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Youth Programs
Grant Berg Scholarship
Grant Berg AZRHA Youth Scholarship The AZRHA is pleased to offer The Grant Berg Scholarship to youth members of the Arizona Reining Horse Association. The scholarship provides funds that can be used at any college, university, trade or technical school. The scholarship award for the 2023 recipient will be $2,500. Applications must be postmarked by December 15th, 2023. More information and an application can be found here. If you would like to make a donation to the Grant Berg Scholarship, 100% of your donation will go directly to the scholarship fund recipients. You can donate to the fund here!
PRESIDENT Hi I’m Rayne Anderson and I am 18 years old. I have been active in the reining industry since 2022. Thanks to our previous youth president Aubree Leyva, I quickly became apart of our local youth as well as our national youth. Aubree was my role model and my inspiration so I hope to be that for others. In 2023 I was an NRHyA Southwest affiliate delegate and realized how important these youth programs and leadership roles are. I am currently the AzRHA 2024 youth president as well at the NRHyA 2024 Historian. I am so excited for this upcoming year and hope to continue to grow our youth participation. Most importantly I want encourage others to run for officer positions and teach them the necessary skills they will need not only for those positions but also skills they will use in the future.
VICE PRESIDENT Hi, my name is Victoria McClure, and I am 12 years old. I have been showing in AZRHA for 8 years and this is my third year serving as a youth officer. I enjoy organizing fundraisers for our youth scholarship and hosting youth events at the shows. Besides reining, I also compete in cutting and reined cow horse. When I am not riding, I enjoy ice skating, baking, reading, and all things Harry Potter. Some accomplishments that I am most proud of are earning my Black Belt in Muay Thai and being the 2023 Grant Berg Scholarship recipient.
SECRETARY Hi my name is Everlee Leyva, I’m 15 and I live in Scottsdale Arizona. In 2023 I was able to compete in the Para-Reining class and earned my first buckle as the year end champion. The reason why I love being a part of the AZRHYA is because it gives me the opportunity to help the youth. I enjoy being a part of the horse show experience and I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish to help this association this year.
TREASURER & SOUTHWEST AFFILIATE LIAISON Hi! My name is Bentley Anne Johnson and I am twelve years old. This is my third year being involved with the AzRHYA and my second year serving on the board. I am excited and blessed to serve as the treasurer for 2024. I love reining. I also compete in ranch riding, ranch trail, western working rail and working cow horse-boxing. My incredible horse is Hangin Easy, or as I call him Eli. We compete together in all of these events. When I’m not riding, I enjoy spending time with friends, camping and other outdoor activities with my parents. I am looking forward to creating more memories this year and with helping in planning fun activities and fundraisers for our youth association.
SOUTHWEST DELEGATE Hey y’all! My name is Ava Smedley and I am from Peoria Arizona! This is my first year being in the youth board and I am so excited to be apart of it! This is my third year of competing for AzRHA and it has been amazing! I am so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to make more amazing memories. I am so lucky to be on this incredible journey with my horse Chico (Ha Chic Trashya)! He is such an amazing partner and I am so grateful to learn and grow with him! I have an amazing barn and I am so thankful for them! I can’t wait to continue meeting more wonderful people and making new memories!
JUNIOR OFFICER Hi, I am JP McClure. I am 9 years old and have been involved in the AzRHyA my whole life. This is my second year serving as a youth officer. Riding reining and cutting horses takes up a lot of my time, but I have quite a few other hobbies including skiing, fishing, hunting, camping, golf, and knife making. My biggest accomplishment outside of reining is earning my Black Belt in Muay Thai. My favorite part of the AzRHyA is competing in events like the Ride-a-Buck and Youth Freestyle.