National Officer Candidates
Eight NYCHA members have submitted their name as candidate for 5 positions as NYCHA National Officers. Youth members must first serve as an NYCHA Area Director before campaigning for national office. If elected to office, the newly sworn officers will provide leadership for NYCHA programs and assist the association in reaching its mission and purpose. Ballots have been mailed to all current youth members and must be received in the NCHA office no later than July 9, 2008. Newly elected officers will be sworn into office during the NYCHA Convention in Fort Worth, Texas during the month of July.
PRESIDENT
Chance Smith
Howdy! I’m Chance Smith, from Paradise, Texas and a 2008 graduate of
Paradise High School; I am also currently serving as the President of
NYCHA. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a representative of the NYCHA over
my 7 years with the organization, serving previously as the 2nd
Vice President, an Area 9 Director and always as an active member. While a
member of the NYCHA I have competed in many of the events that the NYCHA
sponsors, all across the country, including the World Finals, Eastern &
Western Championships and Summer Scholarship Cuttings. While at these
shows, I have, along with my fellow youth members, been very active in the
coordinating of the youth activities at the shows. All of these shows have
provided me the opportunity to spread the benefits of the NYCHA, as it has
also provided opportunities for new friends and colleagues, as well as the
benefits of establishing and maintaining those relationships that will last
a lifetime, a lifetime that I cannot imagine without the NYCHA and NCHA.
These organizations have allowed me to build upon my love of equine, for
competition and the cowboy lifestyle. My goal for the next year of the
NYCHA, is to increase the youth participation in our organization and at our
cuttings. We have to encourage our youth to be more active, to participate
more and take the lead in our ever growing sport. We have to mold young
leaders that can carry the torch from the NYCHA to the NCHA. We have to
fill in the gaps of leadership from each level to the next, so we can
continue to advance our sport into the next decade and into the next stage
of all our lives. While a member of the Paradise FFA Chapter, I competed on
the Horse Judging Team, and also in the Texas High School Rodeo – Boys
Cutting and learned the importance of the future of agriculture in our ever
changing society. In my spare time I have away from my horses, I enjoy
hunting, fishing, wakeboarding and being with my friends.
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Ashley Pigg
My name is Ashley Pigg; I am seventeen years old and live in Fort Payne,
Alabama. I am a senior at Fort Payne High School and currently our class
Vice President. Although I began cutting in January 2006, I have been
involved with horses my entire life. My experience in the NYCHA has been
very enriching; I have met so many youth and adults across the nation and
have made many friends. For the past two years, I have served as an Area 22
director. I also served as the NYCHA 2nd Vice President for the 2007-2008
term. I am very involved in many school extracurricular activities. I have
been a Varsity cheerleader for three years and was named Head cheerleader. I
have served as an officer for our FFA program and Future Business Leaders of
America chapter. I am an active member of Key Club, Students Against
Destructive Decisions, and Mu Alpha Theta. As a junior, I was inducted into
the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. I was also recognized
by the United States Achievement Academy as an outstanding student. I am
ranked in my class’ Academic Top 10 and served as a Junior Marshal. In
addition to the NYCHA, I am also a member of the American Quarter Horse
Association. As NYCHA 1st Vice President, I would focus on educating area
directors about the Educational Grant Program and the Outstanding Area
Director Program. I would do my best to encourage and help area directors
organize and host youth cutting clinics. I would also keep youth members
well informed about youth activities such as the photo and essay contests.
Grant
Smith
I am 18 years old from Grand Island, Nebraska, and will be a freshman at
Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, this fall. I am planning to
major in Aerospace Engineering and minor in Business. I have been an Area
Director for 4 years, Youth President of the Cutting Horse Association of
Nebraska for the past 6 years, and have been a member of the NYCHA for 8
years. I have also been a member of the FFA and National Honor Society the
past two years. Two years ago I was honored to receive the Todd Drummond
Award from the NCHA, and the Jessica Kawolski memorial award from the Beef
Empire Cutting Horse Association. I was also honored to be a part of setting
up and organizing the Bill Freeman Scholarship cutting at Grand Island,
Nebraska. I am also involved in High School Rodeo, finishing second the past
three years at state, setting both the Average and Go-round records at the
State Finals. I am also a third year member of the National High School
Rodeo Association Wrangler All-Star Team. Last year I was the state director
for Boys Cutting, and two years ago I was the director for Boys Cutting at
the National High School Rodeo Association Finals. As 1st Vice President my
goals would be to get more people from across the country involved with the
Educational Grant Program, and to make decisions based on the wants and
needs of the youth members. As I have held many offices before, I feel that
I will be able to successfully serve as the 1st Vice President of the NYCHA.
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
Jessica Bagley
Hello! My name is Jessica Bagley and I would love to be your next NYCHA 2nd
Vice President. I have been involved with the NYCHA for the past 6 years.
