The honor was all ours! If you were not at this year’s AHYA convention, you missed the big event! Because the theme of the convention was mystery we should not tell you, but we will anyway. The delegates and guests were treated this year to an exceptionally special guest. Olympic Gold medalist David O’Connor gave a wonderfully educational, entertaining and truly inspiring speech! He discussed his childhood and his pursuit of creating a life around the thing he loves - horses. The AHYA was honored to have him as our outstanding keynote speaker.

This year had a lot of new additions. On Friday the Youth board and committee meetings were a great success. Friends, heroes and artists were beyond inspirational as they answered questions at the Roundtable discussion also held on Friday. The guests included Mickey Hegg, Chase Harvill, Larry Hoffman, Chris Pullara, and Scott Trees. Youth Convention attendees were honored by each guest as being "the best of the best." Saturday, the convention morning began with a free pancake breakfast for all delegates and guests. Following that fun, the Regions were identified by their own Regional colors! We have a new big buddy system to let the younger kids learn from the older, more experienced members.

The 2005/2006 AHYA Executive board was elected - Kristen McKee - President, Nikki Capps - Vice President, Shawna Strickland – Secretary and Monica Christian - Treasurer. Congratulations to all, and we look forward to an exciting year for our executive board members.

He rode two Arabians, champion hunter pleasure horse, Arabian WR Sonoskada+//, and reserve champion park horse Reign Man, putting spurs on his tasseled loafers to perform the latter. He stopped for every autograph, posed for every photo and did everything but kiss babies. By the end of the afternoon, people followed the three-time Olympian and USEF president like the Pied Piper of Hamelin from Margaret and Catherine Rich's stables to the warm-up ring to watch him ride. "He pulled him together really nicely," said trainer Rich about O'Connor's maiden saddle seat ride.

Exhibitors and families downed barbecued beef, chocolate cake, lemonade and more at Heritage Square.