth World Show to the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City,” said AQHA President Ken Mumy. “The new Superbarn and improvements to the stalls and warm-up arenas will make the show that much nicer for our youth members.”
National qualifiers for this year’s Ford Youth World have increased by more than 600. Last year 1,185 youths qualified, and this year 1,827 qualified. Two of the events with the greatest increase in qualifiers were performance halter and ranch sorting, which both debuted last year at the Ford Youth World.
In addition to qualifying nationally, youths also can qualify for the Ford Youth World through their state or provincial affiliate. The number of eligible state qualifiers was increased from two to four this year. With the increased number of qualifiers, an additional day has been added to the beginning of the show to accommodate more exhibitors.
Youth members have the opportunity for competition outside the arena as well, including judging, speech and team demonstration contests. This year the Parade of Teams and Stall Decorating Contest are combining to form the Team Spirit Award. Affiliates can create their own script and performance for the Parade of Teams, which will be judged along with their stall decorating. The contest awards will be presented during a barbecue dinner Thursday night rather than an awards breakfast as in past years.
Another change for the Ford Youth World Show is the year-end awards. In previous years, a banquet was held to recognize all the year-end award winners. However, in order to increase recognition of these accomplishments, this year the youths will be presented with their year-end awards during the show. Winners will be introduced and will receive their awards in the arena prior to the placing of the finals class in which they earned the award.
The American Quarter Horse Journal will continue to provide online and print coverage of the show as they have done in the past. The Journal will still have AQHYA members who serve as Junior Journalists to cover the show from the youths’ perspective. In addition to being journalists, AQHYA members will be doing video coverage of the show. These new Q-Js will produce unique podcasts and fun videos from the show that will be uploaded to YouTube and other media outlets.
“AQHA Presents,” AQHA’s television show on RFD-TV network, will feature youths competing at the event. This will air September 10 at 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern and again on September 13 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. A new highlight of the show this year will be a feature on a Jackson Land & Cattle Youth World Show Assistance Fund recipient.
The trade show is bigger and better as the Cox Pavilion provides added space. Thirty new exhibitors will have booths this year for more shopping pleasure. Also, the trade show will host various parties and games during the show.
For more information on AQHYA and the Ford Youth World, contact AQHA at (806) 376-4811 or visit www.aqhya.com.