I am currently serving my 3rd year as an Area 18 NYCHA Director. I have
been in the top 10 youth in my area for the past 4 years, and have been a
finalist at many major youth events. I have served as your NYCHA reporter
for the past two terms. With this experience, I feel that I am well
prepared to serve as your NYCHA 2nd Vice President.
I will work diligently with the Stallion Service Program to
make sure that the program reaches its full potential. This is the largest
fund raising opportunity for the NYCHA. It will be my goal to get as many
quality breedings donated as possible, as well as working to increase the
number of bids that the stallions are getting. I will make sure that each
stallion owner and mare owner who participates in the program is thanked for
their support. When people talk about how well they are treated with the
program and how well the program worked for them, it encourages others to
participate as well.
I will work with the area directors to make sure that all
areas of the country participate and are aware of the Stallion Service
Program. By encouraging all areas of the country to participate, you
increase your options for stallions to breed to, as well as mare owners to
buy breedings, thus increasing the amount of money raised. As an Officer, I
will work to encourage Area directors to promote the programs of NYCHA on
the local level. The most effective way to increase participation and
knowledge on a national level is to promote it at the local level. As an
officer, it is my job and number one priority that your needs are met. Your
voice and opinions matter to me and I would love to use my talents to serve
YOU! Thank you for your much appreciated support! Vote for me, and I
promise I won’t let you down!
Denver
Mead
My name is Denver Mead, I’m 16 years old. I live in Aledo, Texas and attend
Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas. I will be a junior this
upcoming year and have high hopes of completing my education at Texas
Christian University. I not only compete in the youth division I also
travel around the country to various aged events which gives me a large
opportunity to reach out to stallion owners which would be an advantage to
the NYCHA Stallion Service Program. In my first year of being an area
director I presented various ideas to help raise money for the NYCHA. In
December 2007, I helped put on and host a charity event raising toys for
Toys for Tots. With this I believe that I have the pre requisites necessary
to excel in the Second Vice President position which requires charity and
fundraising experience. I appreciate your time and ask for your support.
Please vote in the upcoming 2008 NYCHA elections.
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Bailee Bussey
My name is Bailee Bussey. I am running for NYCHA Secretary/Treasurer. I feel
I am capable of meeting the needs of the organization in this position. I
have been an Area 22 director for two years. I am 15 years old and a
sophomore at Winfield City High School. I have been showing cutting horses
for 6 years. I am involved in FFA, 4-H, National Honor Society, FBLA, FCCLA,
and a member of “The Rock” youth group at the First Baptist Church of
Winfield. I love showing cutting horses and the majority of my time is spent
doing so. I enjoy playing guitar and being at the barn. I love hanging out
with my friends at shows and at home as well. I like spending time with my
family while on and off the road. I enjoy planning activities for the youth.
I think it helps bring us all together allowing us to have fun outside the
show pen. NCHA Weekend 2007, I put together some activities to help raise
money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. We
held a horse wash and sold raffle tickets for a Remington sculpture. We
raised approximately $1,000! As Secretary/Treasurer of our organization, I
will do my job to the best of my abilities and try to assist the other
officers to make the NYCHA the best organization possible. I believe the
NYCHA helps to develop leadership and life skills. I’m a good sport, win or
lose, and think it is important to be a positive role model to the members
of this organization. I promise to do my best and put forth my greatest
effort to meet your needs. Thank you for your time and consideration.
REPORTER
Jessica Bruch
My name is Jessica Bruch and I am currently an Area 4 Director. I have been
in various leadership positions during high school, including being the
Chair of the Policy Committee in Student Council. As well as being the
Secretary for Truth, Nobility and Trust, which is an all-girls group that
does various community service projects and puts on school events. In my
affiliate, I have put on many truck and trailer washes in order to raise
money. I have also participated in Operation Christmas Child and encouraged
those in my area to do the same. Through these leadership roles, I have
learned how much positive change can occur through small acts as well as
large ones. I would like the opportunity to implement positive change in the
NYCHA. I want to interview various individuals so we might receive insight
into others lives. I love riding horses, playing basketball and hanging out
with my friends. I plan on attending Tarleton State University in
Stephenville, Texas in the fall. Currently I plan on studying Animal
Science with a minor in Biology and want to research hereditary diseases.
Marli
Claytor
Hi, my name is Marli Claytor; I am 15 years old and a sophomore at Cushing
High School. I am running for the office of reporter. I have been involved
in the NYCHA for 9 years. I have also been the Area 8 director for the past
3 years. In addition I served as the Deep Fork Youth Cutting Horse
Association reporter. Other than competing in my area, I have helped to
organize donations, conduct fundraisers for scholarships, sponsorship for
Area 8 NCHA Day and Operation Christmas Child. As reporter, I have some
fresh ideas that I would like to add to the monthly news. I really enjoy
taking photos and look forward to making the scrapbook. I am involved in the
FFA, Gifted and Talented Program, Humane Society of the United States, and
the American Scholars Achievement Academy. I enjoy training border collies,
crafting and baking.
Ballots must be received in NCHA Office no later than July 9, 2008.