Category Archives: NCHA

NYCHA looks for shutterbugs

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AQHA NCHA WeekendA picture is worth a thousand words, and the NCHA wants to know the story of your area’s NCHA Weekend event. We’re looking for photos from each area’s event that captures the people, excitement, camaraderie, and all the happenings over the weekend for use in the Cutting Horse Chatter. The NYCHA Shutterbugs contest is open to ALL youth members attending an NCHA Weekend event. As an Official NYCHA Press Representative for the NCHA during NCHA Weekend, you’ll be issued a press badge by your show secretary as well as a disposable camera should you need one.

Rios of MercedesIs there a prize?
Of course there’s a prize! Rios of Mercedes, the Official Boot of the NCHA, has generously provided a pair of boots to the winner of the NYCHA Shutterbugs contest. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges that will evaluate each photo entry based on how well the youth member captured the essence of their area’s NCHA Weekend show. Photo clarity (no blurry images, please) and resolution will also be taken into consideration.

What do I have to do?
Grab a camera and look for photo opportunities around the show! We’re looking for all kinds of candid photos – silly pictures, folks interacting with each other, show staff and attendees at work, fellow youth members hanging out together, what’s for lunch, any special events (cookouts, parties, contests, etc.), or just anything you see that would make a great picture!

What if I don’t have a camera? Can I use my phone?
We are sending disposable cameras to each show secretary, in case you need one. Supplies are limited and secretaries will distribute them on a first come, first served basis. Sorry, we can’t use pictures taken with your phone. They are not high enough in resolution to print well in the Chatter magazine. If you have your own digital camera you can use it.

What do I do when I’m done?
If you’re using a disposable camera, just send the whole camera back to the NCHA office with your name and area number written on it and we’ll get your photos developed for the contest. If you’re using a digital camera, make a CD of all the images you took, write your name and area number on the disc, and mail it to the NCHA office. Please do not email photos.

What is the deadline to send in my pictures?
Disposable cameras and CDs should be postmarked no later than Monday, June 10, 2013. The winner will be announced and notified the following Monday, June 17.

Texas METF bill advances

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The House of Representatives of the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1678, which amends the existing statute that deals with the Major Events Trust Fund (METF) and the Events Trust Fund (ETF), on March 20.

The current version of the bill has broad support from the NCHA, the State Comptroller, the cities and counties that apply for funding from the METF, and event promoters.

Provisions in the new legislation with the greatest impact on NCHA include:

  • A limit of no more than 10 ETF applications for smaller events which generate less than $200,000 in tax implications from a city or county in  a year.
  • Clarification of the status of events with multi-year contracts (such as NCHA’s Triple Crown events).
  • A model contract could be adopted by the Comptroller to help applicants standardize their requests for funds under the METF. In the past, officials have applauded the thoroughness of NCHA’s applications.
  • The bill clarifies that applicant cities or counties and their event promoters can agree to contingency clauses to allow for the fairest distribution of state funds
  • The Comptroller can compare actual attendance at an event with the projected attendance, and reduce the amount disbursed proportionately if the attendance is significantly lower.
  • The bill also qualifies the X-Games, NASCAR and mixed martial arts as major events eligible for the METF.

The NCHA worked closely with the Comptroller’s Office, elected officials, the City of Fort Worth, the sponsors of the legislation and many members of the legislature to craft meaningful improvements to the existing statute. Should the legislation become law, it will underscore NCHA’s credibility and viability in all stages of the legislative process.

The Senate will now consider the changes to SB 1678 that were made in the House. The Senate may concur with the House’s changes, in which case the bill will go to Governor Rick Perry for his signature. If the Senate does not concur with the changes, a conference committee of Senators and Representatives will work out the differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill. That compromise would be adopted by both bodies and the bill would then go to the Governor for his signature.

If the bill becomes law, it will take effect immediately upon signing by Governor Perry.

