American Horse Publications is a non-profit association of over 300 members including publications, primarily devoted to the equine animal and related lifestyles. The prestigious annual competition, which was for material published in or by member publications in 2001, drew a total of 823 entries from 83 members.

The "Join Today" ad designed by Chatter graphic artist Mindy Harr took first place in the black & white category. The ad appeared in the October 2001 issue.

The judge wrote, "This entry is living proof that a black and white ad can be effective and compelling … the clear winner in this category."

This was the second year in a row that an ad designed by Harr took first place in the AHP competition. Last year, she won with an ad campaign for 2L Custom Trucks, Inc.

Harr also received honorable mention this year for the "Got Babies?" ad that appeared in the June issue of the Chatter. The NCHA Yearbook, which as spun off as a stand-alone product for the first time last year, took second place in the Specialty Publication category.

"We’re very fortunate to have such a talented and hard-working team in the Chatter department," said NCHA Director of Publishing Alan Gold. "You get a frame of reference when you see that The Blood-Horse, which took first place in the Specialty Publication division, lists 48 people on the masthead, while Mindy Harr, Casceil McCrae and Shawn McCoy are the backbone of the Chatter."

Every member of the National Cutting Horse Association receives a monthly copy of the Cutting Horse Chatter as a part of NCHA membership. The award-winning Cutting Horse Chatter brings cutting horse enthusiasts more than 300 pages of news, features and advertising each month, in addition to details about upcoming shows, and results from past cuttings.

The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of 14,000 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 1,400 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $26 million in prize money awarded.

To learn more about the National Cutting Horse Association and the sport of cutting, call 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.