Oklahoma City, OK – 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. After stating their goals for the year, they are ready to get their hands dirty to better the association they are proud to serve.

The NRHyA annual meeting, which included officer elections, was held during the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. Dozens of youth members from across the country campaigned and voted for the five coveted seats on the NRHyA Officer team. The newly elected officers wasted no time getting down to business and outlining their plan of action for the next year. The tasks in front of them include fostering existing youth programs and the development of new leadership activities to be implemented in their local affiliates.

The NRHyA is very excited to present the 2011 NRHyA Officer Team. NRHyA President is Meaghan Burns of Cheyenne, OK. Hannah Bengtson of Macomb, IL, was elected to NRHyA Vice President. Abbie Weyeneth of Davenport, IA, was elected to a second term as NRHyA Secretary. Blair Willette of Prescott, AZ, is the new Treasurer for the Association. The 2011 NRHyA Historian is Jordan Cox of Trenton, NC.

Meaghan Burns is no stranger to the NRHyA Officer team after serving in 2007 as the NRHyA Sentinel, 2008 as the NRHyA Secretary and 2009 and 2010 as the NRHyA Vice President. Burns is a sophomore at Culver Academies in Culver, IN, and prides herself on her leadership and team building skills. In addition to her many extracurricular activities at school, including intramural ice hockey, she is one of the founding members of the western equestrian team at Culver Academies.
Hannah Bengtson brings responsibility, organization, dependability and experience to the office of Vice President. She is a member of the Augustana College equestrian team and rides both english and western disciplines. Bengtson has been riding for seven years and is also an accomplished flutist and dancer. In her free time you, will find her outside fishing and four-wheeling.

Abbie Weyeneth is now in her second term as NRHyA Secretary. She takes part in numerous activities in the school and reining arenas. She enjoys track, church and volunteering with local charities. Weyeneth is very competitive in volleyball and is the captain of Morning Star Academy’s Mustang volleyball team. She was recently elected president and the key communicator for her high school class.

Blair Willette is a sophomore at Tri-City College Prep High School in Prescott, AZ. She fits perfectly in her new role as NRHyA Treasurer as she organized fundraisers for her local affiliate that helped establish the bank account for the Arizona Reining Horse Youth Association. In her free time she has a eclectic mix of hobbies that include softball, endurance riding and Irish dancing. Willette is passionate about community service and is looking forward to sharing this passion with other NRHyA members.

Jordan Cox is a freshman at Kansas State University and hales from Trenton, NC. She is a member of the K-State Varsity Equestrian team in the reining discipline. Cox has been showing reiners since she was eight years old. She and her family also raise and show livestock including cattle, sheep and swine. A natural leader, this is not her first time in a national leadership role as she has previously served on the National Junior Angus Association Board.

Shianne Megel, RHSF & NRHA Youth Programs Assistant, said, “I am very excited for the next year and the goals the team has developed. We have a group of young ladies that are extremely talented and driven to serve the NRHyA. They will be great representatives and leaders for our Association and the sport of Reining.”

If you would like more information about the NRHyA, go to nrhya.com, find NRHyA at facebook.com/nrhya or contact NRHA Youth Programs at (405) 946-7400 or [email protected].

ENDS