Senate Bill 1678 is sponsored by Senator Bob Deuell (Mesquite) and Representative Jason Isaac (Dripping Springs).

Jim Bret Campbell Selected as National Cutting Horse Association Executive Director

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The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), the world governing body for the sport of cutting, has selected Jim Bret Campbell to serve as its Executive Director beginning June 10.

Jim Bret Campbell brings over 15 years of experience in association management and marketing to the NCHA having served most recently as the Director of Communications and Member Relations for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association in Amarillo and previously as the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at the 285,000-member American Quarter Horse Association, where his responsibilities included overseeing the production of the association’s two major publications and their online counterparts. He is also credited with leading the development of several programs including the Ranching Heritage Breeders and Ranching Heritage Challenge.

Campbell holds a master’s in agricultural education and a bachelor’s in agricultural communication from Texas Tech University.

Jim Bret and his wife, Teri, have two boys, Cash, 9, and Cooper, 6, who enjoy riding horses with their dad, as well as playing baseball and snow skiing.

Ernie Beutenmiller Jr., NCHA President and Interim Executive Director, said “The process to select the NCHA Executive Director took place over several months and much of its success can be attributed to the recruiting process, which included feedback from one-on-one interviews with the Executive Committee, Search Committee, Past Presidents of NCHA, key staff, as well as a survey of all (220) NCHA directors worldwide. There was a significant alignment amongst the entire group regarding our strategic issues and priorities as well as the qualities and values of the individual that would be most successful leading the NCHA into the future.

We are confident that Jim Bret embodies the qualities and values we believe are most important as evidenced by his past record of success in the industry and familiarity with ranching and the western horse industry as a whole.”

2013 VP candidate Jo Ellard

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Why I am interested in serving as an
Officer of the NCHA:

This is a good time in my life to dedicate my time to the job of serving the NCHA membership. I have been involved in almost every aspect of cutting horse business continuously since 1985 as: Owner, Breeder, Weekend Competitor, Limited Age Competitor, Stallion Owner, Sale Producer, NCHA Director, and Youth Committee Chairman for 10 years, Member of Non-Pro Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee, Limited Age Committee, and currently Chairman of Stallion Owner Committee. I have a good understanding of the levels of participation by our membership. I am in touch with the issues currently facing our association.

What are your short term goals if elected
as Vice President of NCHA:

A. Encourage the Grass Roots cutting— I see this as an excellent way to get cutters showing for the fun of competition and at less cost.

B. Start the process to get the Futurity Open Semi-finals back to a prestigious event.

C. With the exception of the NCHA Futurity, I would like to see entry into individual classes at LAE’s be easier; i.e. do not have to enter the open to participate in the Ltd Open; do not have to enter the unlimited amateur to compete in the 50 K amateur, etc.

D. Research the development of a stronger gelding incentive for the Triple Crown events.

What are your long term goals:

A. Help restore membership confidence in the leadership of NCHA. I have a positive outlook about the future of NCHA. I can promise that I will dissect the issues, involve people who are experts in whatever issue is on the table, and try to lead this board in decisions that are in the best interest of all NCHA members.

B. Retention of Membership. Why have we lost membership? Whatever the reasons, be it the economic turndown, the expense of cutting, the association leadership must constantly try to adapt programs to grow and retain membership.

C. Further develop the unlimited Amateur class into the Dominant Non-Pro class, yet give the professional non-pro a stronger place to compete. The Demographics of our membership has changed over the last 25 years. The average age of the NCHA member is now 56. That means that a large number of our members are reaching 60 & 70. It would be extremely detrimental to our association to lose the interest and involvement of this segment of our membership. The formation of the Unlimited Amateur class is a step in the right direction toward retaining the involvement of our aging membership. The leadership of NCHA must continue to enhance the participation in this class.

D. Get the Youth Committee back on track to developing leadership and offering educational programs while promoting cutting to other youth groups.

E. Research if there is a way to include Youth outside of the “cutting mecca” to come to the world finals while not taking away from the kids that spend their year making the top 15.

