Missouri Junior Paint Horse Club is
named AjPHA Club of the Year

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—What do you get when you put together six youth who
are born leaders, who strive to serve their community and who have a
tremendous love for Paint Horses?

The Missouri Junior Paint Horse Club officers! These six youth, with the help of their Youth Advisor, Debbie Neer, lead the Missouri Junior Paint Horse Club to capture the title of American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) Club of the Year. The 2006 club officers are Blair Bergeson, President; McKenzie True, Vice President; Kristen Caraway, Secretary; Cody Franklin, Treasurer; Olivia Mack, Reporter; Morgan Harrison, Scrapbook Chairperson.

The Missouri Junior Paint Club Officers from left to right: Blair Bergeson, McKenzie True, Kristen Caraway, Cody Franklin, Olivia Mack and Morgan Harrison. Photo courtesy Debbie Neer, Youth Advisor.

“It was a great accomplishment,” said Neer. “It’s almost like a full-time job, but it is good training for the kids and I really enjoy doing it.”

“We were all so excited when we heard the news,” said Bergeson. “To me, this award means that we have a group of dedicated youth in Missouri who are willing to put forth the time and effort needed to make our activities and organized events a success.”

Bergeson is a junior at Cole Camp High School and has been president of the MjPHC for four years. This year she will step down from the president position and assist Debbie Neer as the Junior Youth Advisor.

Clubs competing for this prestigious award each create a scrapbook that is judged on a 150-point scale by the youth committee at each year’s Workshop. The scrapbooks are judged on several categories: community service, participation in non-horse related activities, education, participation in the Presidental Service Project, club meetings, club information, newsletter information, club promotion, fund-raising, horse show activities and over all presentation of the scrapbook.

The Missouri Junior Paint Horse Club went above and beyond the expectations. A few of their outstanding accomplishments should not
go unrecognized. Education: The MjPHC hosted a “Preparing For Success” clinic with Brent Harnish as the clinician. He gave information on showmanship, horsemanship and trail classes.

This was the first year the club awarded a $1,500 scholarship to a member of the Missouri Paint Horse Club who graduated high school in 2006. This recipient was Hannah Engelbrecht of Eugene, MO. The Missouri Paint Horse Club gave $500, the MjPHC gave $500 and an anonymous donor gave $500. They plan to continue this award in years to come.

Community service: Last fall, the club created a fun, unique class called Get Back Showmanship, where people nominated others to be in the class. Exhibitors had to dress up and other people bet on the success of their favorite participant. This class raised $500, which was donated to the Red Cross Katrina Relief fund.

Fundraising: A candle sales campaign will help youth members attend the Youth Membership Conference this fall. Sweatshirts and t-shirts sales also helped raise money for the club, as did a consignment sale.

“This contest is a great way for regional clubs to involve their junior members in the club’s yearly activities. It also encourages the clubs to include activities that will provide the Youth with a strong work ethic, help them build a sound moral character and instill them with important core values,” said Betsy Francis, the Director of Youth Activities for APHA.