Rachel, the daughter of Jim and Julie Johnson, has been involved with cutting for 10 years. In that time, she has won the Raleigh Cutting Series $10,000 Non-Pro title, and several Reserve Championships in the Region 5 Cutting Horse Association. She qualified to compete at the Eastern Nationals through the East Coast CHA, which will earn 50 points in the AQHA Affiliate Challenge program for her win.

The Reserve Champion of the Junior Youth cutting was Courtney Sokol riding Peponitas Busy Bee. Courtney, 14, was the 2000 NCHA Junior Youth World Champion, and won the 2001 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular Youth cutting. In addition to school and competing on her high school rodeo team, Courtney is the President of the National Youth Cutting Horse Association.

Rachel and Courtney were each awarded prizes from Gist silversmiths, Cowboy Tack, Chevy Trucks and Walls. They each also received a $1,000 scholarship from Boehringer-Ingelheim, maker of Ventipulmin Syrup.

The 2001 Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships are taking 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, 979 entries were taken for the 12-day show. That number marks a strong increase in last year's numbers.

The City of Jackson, Mississippi, has been home of the Eastern Nationals cutting for 21 years. Past figures credit the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships for bringing an economic impact to the city of $8 million.

The nature of the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships is traditionally competitive, yet fun for the whole family at the same time. The AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge program will only enhance that feeling. The Affiliate Challenge format encourages affiliates to send as many entries as they can to the Jackson cutting. In addition to the individual competition, which will pay out $286,043, all entrants in the show will also compete on behalf of their local NCHA Affiliate. The AQHA will award $27,000 to affiliates at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships, and again at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships.

The NCHA and HorseCity.com have developed an interactive, educational site about the sport. Visit and learn more at www.horsecity.com/NCHAcutting/nchacutting.shtml. For more information about the sport of cutting, the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships, the AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge, or the National Cutting Horse Association, please contact the NCHA at 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.