Affiliate of the Year - Lone Star Cutting Horse Association

By Gala Nettles

Receiving the Affiliate of the Year Award is icing on the cake for members of the Lone Star Cutting Horse Association who already feel rewarded with the benefits provided by their hardworking association. Membership: 138....Officers: President - Jay Bedford; Vice President - Brenda McCleery; Secretary/Treasurer - Agnes Adams....Directors: Terry Adams; Johnny Bates; Larry Bozman; Punk Carter; Bob Mayfield; Brenda McCleery; Billy Ray Rosewell; Ronnie Smith; Jack Smithhart and Dale Weatherford.

Saddles anyone? If you are in dire need for a new saddle, perhaps would like a spare one, or just favor the satisfaction of riding a saddle that you worked hard to win, you're a prime candidate for showing at the Lone Star Cutting Horse Association. This year they will be awarding saddles to the riders of the champions in ten different classes at their year-end awards banquet. That's right ten classes, ten saddles.

Of course, these awards aren't really anything new. The association presented saddles to the champions of these classes last year as well.

Outstanding awards are one of the reasons that Lone Star Cutting Horse Association (LSCHA) is a champion itself of the NCHA Affiliate of the Year Award.

A new association looking for a mentor wouldn't need to look any further than Lone Star Cutting Horse Association. In addition to pleasing their members with great awards, the association is also known for its quality leadership, hard working members and attention to their youth. These details worked hand-in-hand to fertilize the growth of the association, another reason LSCHA took home the Affiliate of the Year Award at the 2001 NCHA Convention. As winners of the award, the association is now the proud owner of an NCHA clock, a trophy and $2,500 in cash.

Working on growth

The Lone Star Cutting Horse Association, one of the oldest affiliates in Area 24, was nominated for the award by two Area 24 NCHA directors, Ronnie Smith and Larry Bozman. In addition, The Rose Country CHA and the Oil Belt CHA, sister Area 24 affiliates, wrote letters to the NCHA on their behalf.

Although the LSCHA has been functioning for a long time, it has really flourished in the past half dozen years with innovative ideas that have made its growth explode. The officers wisely awarded the spoils to the competitors, which in turn stimulated more growth. The cycle has worked well for them.

Lone Star Cutting Horse Association first began its quest for the title by working on membership increases. They diligently endeavored to reactivate members of the past who no longer participated at the shows, as well as searched for ways to entice new members into the association. Over the year, they increased their active membership roster by 25%.

The emphasis on a cutter-friendly association run by leaders who weren't afraid of horse work won the approval of cutters, and the association's membership has grown accordingly. In the case of one summer show, it ran until 3:00 a.m., requiring other judges to step in so that the association would not exceed the limit of 150 horses for one judge per day. Throughout the year, the affiliate averaged 155 horses per show, which resulted in about a 24% increase in entries.

Leadership

Leadership was a key in spawning the growth of the organization since, at LSCHA, directors are active in more than name only. Not only do they hold the name, they lead the organization by holding regular meetings, attending the shows and personally addressing any problems that may arise.

"Our directors all work together and they do so with one goal to make the cutters happy," said Agnes Adams, the secretary for the Lone Star Cutting Horse Association. "The directors put in a lot of work before the show to make sure the ground is good, the cattle are there, fed and watered. We have directors who stay at the show grounds until ten o'clock the night before the show making sure everything is ready. They have all been directors for a long time. Many of them have held offices for several years, so they work well together and they work hard."

"We meet often and bring to the table what the people are saying," added Brenda McCleery, the vice president of the association. "We're not perfect, every association has problems, but I think the reason ours works is because the directors listen. If we hear a complaint, we try to take care of it. We look for options. We might not be able to fix it, but we try."

At the same time, the association planned exceptional shows that provided cutters with the things they most wanted when attending a cutting. First, the association added the use of the Faster Cut software to enhance the bookkeeping. They then developed innovative newsletters, complete with pictures, spotlights on members and youth, inspirational comments for improvement and the standings to date. The newsletters not only kept participating cutters updated, they also enticed those who weren't there to attend.

"We have a good group of people," continued McCleery, "and they all put forth effort at the shows. That helps. So does our great location."

Inspiring the youth

Lone Star Cutting Horse Association caters heavily to its youth program. First, the youths cut fresh cattle and do so without paying a cattle fee. Instead, they only pay their entry fee. The association strives to find individuals or a business to sponsor the fresh cattle at each show.

Besides easing the financial obligation to cut, at Lone Star Cutting Horse Association the youth also receive free videos of their runs and every cutter who rides to the herd is presented an award at each show, no matter the score.

And finally, Lone Star Cutting Horse Association offers scholarships for its youth.

Giving back

Last year, like every other year, the association gave the spoils earned during a good year of cutting back to its members. The LSCHA presented a total of $19,500 in awards to its competitors throughout the year. The year-end awards included a custom Coats saddle to the champions of each class, Murray chaps to the reserve champions of each class, Nettles stirrups to the winners of third place and custom headstalls to the winners of fourth place. During three summer circuits, the association awarded Griffin spurs, Custom spur straps and Nettles Kerriet bags.

Unlike many associations who have given up holding banquets because of a lack of interest, this association has a membership who gathers just like family. At their banquet last year, Lone Star Cutting Horse Association members received their awards at a catered complimentary dinner at which 65 members attended.

Describing what makes the association tick, Brenda McCleery neatly summed it up in one sentence. "To put your finger on it, it is just a group of good people who love cutting."