F. To determine if the new ruling regarding mandatory splitting of the youth class into Jr. and Sr. is working in the best interest of youth across the nation.

“THEM ARE US!!!” I detest an “us and them” attitude. The NCHA is an association directed by a group of selfless members of the association elected “by the members” of the association. The NCHA directors, the Executive Committees, the standing committees, and numerous other members over the last 28 years of my membership in NCHA have given their time, their resources, and their heart in leading this association. No governing body makes the absolute right decision 100% of the time, but “it is not from lack of trying!” I will agree that recent events in our association have been confusing to the membership even to the point of complete disagreement of the decisions made on several issues. I think the called meeting of the Board of Directors at the Futurity had a positive effect. I think the air has cleared and the leadership of NCHA will be more attentive to informing the Board of Directors on issues/actions in a timely manner. And likewise, the Board of Directors will be more responsible in their communication to their membership who elected them. And as a member, you can help grow our association by becoming more involved at the local level or all the way to the Board Room.

–Jo Ellard

2013 VP candidate Monty Johnson

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I would like to say what a privilege it is to have been selected to run for Vice-President of our association.

When approached by the search committee to see if I would agree to run, I was surprised and honored. They explained that because of my past involvement combined with having been away from the sport, I might have a new and fresh approach to the position.

Even though I haven’t been competitive for a number of years, I have never lost my love of cutting, and would be proud to serve again. I was very involved with the association for many years before having to devote more time to my business— ranching, real estate investments and the oil and gas business. Recently, finally having more time, I bought a horse property south of Weatherford, Texas and look forward to cutting again, fulfilling a long time dream.

My past involvement with the association includes the following:

• NCHA Director for 10 years
• Chairman and Board Member
of the West Texas Cutting Horse
Futurity
• Originator and Chairman of The
Non Pro Cutting, which started
in Amarillo and after 10 years
moved to Oklahoma City under
the fine leadership of Della Hillerman
• Chairman of the NCHA World
Finals local organizing committee
in Amarillo
• NCHA Executive Committee
member for 4 years
• NCHA Vice President

Besides the positions stated above, I have continued to be a breeder, built and developed a training facility in my hometown of Amarillo, Texas with outstanding trainers including Kathy Daughn and Ascenion Banuelos.

I am a Non-Pro showing in both the Limited Age and Weekend events. I was also fortunate to own a great horse, Jae Bar Fletch, for a short period of time, and made the Top 10 in the Non-Pro World Championship.

I feel that through these many positions served and areas of involvement, I can provide a broad base of experience and a fair and understanding voice to all segments of our sport. Though you tend to hear many troubling issues facing our association, I am proud to say that since my term as an officer there have been many great improvements.

Among these are the following:
• Our financial condition is much
stronger
• Sponsorships and contributions
have greatly increased
• There is much greater exposure
of our sport
• New sources of revenue appear
to be on the horizon
• Judging was always very controversial,
but seems to be solid and
the weekend monitor system has
been a great improvement
• New classes and competitions in
both the Limited Age and Weekend
events have had a positive
effect

We need to remember that overall things are getting better not worse. The most important issue currently facing us is the selection of the next Executive Director. He must be outstanding—a leader, manager, spokesman and visionary. As we have seen in the past, the association tends to take on the personality of our Executive Director. His absence places more responsibility on the Executive Committee to make more decisions, and possibly not as well informed. His presence makes everyone’s job, both in administration and governance, easier.

As far as long term goals, I feel we must always strive to enhance the experience for entry level participants and the weekend cutters. This group represents the majority of our growth and it should be in everyone’s best interest to see that they are treated fairly. There needs to be a proper balance between Limited Age and Weekend events, knowing that this is a complicated issue.

If elected, I assure you I would give it my best effort to see that the NCHA grows and prospers with integrity. We have a great sport, a great culture and a great membership. Let us all pull together and move forward.

Thank you for your consideration.

–Monty Johnson