Bank of America Youth Excellence Seminar

The 2013 national officers were decided at this annual hallmark event of the AQHYA.

By Allison Armstrong and Brenna Doherty
The American Quarter Horse Journal
June 27, 2012

Newly-elected AQHYA President Mark Mowbray, Vice President Jordan Boyd, Secretary Bailey Mierzejewski, Treasurer Austin Halvorson and Sentinel Lauren Diaz pose with the 2012-2013 AQHYA national directors. (Journal photo)

This year’s Bank of America AQHYA Youth Excellence Seminar saw 161 AQHA youth members and 43 advisers who journeyed from across the map to gather June 21-23 in Amarillo, Texas.

The YES conference is the annual destination where AQHYA members gather and engage in two and a half days of conferences, leadership exercises and politicking. Only delegates at the event can vote in the elections, and the candidates must also be attendees.

The following AQHYA members will lead the association in 2013:

President Mark Mowbray of Rhodesdale, Maryland
Vice President Jordan Boyd of Sarasota, Florida
Secretary Bailey Mierzejewski of Mount Sterling, Ohio
Treasurer Austin Halvorson of Guthrie, Oklahoma
Sentinel Lauren Diaz of Heath, Ohio

For Mark Mowbray, the newly-elected AQHYA president, impacting fellow American Quarter Horse enthusiasts is something he’s had his eye on for awhile.

“I have been in this organization since I was born, and there’s never been a dull moment,” said Mowbray. “I’m really looking forward to working with this new group (of officers) because they seem like a great group of individuals. They have a lot of drive; I can’t wait.”

The 2012 YES seminar theme was “Find Your Inner Rock Star,” and that was something the attendees took to heart. AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway made an appearance at YES and spoke to the youth about what it means to be rock stars. To Treadway, rock stars are creative individuals, risk takers, rebels, standouts and leaders who inspire others, influence change and have fun.

And as Treadway reminded the youth, “Always be first-rate versions of yourselves.”

Activities for the weekend included an ice cream social; a great session with motivational speaker Aric Bostick of San Antonio, Texas; youth-led breakout sessions; a dance and a rousing round of the second annual “Ag Olympics” on Saturday afternoon.

To view a slide show of photos from the YES seminar, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal, visit www.aqha.com/showing, the official site for Journal news.