With its roots in the history of the West, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) had its eyes on the future as the association held its annual convention in Grapevine, Texas, on June 24-26.
“We need to preserve our Western heritage in these changing times,” said incoming NCHA President Chuck Smith, of Canal Winchester, Ohio. “At the same time, we’re in a changing world, with increasing technology and faster communications. We should embrace that technology and use it to help us show the rest of the country and the rest of the world what the cutting horse is all about.”
At the convention, Smith took the gavel from retiring President Jo Ellard, of Dallas, Texas. Other incoming officers are President Elect Lewis Wray, of Russellville, Arkansas; and Vice President Phil Rapp, of Weatherford, Texas.
Newcomers to the 14-member NCHA Executive Committee are Tatum Rice, of Weatherford, Texas; Jay Klamon, of Alto, Georgia, and Matt Miller, of Poolville, Texas. Jeff Fisk, of Walton, Kentucky was re-elected to the Executive Committee.
The annual convention brings together the NCHA’s directors and standing committees to develop proposals which will be considered for adoption by the Executive Committee at its next meeting in August 2016.
Common threads through the meetings were making the sport more accessible to entry-level cutters, ways to recognize competitors’ achievements, preserving the sport’s heritage and increasing purses.
The Hall of Fame Gala, presented by the Dogwood Foundation, took place on June 25. The banquet saw Robert Charles Brown, of Tallulah, Louisiana; Jerry Durant, of Weatherford, Texas; and Bob Mayfield, of Wills Point, Texas; inducted into the Members Hall of Fame, the NCHA’s most prestigious honor.
Junie Wood is owned by Glade Knight’s Slate River Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, and trained by John Mitchell. Special Nu Baby is owned by Gary and Shannon Barker, of Madill, Oklahoma, and was trained by Matt Gaines.
Junie Wood and Special Nu Baby were inducted into the NCHA Horses Hall of Fame.Tarin Rice, of Centerville, Texas, and Mike Wood, of Scottsdale, Arizona, were inducted into the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame.
Going into the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame were Bill Cowan, of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Cody Hedlund, of Lipan, Texas; Nelson Knight, of Richmond, Virginia; Ty Moore, of Madill, Oklahoma; Cade Shepard, of Summerdale, Alabama; Dix Turnbow, of Brenham, Texas; and Kaitlyn Wimberly, of Millsap, Texas.
The American Quarter Horse Association awards for sire, freshman sire and dam went to High Brow Cat, Rockin W and Miss Ella Rey, respectively.
The Alberta (Canada) Cutting Horse Association received the Affliliate of the Year Award.
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