We asked, and AQHYA
listened! The 2011 Youth
Excellence Seminar, a/k/a YES, held annually in Amarillo, Texas might have been
the best one yet! The annual
gathering hosts American Quarter Horse Youth from across the country in order
to build teamwork and leadership skills as well as vote for your youth
executive board and national directors.
I am proud to say that my final duty as AQHYA President was a resounding
success! (See official list of 2011-2012 Officers and Directors below).
Although YES has always been
amazing, the staff at AQHA made certain that our comments requesting a more
engaging and age appealing format did not go unnoticed. Additionally AQHYA showed us their
confidence by relinquishing more responsibility to the youth board to
implement, and assist with the agenda and lead the individual sessions. This serviced to not only empower our
organization, but more importantly united the delegates as we worked hand-in-hand during the respective activities.
New this year were breakout
sessions designed by our youth board which really helped everyone understand
what service to our organization and its members is all about. One of the favorite sessions was
hosted by the youth board’s dynamic director E. Gaffney, and our beautiful VP,
Brooke Ingstad (pictured left). Team members were
asked to create slogans and an ad campaign for Sponge Bob which resulted in near
professional results that were honestly good enough to produce a national
marketing campaign. Way to go
teams! Also new this year, AQHYA
provided t-shirts for delegates this year which really helped simplify the
dress code, and made it easier for all of us to follow our color coded
teams.
After a funny and engaging
performance by motivational speaker, Shannon Pickard, one of my favorite
activities was the “Two Step” lesson that transformed our central meeting room
into a jammin dance hall. Everyone
jumped in with “two feet” (no pun intended), including AQHA staff member, Ward
Stutz who put everyone in the room to shame with his incredible dancing
skills. Thank you Ward for putting
me on your dance card! We put
those skills to use at the annual dance that featured the theme “Taking Vintage
off the Shelf” where vintage clothing ruled from every era. AQHYA Manager, Courtney Martin did not
seem surprised or phased that I had a crush on the band, which was an amazing
local southern rock group called Casey Berry and the Live Texas
Mosquitoes. Sorry Courtney, I’m a
groupie at heart. With a Tom Petty
like sound, their original work was great, but even the band was astounded when
the incredibly talented Sterling Saul (grandson of Darryl and Joyce) took the
stage and brought the house down with his singing and guitar skills. Will American Idol be in Sterling’s
future? You heard it here first.
Special thanks to NRHyA, and
their many volunteers who hosted “Ride A Reiner” at WTAMU, where several of our
lucky participants, including yours truly, got to sit on a reiner and try it
for the first time. Can you
believe with a Dad who has won the NRHA Futurity that this was actually my
first experience on a reining horse?
I can promise that it won’t be my last.
After we were dazzled by the
Kwahadi dancers, regular session activities concluded with the first annual “Ag
Olympics – Get Dirty” session at a local park which was clearly a favorite
among participants. Even this
bling lovin girly-girl got down and dirty (see picture), much to the surprise
of even my Mom. Group activities
included, egg tossing, an orange peeling race where you could not use your
hands, tug of war (I got slammed), passing a giant cow tongue with our feet,
and more! And yes, the latter
activity was as gross as it sounds, but everyone was a sport and participated
which was a great testimonial to the concept of there is no “I” in team!
During the course of the week, I
have to admit that I was dreading the final evening where I delivered my
retirement speech. In spite of my
Mom’s insistence that I observe “a stiff upper lip”, I broke down, and cried
like a baby. After watching my
slide show which was set to “Perfect Day”, I just lost it. To see 18 years of my life up on a
screen was a little surreal, but I do leave you in excellent hands. 
Taking over the reins as President is
the extraordinary, Abigail Pait of New Jersey (pictured here), who will be devoted to service
and your needs. On a personal note
from Abigail and myself, I want to extend a very special thanks to incoming VP,
Britt Lynch of Georgia who rocked our worlds with her heartfelt and
inspirational campaign speech.
With the future of the youth
association in excellent hands, what’s next for this former, Madame
President? First on the
agenda is my dream trip to Washington, D.C. where I report to you from the
glamorous Washington Court hotel.
Although the Chihuahuas are not in tow, I will be doing my best Legally
Blonde imitation as I head to Capitol Hill to lobby on behalf of the equine
industry with the AQHA delegation.
BTW, not to disappoint, I will be dressed in designer “pink” just like
my girl Elle!
Click here to view many more pictures on Dakota’s Facebook page.
Congratulations to the following 2011-2012 officers and directors, who were elected during YES and AQHYA Convention:
Officers:
President Abigail Pait from Sparta, New Jersey
Vice President Britt Lynch from Monroe, Georgia
Secretary Chantz Stewart from Cave Creek, Arizona
Treasurer Logan Pluhar from Canyon, Texas
Sentinel Sarah Ann Pendergraft from Fayetteville, Arkansas
Directors:
Sadie Church – Region 2 Director
Ashley Hamling – Region 2 Director
Dylan Easley – Region 3 Director
Stacie Mitchell – Region 3 Director
Bailey Mierzejewski – Region 4 Director
Lauren Diaz – Region 4 Director
Abigail Pait – Region 5 Director
Michael Felts – Region 5 Director
Mark Mowbray – Region 5 Director
Alyssa Freitas – Region 6 Director
Jessica Stepanek – Region 6 Director
Sierra Arroyo – Region 7 Director
Chantz Stewart – Region 7 Director
Kelsey Vung – Region 7 Director
Austin Halvorson – Region 8 Director
Paris Nottingham – Region 8 Director
Logan Pluhar – Region 8 Director
Sarah Ann Pendergraft – Region 9 Director
Taylor Bevis – Region 10 Director
Jordan Boyd – Region 10 Director
Britt Lynch – Region 10 Director
