NCHA News

From roping steers to cutting cows, and everything in between, horses and horse associations have always been a big part of my life, and I’m blessed to be able to say NCHA has been an instrumental part of 45 of those years. I attended my first cutting in 1973, the same year I received my Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University, and was able to pull a check for $79. 12. Ever since then, I’ve been a weekend cutter going up and down the road to mostly $200 and $300 added cuttings, where this past year, in Saratoga, Wyoming, my earnings from that cutting was enough to put me in the Non-Pro Hall of Fame, and I’m honored to be inducted this year at convention.

Since my first cutting, I’ve been involved in every aspect of cutting, from being a competitor, a breeder, and a judge. I’ve been fortunate enough to serve as a Region 1 Director, and I’ve been involved in the Non-Pro and Youth committees. I’ve always had a passion for supporting the youth of this organization, which is why for every show I judged, I donated a Jim Reno or Jan Mapes trophy to the champion youth competitor.

There are many important things the leadership is accomplishing in the NCHA, which is why I decided to place my candidacy. I wanted to assist the upcoming leadership, the executive committee, and staff in assuring the continued promotion of innovative ideas formed along with trying to grow membership and sponsorships to keep NCHA financially sound and growing.

Along with assisting these leaders, some priorities I have should I be elected are: Leveling the playing field. At convention, it has been proposed to work out a new system for the aged events at the weekend shows to provide a good, fair structure for the amateur cutter to be able to compete with others of their own skill and earning level, which I believe is an excellent plan and a great step forward. I would like to work with the competition committee on how this can later be improved upon by adopting a win-to-entry ratio, which would eventually assign a number to both the horse and rider that I think will increase competitiveness in classes, and draw new members in.

I would like to showcase the amateur cutter at the Mercuria and other major shows by obtaining new sponsorship money. I applaud Paula Gaughan for trying a new class at her Mercuria Cutting in February called the $100,000 Amateur Blowout. This class, with $15,000 added money, was a tremendous success with 53 entries.

Also, for gaining more sponsorship, I feel we can get back to the grassroots. We have members all over the United States, even the world, which means there are endless opportunities to gain new contacts and introduce them to the world of cutting and, ultimately, supporting the industry. With one of my daughters, Shada Brazile, and her husband, Trevor, I have seen first-hand the importance of sponsorships, for the individual as well as for the association, can help you to thrive in every way within your sport.

We have the greatest, most competitive, members of any organization, hands down. I’d like to see about holding a membership drive during, say, a three-month period, where we ask our current members to recruit as many new members as they can. At the end of that period, we can recruit sponsors to donate prizes for whomever brings in the most new members. More than likely, we all got into cutting because we knew someone who was involved, so hopefully, by turning the everyday conversation about what you did the past weekend into a fun event with sponsored incentives, we can introduce more new members to cutting.

I want to ensure 100 percent transparency on fiscal policies with everything that goes on within the association. We should be able to see money how it relates to the NCHA and where it is all coming from, where it is going, and what is the plan for the future.

As I said before, I’ve been involved in every aspect of cutting, and I also have a well-rounded experience having been involved in multiple horse associations, owning and operating my cow/calf operation, working as a reserve deputy for 15 years, serving as a director for a state bank in Illinois, and even having the privilege of being a sponsor by sponsoring the World Finals jackets for four years back when they were in Amarillo, I know all my experiences will help me in my decision making to be as fair as possible to all cutters.

I love the sport of cutting. I have seen so many positive and productive outcomes over the last 40 plus years and want to do my part to keep cutting and its contributions relevant going forward. I value tradition, but I am not afraid to explore new ideas. My decades of successful business/ranching operations have taught me how to navigate and survive economic volatility, political influences, and generational traditions and preferences… lessons and experiences that readily translate into managing and evolving an organization such as the NCHA.

While I am from Colorado, I do not have any loyalties to any particular region or group which well positions me to make unbiased/equitable evaluations and decisions pertaining to policy, resource allocation, investments, and expansion or restructuring considerations.

I believe listening to others is more than just hearing words, and look forward to, and representing, the many varied voices of NCHA members for a more unified and successful association.