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Bussey, Merritt run in VP election
Don Bussey of Guin, Alabama, and Garry Merritt of King, North Carolina, are running in this year's election for Vice President of the National Cutting Horse Association. Ballots will be mailed to all NCHA members the first week of April.

Deadline for Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships
All entries for the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships must be received in the NCHA office by April 9. There is no grace period on entries for this show. Remember, the Western Nationals will be part of the AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge program.

AQHA wraps up convention
The American Quarter Horse Association convention closed on a high note in Dallas, Texas, this week. Memberships, registrations and transfers all rose in 2001 at the world's largest equine breed organization.

Jim Shoemake of St. Louis, Missouri succeeds J.D. Blondin as President of the AQHA.

Welcome these affiliates
Five new affiliates have joined the National Cutting Horse Association since the beginning of the year. They are:
Four Corners Cutting Horse Club: President - Mark Darling, Ignacio, CO; Secretary - Kathy Nixon, La Plata, NM.
Southeast Texas CHA: President - Gary Mitcham, Bullard, TX; Secretary - Ruthie Vance, Lufkin, TX.
Northeast Mississippi CHA: Secretary - Terry Cartwright, Corinth, MS.
Central Savannah CHA: President - Earl Driggers, Augusta, GA; Secretary - Nancy Summerset, McClellanville, SC.
Live Oak CHA: President - R L Chance, Fredricksburg, TX; Secretary - Kelly Haydon, Marble Falls, TX.

Win a free Chevy Truck from NCHA
Your new Chevy Truck is waiting ... every person who joins NCHA in 2002 will be entered in a drawing to win a new Chevy Duramax Diesel crewcab dually truck. Plus, your name will be added to the drawing again each time you win a check in an NCHA-approved cutting in 2002. So if you're not already a member, or you still haven't renewed your NCHA membership in 2002, download an application. And if you are a current member, get out and show! (Full Details)

As of March 8, the membership department had renewed 11,894 NCHA memberships, and added 840 new members to the list. So far, 2,665 people have taken advantage of the new three-year renewal option.

If you have not renewed your membership by March 15, you will not receive the April issue of the Cutting Horse Chatter, featuring the 2001 NCHA World Champions.

Fun in Jackson, Mississippi; Record number of entries
With all entries in for the 2001 Chevy Trucks/National Cutting Horse Association's Eastern National Championships, the success of the new AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge Program is apparent.

Representatives from 75 affiliates will compete individually for $286,043 of which $35,000 of the added money is from title sponsor Chevy Trucks and $55,000 from NCHA. Riders will also compete on behalf of their affiliate organizations for an additional $27,000 provided by the new AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge. (Affiliate Challenge Points)

The cutting event will take place at the Jackson, Mississippi, Fairgrounds from March 12-23, 2002. Thanks to all of the added money and the potential to win a championship title in top-end competition, 980 entries were taken for the 12-day show. That number marks a strong increase in last year's numbers, and a new record for entries in the area shows. (Full Details)

Lunchtime in Jackson
When lunchtime rolls around in Jackson, Mississippi, cutters have several groups to thank for providing hot meals. Thanks to the following organizations, hot, home-cooked lunches will be provided every day in the Hospitality Room at the Chevy Trucks / NCHA Eastern National Championships for cutters and their families.

·        Music City Futurity / Maturity / Classic
·        Louisiana Cutting Horse Association
·        Memphis Futurity / Classic
·        North Texas Cutting Horse Association
·        Southern Cutting Horse Association
·        The Non-Pro
·        HorseCity.com
·        Silverado on the Brazos
·        North Mississippi Cutting Horse Association
·        Mid South Cutting Horse Association
·        Northeast Louisiana Cutting Horse Association
·        Mississippi Cutting Horse Association

Murray Leather joins NCHA team
The new Murray Leather sponsorship of NCHA is good news for cutters. It means that NCHA will be able to award Murray Leather chaps to all of the champions at the Chevy Trucks Eastern and Western National Championships. Mr. Murray, who lives in Falcon Heights, Texas, has been an NCHA member for 21 years, and does all sorts of custom leatherwork. Their website is still being designed, but for contact information and future reference, the address is www.murrayleather.com.

