ANNA MORRISON INTERVIEW - NRCHA Executive Director

ANNA MORRISON INTERVIEW

Q - Congratulations on becoming the new NRCHA Executive Director. What are the challenges for the organization going forward?

A - NRCHA is very lucky in that we are experiencing a tremendous amount of growth. Because of this, we are faced with the best kind of challenge to have: how to fit more entries into our show schedules. Much of our growth is due to NRCHA’s reputation as a fun, family-friendly event, and we want to make sure that we are preserving the great atmosphere our events are known for as we accommodate our growth.

Q - What did you learn working for AQHA Internationally?

A - Serving AQHA’s international membership taught me a number of valuable lessons, including how to balance the needs of a very diverse membership. This is important whether you are serving members from multiple international regions or multiple domestic regions – or both, as we are lucky to do at NRCHA! Being able to listen and respond to needs that are often drastically different is part of what makes us successful as an NRCHA team, and I’m grateful for the ways in which my work at AQHA prepared me for the work we do here.

Q -NRCHA is seeking to expand their reach offering a free membership. How do you feel about that?

A - The NRCHA Free Ride program is among the most forward-thinking membership programs in our industry, and I only wish I could take credit for initiating it! This program has been a major contributing factor in the growth NRCHA has experienced over the past several years, and we are excited about continuing to demonstrate our value to our newest members as they enjoy their Free Ride year with us.

Q - Taylor Sheridan, thru Yellowstone, introduced Cow Horse to an audience of millions in last years episodes. What impact has that exposure had on the sport?

A - We could not be more grateful to Taylor for highlighting our sport through Yellowstone, which has become a true cultural phenomenon. His passion for our cattle and equine industries, including competitive horse sport, has shone through in his work, and his willingness to highlight NRCHA has exposed our sport to exponentially more people than we could have reached on our own. We can’t wait to see what Season 4 of Yellowstone has in store for fans of the show and fans of NRCHA!

Q - What is exciting about the DT Western Derby moving venues and being held at Westworld for 2021 to 2023?

A - Last year brought about an immense amount of change for our world, and one change that hit very close to home was the move of the Western Derby from Paso Robles, California, to Scottsdale, Arizona. The feedback we received from our exhibitors about the quality of the venue made it clear that we would be coming back to WestWorld of Scottsdale for 2021. Our move to Scottsdale wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support we received from our sponsors, and most notably from Dean Tuftin’s, DT Horses LLC, our new title sponsor for the DT Horses Western Derby.

Q - Scottsdale is encouraging stakeholders to turn future (2022 & beyond) Saturday night performances into a big event. One worthy of a paid-gate, and broadcast that showcases the NRCHA disciplines as real salute to the West’s Most Western Town, Arizona, and America. What do you think of the idea?

A - We’re incredibly supportive of showcasing our sport through special performances and events that are open to the public. We look forward to looking at creative ways to do this next year, and even though 2021 is still presenting some challenges, we do invite spectators to join us in a responsible and socially distanced way to enjoy our DT Horses Western Derby Open Finals at noon on Sunday, June 13. You can find more information on our event Covid-19 protocols as well as all things reined cow horse at www.NRCHA.