Oklahoma City, OK – January 5, 2009 – A group of enthusiastic young leaders are gearing up for an exciting year with the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA). Five outstanding youth members were recently elected by their peers to lead the NRHyA in 2009.

The NRHyA annual meeting, which included officer elections, was held on December 6, 2008, during the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show. Youth members from all across the United States traveled to Oklahoma City to run for a position on the NRHyA Youth Officer Team. The candidates campaigned both in their regions and in Oklahoma City as youth members can cast their votes online. This process encourages much more participation for those members who are unable to attend the youth meeting.

The NRHyA is very excited to present the 2009 NRHyA Officer Team.  NRHyA President is Cash Bridges, of Weatherford, TX. Meaghan Burns, of Cheyenne, OK, was elected to the office of Vice President.  The 2009 NRHyA Treasurer is Jordan Willette, of Prescott, AZ. Helen Lauth, of Eyota, MN was elected NRHyA Secretary. The 2009 NRHyA Sentinel is Emily Winegar, of Aubrey, TX.

Cash Bridges served as the 2008 NRHyA Vice President and the 2006 and 2007 NRHyA Treasurer. Bridges is currently a junior in high school taking dual-credit classes at Weatherford College. In addition to serving on the NRHyA Officer Team, Bridges is an eight-year veteran of the NRHA show pen.

Meaghan Burns, the 2007 NRHyA Sentinel and 2008 NRHyA Secretary, looks forward to serving in a new office as NRHyA Vice President.  In addition to her regional and national NRHyA activities, Burns also participates in 4-H, FFA and cheerleading.

Jordan Willette is new to the NRHyA officer team and is the 2009 NRHyA Treasurer. The sixteen-year-old high school student prides herself on her organization skills and ability with financial documents. She has shown Reining horses for three years.

Helen Lauth, an eighteen-year-old college freshman at South Dakota State University, also is new to the officer team. The 2009 NRHyA Secretary served her region as the 2008 North Central Reining Horse Youth Association Co-President. She has shown NRHyA for eight years.

Emily Winegar will serve in her first NRHyA office as the 2009 Historian. Winegar is an avid Reining competitor earning accolades at NRHA, Palomino Horse Breeders Association, American Quarter Horse Youth Association and National Reining Breeders Classic shows.

Brian Bendele, NRHA Manager of Youth Programs & Outreach, said, “I am very excited for the new year and the new Officer Team to be in place. We have a great group of youth members that will represent the NRHyA well.” The first order of business for the NRHyA Officer Team will be to attend the NRHA Convention in Oklahoma City, OK, January 26 – 31. At the convention, they will participate in committee meetings, as well as partake in a youth leadership workshop with motivational and leadership speaker Kelly Barns.