NYCHA Youth News
Courtney Sokol stepped into the presidency of the National Youth Cutting Horse Association during the NYCHA’s annual convention at the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular in Fort Worth, Texas in July. Pictured with Courtney are Ryan McCarty who was elected reporter; Lauren Middleton secretary; Lee Gandy first vice president and Jamie Sokol second vice president.

“I wouldn't mind staying 18 forever,” said outgoing president Nikki Sokol, (pictured giving her farewell address) who plans to go into elementary education.

Youth activities during the Summer Cutting Spectacular included a family fun night at Benbrook Lake, a pizza lunch with a guest speaker from Boehringer Ingleheim Vetmedica, Inc. who talked about horse health, a quiz bowl contest, art activities, an awards banquet and social.

High Marks for Youth
Havey Riddle, 18, of Ringling, OK,brought down the house in the senior division of the John Roberts and Cole McGee Summer Spectacular Memorial Scholarship Cutting with a spectacular 229-point win aboard Glenn and Debbie Drake’s great mare Stylish And Foxie.

"I was amazed," said Riddle. "I couldn’t even breathe. She was doing stuff I never felt a horse do before. She’s just awesome."

Havey, the daughter of Bill Riddle, who trained Stylish And Foxie and rode her to win over $250,000, has only been cutting for four years. "They tried to get me to cut (before), but I hated it because I was around it so much," she explained. "Then I just decided I’d like to try it and ever since, I’ve loved it."

In the short time she has been showing, Havey has won two Summer Spectacular Youth titles, including the 1999 Senior Youth championship on Dual Reward. Havey said that her father has always stressed the importance of focus in cutting.

"He always tells me to go down there and pay attention," she noted. "Don’t make stupid mistakes."

Shayla Smith, 16, of Ruidoso, NM, scored 221.5 on Dual Nurse, owned by her mother, Cindy.

"I was kind of nervous that I might kick her too hard or something and lose a cow," said Smith. "But I knew she could hold them."

Smith recently scored 223 points on the Dual Pep daughter to win the $5,000 amateur division at the Bonanza. She has also won two High School Rodeo championships on the mare.

Junior Youth Finals
Lauren Middleton, 14, who currently leads the Junior Youth world championship standings, captured the Junior Youth Scholarship Cutting with 223.5 points on the Freckles Playboy stallion Widow Freckles, owned by her parents, Robert and Debbie Middleton, of Summit,MS.

“I had this feeling that something good was going to happen,” said Lauren, who was riding Widow Freckles for the first time, in Will Rogers Coliseum. “I was really nervous, but I had confidence in him.”

It was the highest score Lauren has ever marked under the five-judge system. “My first cow wasn’t the best, so I knew I had to go in there and try to do something more impressive,” she said.

Lauren’s sister, Morgan, 10, is currently ranked second in Junior Youth world standings.

Dustin Mills, 9, son of trainer Mark Mills, took no prisoners with a rousing 221-point performance on the stallion Vibrant Docogold, owned by Bethel Stewart. “I thought I was going to lose the second cow,” said Dustin, who exuded confidence and stirred the crowd. Dustin is ranked fourth in the Junior Youth standings with points earned mainly on Vibrant Docogold. “Dustin was offered lots of horses to ride here, but I told him it was his decision, and he wanted to ride this horse because he said, ‘Dad, he’s taken me all year long.”

“He loves Dustin and will follow him around,” added Mills. “Dustin gets along with him ten times better than I do,”

NYCHA HALL OF FAME
Cara Barry, Cody Fails, Courtney Ford, Leann Gann, Brandon Harris, Roianna Hawkins, Andrew Sligh, Josh Wells and Trey Wilson were inducted to the NYCHA Hall of Fame during the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular.

Cara Barry, who recently celebrated her 20th birthday, is the daughter of Tim and Sue Barry of Byron, Illinois. While pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois, she keeps her skills in the cutting arena tuned with entries in the novice, amateur and non-pro classes. During her youth career, Cara served as NYCHA Area 12 director. She garnered a Bronze Award for her L.E.A.P. points. Her name has been listed in the Area 12 Top Ten for the last decade. Over the last six years, Cara wore out a path to the Eastern National Championships where she rose to finalist status more than once. She has been a five-time Area 12 youth champion, two-time reserve youth champion and the ‘92 NCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting Reserve Champion.

Cody Fails is the son of Chuck and Linda Fails of Sulphur Springs, Texas. He is a sophomore at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. These days, Cody has been applying his horsemanship in team roping. He fulfilled a career in youth cutting which included four years of service as Area 24 NYCHA director. He was also active as 2nd Vice President for '98 and '99. Cody reached the Gold level in the L.E.A.P. program. His performances in the arena earned him a spot on the Top Ten list for the last six years and gained him three Area 24 youth champion titles as well as one youth reserve champion title. Cody made four trips to the Eastern National Championships where, in ’99, he became a finalist.