Other things to do
While competing for $286,000 is obviously #1 on the priority list for cutters making the trip to Jackson, Mississippi, several other activities are planned for entertainment, as well. For example, the youth riders will have a Youth Team Cutting on Friday, March 15. So far, seven teams are entered, but more are welcome to join in the fun.

The Mississippi Development Authority has put together the "Taste of Mississippi" dinner for the evening of Thursday, March 14. A number of the area's top restaurants come to cook for the attending cutters, and Mississippi state legislators are invited to attend, as well. The dinner is free, the live band provides great music for dancing, and the party is a great time for friends to relax and enjoy time together.

The evening of Saturday, March 16 is the famous fish fry. Over 400 pounds of catfish will be prepared for a traditional Southern meal, and there will be lots of ketchup. A new addition to the fish fry this year is the live auction to benefit the Orthopedic Division of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Items on the block will range from a golf and dinner outing to the "6^th Judge" package that will allow the high-bidder the opportunity to sit in the 6^th judge's seat during a go-round of either the Summer Cutting or the Futurity. That package also includes airfare for two on American Airlines, a two-night hotel stay, and two tickets for Finals night of the event. As if all of that weren't enough, that same evening a name will be drawn of those present to win the use of a Sooner Trailer for one year.

NYCHA/Walton Family Foundation Scholarship applications due April 1
Applications are due soon for the new National Youth Cutting Horse Association / Walton Family Foundation Scholarships. Twenty scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded in the spring of 2002 to the top applicants who meet the designated criteria, which includes membership in NYCHA, participation in the LEAP Program, scholastic achievement and financial need. Applicants must plan to attend a college, university or trade school in the fall of 2002.

The application and all application guidelines are available in the Youth section of the NCHA web site, through NCHA Youth Coordinator Danette McGuire, by calling at 817-244-6188 or through area Youth Directors. Applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2002.

NYCHA Stallion Service Program
Save money on this year's breeding fees and help support the youth association by purchasing your 2002 breeding through the NYCHA Stallion Service Auction. All proceeds go to support youth scholarships, awards and activities. There are many great stallions still available in a full range of prices. You'll pay only 60% of the advertised breeding fee (chute fees, mare care, vet fees... not included). All remaining breedings will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Here's a sample of the great stallions available and what your cost will be if you purchase your breeding through the NYCHA Stallion Service Program: CJ Sugar Lena ($900), Doc O Dynamite ($1,200), Hickory Bar Bully ($720), Jimmez Playboy ($600), JR Colord Smoke ($1,200), Little Blue Lynx ($900), Playboys Ike ($450), Playdox ($1,800), Play Red ($1,200) Short and Final ($360), Choice Acres ($600), Smart Lil Paradign ($600), Smart Little Pistol ($2,700), SR Hallmarked ($840), Snackbox ($720), Little Bo Badger ($750), Rum Squall ($1,500), and Young Gun ($3,000). To view a complete list of donated stallions including their pedigree and performance records, log on to the NCHA web site. (Full Details)

For more information, contact Danette McGuire, NCHA Youth Coordinator at (817) 244-6188 ext 125.

Breeder's Invitational sets dates
The Breeder's Invitational, a cutting horse event for four-year-old offspring of nominated stallions, has announced that their inaugural event will be held during the first two weeks of June, 2003, at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada.

With a lucrative purse structure, promoters say the Reno 2003 event should be one of the largest Derby events in the history of cutting.

Willie Nelson concert coincides with Super Stakes
Willie Nelson will perform for free after the races at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie on Friday, April 5, the second day of competition in the Flowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes. Lone Star Park is about 23 miles east of Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, a straight shot down I-30.

Nelson's concert will be free with $3 admission to the night's Thoroughbred races, but those arriving after 9 p.m. will be charged $10 admission.