Rick McLain and Alison Umberger have been named as candidates for the APHA’s Executive Committee’s sixth committee member spot by the EC Nominating Committee. They were among four candidates recently interviewed by the nominating committee.
Longtime APHA members, both Rick and Alison have demonstrated they’re dedicated to APHA and the Paint Horse breed. Meet our candidates:
Rick McLain
An APHA judge and Markel APHA Professional Horseman, Rick McLain of Benbrook, Texas, has more than 50 years experience in the horse industry. He started showing ponies in 4-H and open shows, and later began competing in AQHA events in high school; Rick began showing in APHA shows in 1976. An APHA approved judge since 1977, Rick is also carded with ApHC, IBHA, ABBA and ASHA.
Part of APHA’s Board of Directors since 2002, Rick is currently an alternate national director for Texas; he has served on the Show & Contest, Rules, Youth, Breed Improvement and World Show Advisory committees. Rick has also been involved in leadership positions for several regional clubs in Iowa and Texas, was the Zone 5 Committee president for six years and has served as show manager for several events. Outside of APHA, Rick worked for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation for 28 years, where he helped lobby senators and congressmen about agricultural issues.
Alison Umberger
A lifetime APHA member, Alison Umberger of Broad Run, Virginia, has more than 25 years of experience with Paint Horses. Part of a horse-centric family, Alison grew up showing Paint Horses in Nebraska, coming up through 4-H and the Nebraska Paint Horse Club ranks as a Youth and Amateur. In addition to owning and showing horses, Alison has also bred a number of Paint foals.
Well-trenched in the horse industry, Alison is a member of several APHA regional clubs, from Virginia to New York, and is a Virginia Paint Horse Club board member. An APHA national director since 2012, Alison has served on the Long Range Planning, Show & Contest and Amateur committees, and she’s participated on the Regional Championship and Amateur task forces. Outside of APHA, Alison is a therapeutic riding center volunteer and board member, and a Virginia Horse Industry Board member. Professionally, Alison is an attorney-advisor for U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection.
Voting for the 2017–2018 APHA Executive Committee takes place at the APHA Convention, February 24–27 in Irving, Texas. More information about Convention is coming soon at apha.com.
