The APHA Board of Directors elected Rachel Kooiker as their next president-elect in June 2026. The president-elect is selected from and elected by the existing members on the APHA Board of Directors. Rachel will take the reins as president-elect in March 2027 and take office as president in 2028.
“The trust my colleagues have placed in me by electing me as APHA president-elect is both an honor and a responsibility—and they are ones that I do not take lightly,” Rachel said. “Because our board members are also breeders, exhibitors and family-oriented people, their support feels like a true partnership in a shared vision for APHA’s future. I’ve always felt that the strength of this association mirrors the strength of the community within it and I am eager to lead our community with the same energy and dedication that I strive to bring to my own home.”
Meet Rachel Kooiker
An information technology professional, Rachel lives in Hudsonville, Michigan, with her family. She’s spent nearly three decades in the APHA family as an exhibitor, breeder, volunteer and leader on the regional and national stage. Rachel joined the APHA Board of Directors in 2023 and was re-elected in 2026. Learn more about Rachel here.
The Nominating & Leadership Development Committee will select qualified candidates later this year for consideration to fill Board of Director positions coming open in 2026.
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.