Youth Leadership Opportunities

Leadership is a great way for AjPHA members to make a difference in their organization and gain valuable skills that will benefit them throughout life. Youth leadership opportunities are available within the AjPHA Board of Directors. Two groups make up the AjPHA Board of Directors: the AjPHA state directors and AjPHA officers. Additionally, AjPHA provides other leadership opportunities on a local level through regional club officers.

Youth Leadership Gathering

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect, convene and communicate with AjPHA members from around the world at the AjPHA Leadership Gathering. Join us for a weekend full of adventure, education and development.

Leadership Gathering

Regional Club Officer

Leadership opportunities start on the local level in your AjPHA regional club. We encourage our members to become active in leadership in their Youth regional club. This allows you to make a difference right at home while making your club the best it can be.

Youth Clubs

State Directors

State directors are Youth representatives for the state or country in which they live. These leaders promote and support AjPHA within their state and are voting members who will have a say in the rules, by-laws and AjPHA board. State directors serve from August 1 through July 31 of the following year.

How to Become a State Director

The ideal national director is an active, involved AjPHA member with a passion for improving the association. If you have an active AjPHA membership, are in good standing and are 17 years of age or younger as of January 1 the year you will take office, then you are eligible to become a national director.
Get nominated! Nominations are accepted April 1 to May 15. Regional club youth advisors may nominate members, or individuals may nominate themselves with the submission of five other current Youth members in their area endorsing the nomination.
After nominations are received, voting opens. Voting is conducted online. All votes must be cast by July 1, and all current AjPHA members are eligible to vote.

The Youth Advisor Nomination Forms were emailed directly to them. The form below is for Youth who wish to self-nominate.

Apply Now

Current Directors

Christina	Andognini	TX
Briana	Bachman	IL
Angel	Baer	TX
Kennedy	Beltz	TX
Lucy	Berghorst	MI
Isabella	Bland	TX
Kadence	Bonacci	NJ
Morgan	Brown	MN
Drew	Dayhuff	IN
Colten	Dulin	ID
Jenna	Edmonds	NJ
Faith	Engemann	MO
Faith	Fleeman	CA
Journey	Frericks	IL
Kendall	Gaspar	CA
Elena	Godshall	NJ
Peytyn	Goodin	TX
Emma	Hartmann	IL
Izzy Jo	Hostetler	IL
Teagan	Kallus	TX
Shelby	Kee	AR
Emilee	LeDoux	WA
Brianna	Massie	IL
Presly	Morinville	CO
Megan	Motes	CA
Dakota	O’Rourke	TX
Raegan	Strange	IL
Grace	Tonkin	ID
Addyson	Travis	CO
Ella Grace	Veile	IL

Officers

Two Youth leadership groups, the AjPHA state directors and the AjPHA officers, represent members of the American Junior Paint Horse Association on the national level. AjPHA officers oversee all AjPHA affairs, report the status of the association to members, and help govern and direct the course of AjPHA.

How to Get Elected

The ideal officer is an active state director looking to expand their impact on the AjPHA program. All officer candidates must have served as an AjPHA state director for at least one year before applying. Candidates must be at least 12 years of age or older as of January 1 of the current year.

If you’re interested in serving as an AjPHA officer, submit your application by May 15. Make sure you know the responsibilities of the office you are applying for before you submit your application. If you have any questions, contact the APHA director of Youth and Amateur activities.

After you apply, start campaigning! Voting takes place during the annual AjPHA Membership Convention. Convince your fellow APHA members that you should be their representative.