NCHA News

Fort Worth, TX —The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) and the NCHA Foundation are proud to announce matching $500,000 commitments to the annual NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting in support of youth members and their pursuit of higher education.

Beginning in 2026, the NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting—held annually during Youth Week of the NCHA Great American Insurance Summer Cutting Spectacular—will now award $95,000 in scholarship funds to finalists across Junior and Senior divisions. This represents an endowed increase of $50,000 to one of the association’s most beloved youth events.

“This is truly a game changer for our youth members,” said Julia Buswold, Executive Director of the NCHA Foundation. “The NCHA and the NCHA Foundation are both committed to ensuring that our NYCHA members have the funds needed to chase their dreams in and out of the arena. The NCHA joining us in this effort, at this level of commitment, is going to impact the futures of our youth members, and ultimately our association, for generations to come.” 

For more than 25 years, the NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting has been a cornerstone of Youth Week and has gained attention and additional support in recent years thanks in large part to Starr Whitley of Whitley Ranch. In 2024, Whitley made a 10-year commitment to support additional scholarship funds for the top three finishers in the Senior Youth division of the Scholarship Cutting. Of the need for growth, Buswold shared, “With 40+ finalists across both divisions,the original funds were incredible, but we wanted to do more and make a deeper financial impact on these educational futures of our youth members.” Pending the number of entries, not only will all finalists be awarded an impactful scholarship, but now the Senior and Junior Youth NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting Champions are estimated to be awarded more than $10,000 & $5,000 in scholarship funds respectively.

“The NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting is an integral part of Youth Week, and we have worked together to grow support for the event,” said Jay Winborn, Executive Director of NCHA. “The NCHA understands the impact that our youth members will have on the future of our sport, and we are proud to join the Foundation in making a lasting commitment that not only supports our youth members, but also the future of the association.”

Over the course of Youth Week 2026, NYCHA members will be awarded $200,000 in scholarships both in and out of the arena. Since 1982, the NCHA Foundation has provided millions of dollars in support of the NCHA and its members through youth programming and scholarships, animal welfare initiatives, historical preservation, and continued education in the sport of cutting.

To learn more about how you can support these efforts, visit www.nchafoundation.org