New Arenas Open at Horse Lover's Park by Levi Elliott

(Left-right): Kim Keith, park mgr.; L.B. Scacewater, Ramonia Thomas, James A. Colley, Howard Steere - City of Phx.; Levi Elliot, AzQHYA Pres.; Chuck & Maxine Lakin, Sharon Dorociak, Horse Lover's Found.; Jean Anderson, ASHA; Marsha & Rick Johns, Horse Lover's; Jan Hancock, ASHA; Jack & Ellen Spalding, Mickey Hegg, Horse Lover's; Marilyn Harris, Az. Nat'l Livestock; Glenn Jordan, ASHA Pres.

We're happy to report that the 1st Annual Youth Quarter Horse Spring Fling Show went off without any hitches. The Youth Association, in conjunction with the Horse Lovers foundation, had their opening ceremony for the two new arenas on April 28th-29th, 2001. The Arizona Dream Catchers were also in attendance to help hand out class awards and to participate in the costume class. We had many city officials present, along with the Mounted Sheriff's Posse, which presented the colors prior to the opening. I was fortunate to be asked to be the master of ceremonies, which was a great honor (and fun too). A very special thank you to Chuck and Maxine Lakin for all of their help in making this a huge success.

The youth show had all four arenas in use most of the time. All the roping and cattle events going on were judged by Billy L. Cress (my Grandfather) and Carolyn McGinnis - both Arizona judges. A very special thank you to my Grandfather, who donated his services to the youth association, and who was so nice to shuttle the other judges all over town. Nancy Sue Ryan and Marilyn Randal were the other two judges for Western, English and Halter classes. A very big thank you to all of them. The youth association would like to thank Shawn Health and her staff, Caycee Cooper and Tor Sorenson - they did a really great job of handling our show. I would recommend them to anyone having a show.

We were also the proud sponsors of the food booth at the Spring Fling as well - which was a lot of work for several youth parents. A really big thank you to Dallas and Margie Crumpton, Susie Johns and my mother Cami Elliott - they bought, delivered, set-up, cooked and cleaned up for all of us. This is truly a thankless job, and we love you for it.

Special thanks to Abby Cosenza and Paul Wills for their handily craftsmanship on the awards. They did a really super job. The youth association would also like to thank the following supporters who sponsored a class for our youth shows:

Valerie and Clara Scott, The Woods, Larry Bryson, Ginger and Tom Gipson, Jed and Pam Bechdel, Kathi Casteel, The Englunds, The Tobins, The Burtons, The (Robert) Kieckhefers, Jim, Deanna and Taylor Searles, Kevin and Mary Shelter, Barbara Dietz, Steve and Marthy Raether, Patricia Abbott, Anne Sisson, Al and Becky Dunning, Lorraine Dicki, Carol Walker, Larry Stevens, Mark McArthur, Jeffrey and Lannie Stater, Peggy Kimes, Rusted Mesquite Ranch, Playmore Ranch...

Siri Darrell, Barbara Ziehler, The Olsons, Karen Barber, Deborah and Bill Blake, Larry and Cathi Cox, Kenneth and Dorothy Fish, Sue Zarske, Diamon G Enterprises, The (John) Keickhefers, Sarah and Theo Nyquist, Karen Stone, Scott Graham, Peggy Butler, Bob and Kay Snyder, Chris Ackley, Pat and Margaret Celentano, Stphanie Kardigan, Tim Busbee, Jan Bruner, Mary Lou Wyatt, Denny Wyatt, June and Cory Liston, Kirkland Valley Ranch, Rol and Susan Johnson...

Donna Powell, Kathy Mellody, The Steruskys, John and Carol Bazewicz, Jane Cabeen, Kevin and Melissa Dukes, Laurel Champlin, The Johns Family, Jeanine Raether, A to Z Farms, Billy and Valerie Cress, Linda Hamilton, Carol Brock, Chuck and Joe Van Horn, Bobby Johnson, The Andersons, Diane Collins, Roscoe and Doris Bowers, Neal Winard, Jim Cleary, Buzz Busbee, Dorn Parkinson, Mike and Gayle Drennan, Al and Becky Blankenship, Chet and Kay Johns, The Kitzmillers, Mary Lou, Warren and Sandi Searles.

Versatility class sponsors were: Larry Bryson, Sandy Momott, Doug and Anne Simonson, Karen Stone, Joyce Widner, Susie Johns, Kathy Tobin, Cami Elliott, Jim and Deanna Searles.

The Youth Association is very thankful to have had this opportunity to hold the youth show and would also like to thank Brenda Smith and the City of Phoenix, along with her staff for all their hard work.

Our next scheduled youth even is our youth-sponsored trail ride on June 2nd, 2001, in Skull Valley, Arizona. We will also be holding our election of officers during the next few weeks, with the changing of the guard happening right after the Youth World Show. Ballots will be mailed in June and are due back at the beginning of July.

The AzQHYA Youth Team for the World Show are busy planning for the Youth World at this point, and there will be more to follow on this issue in my next article.

"Congrats!" by the way, to all whom graduated from high school this year like myself. Have a really safe and fun summer.

Sincerely, Levi Elliott AzQHYA President