Youth World Show Declares Many World Champions

AMARILLO, TX, August 17, 2005 – The American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show was held August 6-13 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The weeklong event was filled with contests and classes to determine the 2005 World Champions.

The show left 30 world and 30 reserve world champions from the show ring in its wake, along with numerous champions from the variety of contests held throughout the week. The show is the world’s largest, single-breed invitational youth world championship horse show. Exhibitors and their horses must earn a predetermined number of points to qualify for the show.

The Youth World Show had 1,958 entries from the United States, Canada and Israel, comprising 44 states and Canadian provinces.

Talent Show
The show started by testing the talent of American Quarter Horse youth in the Cowtown Talent Show on Friday night, August 5. The contest was judged in four divisions: vocal, dance, potpourri and instrumental.

The winner of the vocal division and the overall competition was Chelsea Chandler of Germantown, Tennessee. Second place went to Stephanie Duff of Missouri and Evan Montgomery of North Dakota won third place.

In the dance division, Lacey Scott from Hernando, Mississippi, opened the show with an energetic dance routine that topped the dance category. Second place was awarded to Carissa and Brianna Miller and Heather Farris from Ohio, and third place was given to Jessica McCullen of Pennsylvania.

The potpourri division was a crowd favorite with eight-year-old twins Spencer and Sterling Saul from Des Arc, Arkansas, winning the category. The pair played their rendition of “We’re From the Country,” with Sterling on vocals and guitar and Spencer playing drums. Second went to Jordan and William Mitchell of Utah, and third went to Reba Evans of Florida.

The instrumental division was won by saxophonist Meggan Werkema from Caledonia, Michigan. David Morrill from California won second.

The talent show was open to all AQHYA members, offering one of many excellent opportunities for members to get involved at the Youth World, even if they aren’t riding.

Wrangler Youth Leader of the Year
This year’s Wrangler Youth Leader of the Year is Ms. Linda Wooten representing the Florida AQHYA affiliate.

Wooten is from West Palm Beach, Florida, and has been serving as a youth leader for five years. She was nominated by her entire youth delegation in a unanimous vote. Her kids put together a scrapbook-type application that was staggering!

Wooten helps organize clinics, develop fundraisers, coach teams, recruit members to AQHYA, and serves as an important resource person. She has a way of making each person feel special and welcome in every event whether it’s in or out of the show ring. Wooten’s application read, “She is a constant source of encouragement and support. When the kids are with her they seem to find their inner confidence. She truly is a special gift.”

Scrapbook Contest
The AQHYA Scrapbook contest took place on Saturday, August 6. This contest was judged on the creativity and effectiveness of recording each affiliate’s activities through pictures and memorabilia. The scrapbooks included pages with current events from their club and facts about the association’s past.

The contestants from each state must present their scrapbooks to a panel of judges in a maximum of five minutes.

In Division I, Missouri took first place honors with Texas coming in second and Indiana claiming third.

In Division II, Kentucky took the first place medallion with Arkansas receiving second place and Georgia placing third.

In Division III, West Virginia took first place, with New Jersey taking second and Virginia receiving third.

Horse Bowl Contest
The brains of AQHYA put their heads together on Tuesday, August 9, in the Horse Bowl competition. Thirteen teams buzzed in to try to win the World Champion title. Returning champion North Carolina captured the title going undefeated through six rounds. The team from South Dakota took second place and California Team B received third place. Each round consisted of 30 questions with the possibility of a bonus question. The contestants lost a point for each wrong answer and gained a point for each correct answer.

Speech Contest
AQHA youth demonstrated their public speaking skills during the speech contest on Wednesday, August 10. Youth participated in two divisions of the contest: impromptu and prepared. Speeches could be a maximum of five minutes long. The impromptu division drew from three questions and contestants were given five minutes to prepare a speech with a five-minute time limit to speak.

Haley Hill of Sweeter, Texas, won the youth world championship in the prepared public speaking contest. In the impromptu speaking contest, Laura Hienemann of Hagerman, Idaho, took first place.

Horse Judging Contest
The Horse Judging Contest tested the horse evaluation skills of AQHA’s youth in four halter classes and four performance classes on Thursday, August 11.

The contestants also gave four sets of oral reasons.

Contestants from the two divisions, AQHYA and 4-H/FFA, had to qualify in their state to participate in the contest. The contestants’ placings are compared to professional judges’ placings to determine the correct class placing.

In the AQHYA division, the North Carolina Quarter Horse Youth Association came out on top in the AQHYA division. In the 4-H/FFA division, Oklahoma 4-H, Team B, received first place.

Stall Decorating Contest
With the theme of “The Sky’s the Limit,” this year’s barns were decorated with airport runways and hot-air balloons. The stall decorating contest also was judged on cleanliness.

In Division I, first place was Missouri, coming in second was Tennessee, and claiming third place was Oklahoma.

Division II, first place was Georgia, coming in second was Arkansas, and claiming third place was North Carolina.

Division III, first place was West Virginia, coming in second was Mississippi, and claiming third was South Carolina.

Ford Truck Giveaway
AQHA Corporate Partner Ford gave away a 2005 F-150 XLT 2WD Supercab truck during the Parade of Teams Saturday morning, August 6. The AQHYA scholarship truck winner was Ranee Elder from Arvada, Colorado.

Youth World Show Assistance Fund
The opportunity to compete in the AQHYA World Championship Show is a great honor that doesn’t come easy. There are many long hours of hard work and dedication by youth and their parents. There’s also a hefty financial commitment that doesn’t come easy for many families.

AQHYA introduced the Youth World Show Assistance Fund for deserving youth to help them with expenses to attend this event. Jackson Land and Cattle has made significant contributions to support these youth.

Assistance grants were awarded to 13 deserving youth based on financial need and dedication to their American Quarter Horse. Each received funding based upon projected expenses up to $1,000.

The Youth World Show would not be possible without AQHA’s Corporate Partners and sponsors: Bayer, Ford, John Deere, Justin Boots, MBNA America®, MD Barns, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena, Professional’s Choice, Sooner Trailers, Tex Tan, WeatherBeeta, Wrangler, The American Quarter Horse Journal, Cripple Creek, Kiser Arena Specialists and Metro Golf Cars.

Television coverage of the Youth World will air on America’s Horse TV September 25 at 11 am ET/8 am PT and again October 2 at 10:30 am ET/7:30 PT.

For more information and full coverage from the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show, contact AQHA at (806) 376-4811 or visit http://www.aqha.com.