As I look back on this year as president of CHC, it is with sadness.  As you may know, our executive director, Brian Kitchen, left us to take a position in Canada.  It is an outstanding opportunity for Brian.  While I am happy for Brian’s success, I consider him a friend and I miss him. 

The executive committee took on management of CHC until we are able to fill the executive director position.  We are so fortunate to have wonderful staff members who have done an exemplary job during this transition phase.  A search committee was formed and applicants are being considered for the position of executive director.  We will be scheduling interviews this month.  I appreciate everyone’s assistance and patience during this trying time

As I look back on this past year of CHC, I take pride in our accomplishments.  CHC’s work has continued to earn it recognition as one of the leaders in Colorado agriculture.  CHC spoke before U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at a roundtable discussion on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in May.  This roundtable was part of a broader initiative by the Secretary and USDA to engage stakeholders and producers in a dialogue about issues of concern.  Continuing with the subject of NAIS, at the Colorado Springs Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, CHC hosted a Colorado Department of Agriculture micro chipping demonstration and clinic. 

CHC was represented at Lt Governor Barbara O’Brien’s statewide effort to identify healthy outdoor activities for children.   That work formed the basis for the Colorado Outdoor Bill of Rights.  

CHC is an active participant with various organizations representing Colorado agriculture dealing with agricultural issues such as water and land use.  CHC is routinely invited to network with these organizations at their conventions, banquets, and other activities. 

Our involvement with the Legislature is not limited to the activities of the Legislative and Regulatory Committee, as reported by Jill Montgomery.  Legislators rode horseback from the State Capitol to the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in March, with help from Representative Wes McKinley and Gerald Martinez of CHDA. 

CHC, as Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, put on four Expos in 2009, in Denver, Colorado Springs, Eagle and Ignacio.  The events included two WRCA Ranch Rodeos and one open ranch rodeo with prizes totaling about $22,000.  We put on two Cowboy Races with prizes totaling about $3000.  Each Expo included arena presentations with 144 hours of education offered by twelve different clinicians.  Each Expo also included classroom education. 

The Denver Expo has special involvement with the youth of the Denver metro area.  The Art and Essay contest was expanded, serving Denver metro area elementary schools.  Eighteen schools sent children’s drawings and essays on the subject, “If I had a Horse”.  

CHC also organized, managed and received recognition for the successfully expanded horse program at the Four States Ag Expo in March. 

Member service is always a focus of CHC’s work.  This year, members representing 166 various types of memberships received 327 free tickets to Expos.  CHC served 374 individual and family memberships with excess equine liability insurance (the insurance is not available to ranch, organization or corporate memberships).  The Colorado Horse Contact newsletter went out monthly – along with occasional e-blasts with bulletins and updates – to more than 5500 email boxes.  Membership information also went to our members by postal service.  CHC did its best to stay in touch! 

CHC continues to promote and sell the Support the Horse license plates for CHDA.  In the past year, 919 were sold.   As you know, CHC does much more for CHDA than just promotions and sales of license plates.  We continue to work closely with CHDA by providing them with their management and administrative staff.  

CHC, on an annual basis, presents awards to special people in the horse industry.  Dr. Jim Heird was honored as CHC Horseman of the Year.

The horse industry has a seat on the Colorado Brand Board.  I am pleased to congratulate Chris Whitney, a CHC Board member, on his recent appointment to that seat.  We know Chris will do a great job representing the horse industry.

CHC’s mission is, “To unite the horse owners and the horse industry of the State of Colorado into a powerful, common voice in order to protect their common equine interest through legislation and education”.  CHC’s goals include: education; participation in the legislative and regulatory process; continuation of access to trails; representation regardless of breed affiliation, style of riding, and use or size of operation; and promotion of equine activities and programs.  As always, we value your input on the job we are doing.