Three APHA members are in the running to fill the APHA Executive Committee Fifth and Sixth Member spots in 2020. Nominees are Kelly Boles-Chapman of Bellevue, Michigan, Lee Ann Hall of Kilkivan, Australia, and Sandy Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, Texas. They will be considered by the APHA Board of Directors for the positions at the 2020 APHA Convention, February 28-March 1 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Brief biographies of each candidate are below; more information about them, their APHA involvement and what they’ll bring to the table if elected to the Executive Committee will be posted at apha.com/association/ec.
About Kelly Boles-Chapman
Kelly Boles-Chapman of Bellevue, Michigan, has been involved with horses since childhood, and her show experience led her to become involved as an APHA judge. She also trains Youth and Amateur exhibitors in a variety of events.
“Nearly 20 years ago, I judged the APHA World Show for the first time and was hooked. I came home and within a few months, I had Paints in the barn. My kids have grown up with Paints, and we’ve had so many great friends, clients and experiences through this association. I love the horse and the people,” Kelly said.
Kelly’s work as a non-profit consultant, as well as being a parent to a couple of active children, led her to believe in the power of community involvement.
“It’s important to be involved in your community—both where you live and in what you love, which for me is the equine industry,” she said. “It is important to me to continuously listen and learn to expand my view on issues. I aspire to continuously evolve my opinion. Knowledge and data are key tools that can help us all better plan our path to success as an organization.”
About Lee Ann Hall
Lee Ann Hall of Queensland, Australia, has been a member of APHA for more than 20 years. She is an avid supporter of the Paint Horse Association of Australia, helped develop the Youth Development Fund in Australia, and sponsors the Youth Ride for Free incentive at the PHAA National Show.
She and her husband, Jeffrey, own and operate EquiNetics, an equine breeding center and training facility in Kilikvan, Queensland, where they strive to produce superior-quality, happy, healthy horses. They focus on producing Paint Horses, utilizing both on-farm APHA-registered horses as well as frozen semen imported from the United States and Europe. The couple has won more than 70 national and national futurity championships with their Paints. Lee Ann also worked for the Paint Horse Association of Australia for 10 years.
“Through my past position as office manager of the PHAA, I understand the uniqueness of a breed association and working positively with the passion held by the members,” Lee Ann said. “I have the skills and knowledge that are necessary to consider fiscal responsibilities, organizational matters and am able to make informed decisions when considering budgets and future planning, corporate governance and meeting protocol.”
About Sandy Campbell Jirkovsky
Sandy Campbell Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, Texas, has spent more than 55 years in the horse community, serving as a trainer, judge, breeder and exhibitor. A lifetime member of APHA, Sandy has been an APHA judge since 1996 and officiated the APHA World Championship Shows among other prestigious events, and she also holds judging cards with several other organizations.
A world and national champion herself, Sandy enjoys sharing her knowledge with others; she’s served as a Color Breed Council instructor since 2005, instructed at APHA’s Australian and European HorseIQ Summits, and represented APHA internationally as a clinician and judge. Sandy has served as chairman of the APHA Judges Committee for three years and served on multiple other advisory committees.
“I have the passion, motivation and, most of all, the experience to position the APHA to be the influential leader in the color breed industry,” Sandy said.
National directors are invited to vote for the 2020 Executive Committee on March 1 at the 2020 APHA Convention. Learn more about Convention at apha.com/events/convention.
