The 2026 show season has officially taken off, and we are excited to share some updates and new changes without VQHYA members!
First, we would like to welcome our newly elected officers:
● President: Brody Marshall
● Vice Presidents: Josephine Helton & Darcy McNail
● Secretaries: Claire Assur & Kaily Hoffman
● Reporter: Lila Assur
Congratulations to each of these individuals for stepping up into leadership roles. We are excited to see what this year brings under your guidance! We currently have 44 active youth memberships, along with 18 intent letters submitted for the Youth World and NYATT shows. Additionally, we have 8 youth intending to attend the YES Conference—a great level of participation
Important Reminder:
● Monies for Youth World/NYATT intentions are due May 1.
There have also been some important updates to the Youth Bylaws, including:
● Implementation of a Code of Conduct
● Addition of 3rd & 4th place awards at the year-end banquet, Increased membership by $5.00 a person to help fund this
● Establishment of a senior scholarship that will continue annually
● Introduction of fundraising participation requirements for eligibility
Meeting Schedule Reminder:
● Officer meetings will be held via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month
● General membership meetings will be held on the third Tuesday
● Zoom links will be sent out prior to each meeting
Fundraising Recap:
Our recent fundraising efforts were a huge success! “Kiss the Pig” and stall bedding at the Maiden event brought great energy and participation. The kids truly stole the spotlight, and we are especially thankful to Steven Meadows for being such a great sport during “Pucker Up Buttercup” with Gravy!
A special thank you to BMG for donating their adorable pig, who was an absolute hit and eceived plenty of love throughout the show.
Finally, thank you to all the parents, family members, and friends who continue to support our youth program. Your encouragement and involvement make all the difference, and we are looking forward to an incredible year ahead.
See you around the ring,
Dr. Nikki Marshall
VQHYA Youth Advisor
