A group of enthusiastic young leaders are gearing up for an exciting year with the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA). Five outstanding youth members were recently elected by their peers to lead the NRHyA in 2010.

The NRHyA annual meeting, which included officer elections, was held on December 5, 2009, during the NRHA Futurity & AdequanR North American Affiliate Championship Show. Youth members from all across the United States traveled to Oklahoma City to run for a position on the NRHyA Officer Team. The candidates campaigned both in their regions and in Oklahoma City as youth members can cast their votes online. This process encourages much more participation for those members who are unable to attend the youth meeting.

The NRHyA is very excited to present the 2010 NRHyA Officer Team. NRHyA President is Jordan Willette, of Prescott, AZ. Meaghan Burns, of Cheyenne, OK, was elected for another term as Vice President. The 2010 NRHyA Secretary is Abbie Weyeneth, of Davenport, IA. Hannah Bengtson, of Macomb, IL, is the new Treasurer for the Association. The 2010 NRHyA Historian is Keifer Cosper of Wilmington, NC.

Jordan Willette returns to the officer team after serving as the 2009 NRHyA Treasurer. Willette is currently a freshman at Yavapai Community College in Arizona. In addition to serving on the NRHyA Officer Team, Willette has been President of the Arizona Reining Horse Association’s Youth Program and has shown for the past four years.

Meaghan Burns is a veteran of the officer team having been the NRHyA Sentinel in 2007 and NRHyA Secretary in 2007 and 2008. Burns is a sophomore at Cheyenne High School and prides herself on her leadership and team building skills. In addition to her regional and national NRHyA activities, Burns also participates in FFA and 4-H.

Abbie Weyeneth takes part in numerous activities in school and Reining arena. She enjoys track, swimming, volleyball, church and local charities, as well as participating in her local 4-H club. She recently received a Merit Award from the State of Iowa for her educational demonstration on “How to Care for a Reining Horse” at the Iowa State Fair.

Hannah Bengtson brings responsibility, organization and dependability to the office of Treasurer. She has ridden for six years with five of those years competing in Reining. Bengtson enjoys being captain of her high school dance team, playing the flute as section leader in her high school wind symphony, four wheeling and fishing.

Keifer Cosper had been showing reining horses since 2006 with exposure to many Reining and NRHA programs like the USEF Championships held at the NRHA Derby and the NRHA Regional Affiliate Finals. Cosper qualified in 2009 to represent his region in the 2009 AdequanR North American Affiliate Championships in Oklahoma City.

Brian Bendele, NRHA Manager of Youth Programs & Outreach, said, “We have a tradition of having great leaders on our officer team, and this year is no different. I am very excited for the new year and the new officer team to be in place. They will represent the NRHyA very well.” The first order of business will be to review current NRHyA rules, make recommendations for the January NRHA board meeting and map out their schedule for 2010 which in tells a leadership conference, the NRHA Futurity, Derby and the World Equestrian Games.

If you would like more information about the NRHyA, go to http://www.nrhya.com nrhya.com or contact Manager of Youth Programs & Outreach Brian Bendele at [email protected] or (405) 946-7400, ext. 130.