Courtney Ford is the daughter of Rick and Becky Ford of Weatherford, Texas. She attends a local college while working part-time as an administrative assistant for Parker County Deaf Education. She has put her cutting career on hold while enjoying her 4-year-old palomino in amateur events of the PHBA. Courtney was active in her youth career, serving as Area 9 NYCHA director and also achieving the Initial Award for her L.E.A.P. points. She was named to the Top Ten standings every year since '95, the year she was invited to the Eastern National Championships. She acquired, twice each, the title of NTCHA Junior Youth Champion and Senior Youth Champion. She was also '95 WCTCHA Reserve Youth Champion, '98 THSRA State Champion, and the '99 THSRA State Reserve Champion. Courtney is a many-time finalist in the Youth Scholarship Cutting held during the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular.

Leann Gann is the daughter of Jerry and Patti Gann of Leighton, Alabama. She is a ‘99 graduate of Deshler High School and is attending Wallace State University in Blountsville, Alabama where she is pursuing a degree in elementary education. Leann is engaged to Joey Patterson of Blountsville, Alabama and plans an August 11 wedding. Being from a cutting family, Leann’s current hiatus from the show arena will be a short one. Her plan is to return at summer's end as a non-pro competitor. Following her two brothers, Todd and Chad, into a youth career, Leann appeared in the Area 22 Top Ten standings for the past decade; she placed in the youth World Top Ten twice and was a five-time Area 22 champion. She served as NYCHA president two years, secretary for one, and Area 22 director for eight. Leann also achieved status as a multiple-time Eastern National Championship youth finalist as well as a multiple-time NCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting finalist. She received is one of only three people to reach the Hall of Fame (Platinum) level of the L.E.A.P. program.

Brandon Harris of Tallulah, Louisiana was very active as an NYCHA member. During his youth career he rose to the Silver level in the L.E.A.P. program. In ‘96, he achieved the title of Area 14 youth champion and NCHA youth world champion. The following year, Brandon was Area 14 youth reserve champion and among the NCHA youth world top ten. He was a finalist at the Area Workoffs in Jackson, Mississippi for two years and was also a finalist at the NCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting in Fort Worth, Texas.

Roianna Hawkins is the daughter of James “Spunky” and Vicki Hawkins of Merigold, Mississippi. She is 20 years old and is a Phi Mu at the University of Mississippi where she majors in psychology and theatre. She plans to continue her employment with Donna Groff Modeling Agency while keeping an eye on graduate school. Roianna was an Area 14 director during her youth career and achieved the Bronze level in the LE.A.P. program. She was among the NCHA youth top ten for three consecutive years. In ‘98 she was Area 14 youth reserve champion. She was a three-time finalist at the Area Workoffs in Jackson, Mississippi and was named ‘96 Eastern National Senior Youth Champion riding SR Athena Lynx. Roianna was the recipient of the Todd Drummond Memorial Award as well as the Trey Shelton Memorial Scholarship.

Andrew Sligh is the 20-year-old son of Terry and Viva Sligh of Hueytown, Alabama. He is employed in the family automotive business as a salesman while he attends Jeff State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama where he is earning a business degree. Andrew is keeping an active interest in the cutting horse industry and is readying for aged events in the non-pro division. As a youth, Andrew earned a Gold Award for his L.E.A.P. points. He was Area 22 NYCHA director for one year and has been among the Area 22 youth Top Ten since ‘92. Andrew made several visits to the Eastern National Championships where he placed as a finalist five times. He has competed in the NCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting, capturing multiple finalist spots. He was named ‘97 Area 22 youth champion and twice became the Area 22 youth reserve champion.

Josh Wells is the son of Gaylon and Sunny Wells of Edgerton, Missouri. He is employed by Mercruiser of Stillwater, Oklahoma where he lives with wife, Melissa. The couple are expecting a girl, Jolie Paris, in July. Josh will be attending Oklahoma State University this fall as a marketing major. During his youth career, Josh received the Bronze Award for his L.E.A.P. points. He was also active as an Area 8 NYCHA director. His name has been in Area 8 youth Top Ten standings since it first appeared in ‘93. Josh earned the title of Area 8 youth reserve champion in ‘98. He has been a two-time finalist at the NCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting and a finalist at the Area Workoffs in Jackson, Mississippi. Josh received the Todd Drummond Memorial Award in ‘99.

Trey Wilson is the son of David and Louann Wilson of Rosenberg, Texas. He attended Wharton County Junior College and is now enrolled at Texas A&M for a fall start as a sophomore biochemistry major. He lives in College Station, Texas, where he is employed in research by Texas A&M. Future education objectives include a degree from the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. As a NYCHA member, Trey served six years as an Area 10 director before he was elected president. He reached the Hall of Fame (Platinum) level in the L.E.A.P. program. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the NCHA Charities Foundations, Cutters In Action. Trey has been among the Top Ten youth for the last seven years, as a two-time Area 10 youth champion and twice-named to the NCHA youth world Top Ten. He became the ‘94 Eastern National Junior Youth Champion riding Oakanitos Last. He followed that with championships in the NCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting for three consecutive years. Trey was a many-time finalist at the Area Workoffs in Jackson, Mississippi, a reserve champion and a champion at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Youth Cutting. In 2000, he was Area 10 $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro Champion.