CHAPS Members Attend National Convention
Thirteen members of CHAPS attended their national convention; Kristina Pry and Jolie Demchur received national recognition.
Kristina Pry, Coatesville, was inducted into the position of ACHA
Communications Officer during the concluding banquet. Pry, a junior
and CHAPS' Events Coordinator, was also awarded the ACHA's first-
ever Outstanding Junior Award. CHAPS President, senior Jolie
Demchur, West Chester, won the Outstanding Senior Award.
Members of the Collegiate Horsemen's Association of Penn State (CHAPS) were educated on several aspects of the horse industry last week during their trip to the national convention of the American Collegiate Horsemen's Association (ACHA) in South Carolina.
Thirteen members of CHAPS made the eleven-hour road trip to Aiken, SC to join eight other colleges from around the country in attending ACHA's annual convention hosted by Clemson University. Aiken revolves around horses, and the convention showcased the town's multiple concentrations, including cutting, racing, eventing and driving. In addition to farm tours, members of the ACHA were educated on horse careers from professionals in the field. It was unusually cold temperatures for Aiken during the weekend; however Penn State's members were much more familiar with the dreary weather than those from Texas A&M University!
Penn State's Kristina Pry, Coatesville, was inducted into the position of ACHA Communications Officer during the concluding banquet. Pry, a junior and CHAPS' Events Coordinator, was also awarded the ACHA's first ever Outstanding Junior Award. CHAPS President, senior Jolie Demchur, West Chester, won the Outstanding Senior Award.
Dr. Terry Etherton, head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, said, "I congratulate Kristina and Jolie for this national recognition. It is an affirmation of both their leadership abilities and their hard work, and a positive reflection on the many outstanding opportunities DAS students are afforded."
ACHA members' first stop was at the nearby Augusta Cutting Horse Futurity where they were watched non-pro and open cutting finals. The following day was a tour of Aiken Racing Track and Dogwood Stables, a premier horse racing training facility that boasts two Kentucky Derby hopefuls this spring. The day continued with a visit to Aiken's Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Museum and a presentation from a city mounted police officer. ACHA members were privileged to hear Dogwood Stables president W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell, famous trainer and best-selling author, speak during lunch. They then toured Paradise Farm, a nationally known cross country course owned by international event rider and trainer Lila Ward. The day was concluded with a visit Katydid Farm, a driving farm, featuring a demonstration by an Olympian combined event driver.
The final day of convention was filled with business meetings, where members shared ideas for improving chapters, such as fundraising, activities and increasing membership. They also met to vote on next year's officers and discuss ways to continue to develop the ACHA, a relatively young organization, in its fifth year of existence. Members were then treated to a round table discussion with Aiken horse professionals; a veterinarian, equine real estate broker, equine insurance agent and therapeutic riding instructor. The convention was concluded with a banquet presided over by South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers.
The 2008 ACHA Convention provided CHAPS further insight into several different horse-related fields not commonly seen or studied in central Pennsylvania. Additionally, members benefited from information about career opportunities in the horse industry, and were able to network with equestrians of various disciplines from different regions of the country. Furthermore, the trip helped to strengthen interpersonal relationships within the CHAPS organization.
