Talented American Junior Paint Horse Association
leader earns special honors from her peers

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA)
member Laura Akerlund of Grafton, Wisc., earned her group’s highest honor recently, when she was named 2007 Youth Member of the Year. The award was announced during this summer’s World Championship Paint Horse Show, where Akerlund, a former AjPHA president, also received a Gist trophy buckle and a $500 U.S. Savings Bond for the honor.

Laura Akerlund and her Paint Horse gelding, Lonesome At The Top. Although Akerlund is starting college this fall, she plans to continue competing with “Topper” next spring during her final year as an AjPHA member. Photo Courtesy Akerlund family Hirez JPEG (969 kb)

“When I heard the good news I had won, I was ecstatic! I am very honored to have been chosen and am extremely thankful to everyone who helped me to achieve this award,” said Akerlund. “I’m especially grateful to my mom and dad for their encouragement and support.”

The Youth Member of the Year award is presented to an AjPHA member who has shown outstanding dedication, commitment, and a caring attitude to their community and regional club, which is a local branch of the national Youth organization. It is the most prestigious award available to AjPHA members.

“Throughout her association with AjPHA, Laura has repeatedly shown great enthusiasm for and a commitment to the Paint Horse breed, AjPHA and her community,” said AjPHA Director of Youth Activities Candace Lancaster.

“For example, Akerlund served as the Youth organization’s president during 2006 and 2007,” continued Lancaster. “During her term, she instituted an initiative to generate local community involvement by AjPHA members. Entitled ‘One Stride at a Time’, it raised more than $10,000 for cancer research and cancer patients.”

Akerlund has also served as an AjPHA National Director since 1998 and has held positions as the organization’s Secretary and the Zone 5 representative. On a local level, she served as her regional club’s President for four terms.

Outside of the Paint Horse industry, Akerlund was the captain of her high school’s varsity gymnastics and competitive cheerleading teams, a student council member, a member of the soccer and gymnastics teams and on the honor roll. She also was a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization and volunteered as a coach for a local cheerleading group.

As Akerlund enters college this fall, she continues her involvement with Paints through a scholarship from the American Paint Horse Foundation. She is attending the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where she plans to major in either Public Relations or Communications.

About AjPHA
Developed for Paint Horse enthusiasts 18 years old and younger, the AjPHA fosters responsibility, positive sportsmanship and promotion of the Paint Horse breed. With more than 7,000 members, this organization promises a strong future for the industry.