APHA Executive Secretary honored

FORT WORTH, Texas-American Paint Horse Association Executive Secretary Ed Roberts recently received the Fort Worth, Texas, Star-Telegram's 2000 Farm and Ranch Award for his accomplishments with the APHA. The daily paper, which has a Sunday circulation of approximately 300,000, announced the award in a January special section.

The Star-Telegram selected Roberts and nine other honorees from more than 220 nominations representing 22 Texas counties. All recipients were noted as being skilled and hard-working people in Texas agriculture.

"The award was a surprise because there are so many deserving people in the agricultural industry," Roberts said. "I didn't see myself as one of those people."

In the Star-Telegram article, Roberts is credited with having "led the APHA from near-obscurity onto the fastest growth track of the equine world."

When Roberts took the reins in 1975, the annual registration was 5,896. In his 25 years with the association, membership has grown to 84,400 and the association has registered more than 530,000 Paint Horses. In 1999 alone, 62,186 horses were registered under Roberts' guidance.

As the popularity of Paint Horses has grown over the years, Roberts has expanded resources to fit those needs. Beginning his Paint career with 11 employees and a $400,000 budget, Roberts has helped the association expand to 160 employees working with a $15 million-plus budget.

Through Roberts' leadership, the APHA has established programs such as Ride America®, a saddle log program established to reward Paint Horse owners for recreational riding achievements. In addition, he has campaigned for technological improvements throughout the breed registry.

"I feel my biggest accomplishment is developing the team of professional staff that is here now," he said.

Now more than 84,400 members strong, the APHA strives to preserve and promote the history, breeding, training, racing, showing, sales and enjoyment of American Paints.