Hi Folks:

What a great weekend for everyone and especially the OKYRHA youth! Jessi Clemmons, Maegan Gardner, and Ben Wagman were interviewed for Disney Radio. Maegan Gardner was on the local Tulsa station showing her freestyle along with helping present the weather! Maegan was also highlighted in the Tulsa and Claremore newspapers!

Jessi Clemmons set up the art show for the youth to showcase their photos and artwork. We had a great display of members with their horses…or horse power – (Vance Brainard was pictured on his scooter!).

At the Slide Zone, the youth members helped prepare the t-shirts to throw out during the drags as well as hand out ATRC tattoos to the children waiting in the Breyer line. After throwing the t-shirts during the drags, the youth helped sell the Slide Zone programs. Howard Pidcock was invaluable in helping move everything (programs, t-shirts, youth, and adults!) from one end of the arena to the other – many times! Doran Burns helped out by driving the pick up so we didn’t have to worry about hitting the walls in the loaner pickup!

On Saturday, the OKYRHA hosted the NRHyA meeting. The OKYRHA planned a Hawaiian-themed meeting with all the decorations that made the room in Tulsa look like we were in Honolulu! The meeting was led by the OKYRHA members beginning with the welcome from President Jessi Clemmons. Many of the members had a part in the meeting (Maegan Gardner, Emma Holbrook, Meaghan Burns, Vance Brainard, Sara Walton, Ben Wagman), including all the OKYRHA Officers and many of the members – from welcoming youth as they arrived to the meeting, to introducing OKYRHA members, NRHyA Officers, and NRHyA Delegates, to calling out the lucky winners of the door prizes! NRHyA Officers Cash Bridges and Meaghan Burns were on hand to talk about the NRHyA Raffle, Varsity Reining Club, and the new 2009 NRHyA By-laws.

The 2009 NRHyA SC Delegates are:

• 13 & Under
  • Emily Winegar
  • Braden King
• 14 – 18
  • Reed Kyle
  • Kaitlin Townsend

That afternoon we went on with a trip to Big Splash – everyone had a great time there, and a special thanks to Sue Phillips for helping supervise at the park. You can see pictures from the meeting and Big Splash by visiting the OKRHA website at www.okrha.com. Also, we were fortunate to have NRHA staff member Ashley Weyland on hand to talk about the Youth Team Tournament. Photographers Bucky Harris and Faye Zmek were on hand to take pictures of the activities.

Saturday evening during the exhibitor party, the OKYRHA members auctioned their “theme” baskets. Themes included emergency vet supplies, car washing supplies, movies, OSU, toys, chocolate, horse show supplies, digital frames, etc. Local OKRHA member and artist, Kathryn Schaapveld, donated a picture that was the high seller at $550. At the end of the auction the youth raised in excess of $1,600! Curt Donley and Kenny Gardner volunteered their time to auctioneer. The youth members presented their baskets and then were the bid spotters. We certainly appreciate the generous support of the buyers – Wagman Ranch, Wallis Winegar, Dr. Donnell, Paula Pidcock, Jody Brainard, Gary Isler, Doran Burns, Veronica St. Onge and an anonymous donor.

The competition to win an iPod Shuffle for the youth who sold the most tickets yielded over 200 tickets sold this weekend. The competition was fierce with Ben Wagman and Braden King being the high sellers. In the end, it was Ben Wagman who sold the most tickets and walked away with the iPod Shuffle. The sale of the tickets also provides another $400 to OKYRHA for a net of $2,000 raised this weekend for the youth!

We are excited to have such a great group of youth to work with. We look forward to the plans for 2009!

Have a great day.

Paula Pidcock and Anne-Marie Burns