Editors Note: The following is a press released received from TWHBEA on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.

Lewisburg, Tenn. - The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) hosted a series of successful year-end activities November 30-December 3, 2011. These activities included committee meetings, the Annual General Membership Meeting, the Annual TWHBEA Awards Banquet and the Semi-Annual International Board of Directors Meeting. The long weekend saw Tennessee Walking Horse enthusiasts from across the United States, Canada and Europe gather at TWHBEA headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Ideas were exchanged, stories were shared and good times were enjoyed by all.

After a productive series of committee meetings, TWHBEA’s membership and board members gathered for the Annual General Membership Meeting. The meeting included brief reports from each of the Association’s Executive Committee members. These reports revealed a number of positives including TWHBEA’s improving financial state, a membership that’s growing, improvements that will make the registration process more efficient, a new International High Point Program and a myriad of marketing opportunities for our great breed, both at home and abroad.

The Annual TWHBEA Awards Banquet was held at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, Tenn., on the evening following the General Membership Meeting. Always a highlight of the year, this year’s banquet featured a delicious meal, outstanding camaraderie and numerous worthy award recipients. Highlights from the evening included longtime walking enthusiast Bob Medina being honored with the Reese L. Smith, Jr., Distinguished Service Award, Bobby Beech being named TWHBEA Member of the Year and Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Julius Johnson receiving the TWHBEA Friendship Award. All in all it was a great evening enjoyed by all who attended.

On the final morning of TWHBEA activities directors came together for the Semi-Annual International Board of Directors Meeting. This meeting introduced the newly elected directors and featured a full report from each member of the Executive Committee. As with the General Membership Meeting, these reports revealed numerous positives including a membership that stands at just over 10,500 and is up over 1,000 from last year, year-to-date profit of $14,608.63, upcoming online registration, a new mare program to match the GO! Gelding Program, ongoing work on a universal rulebook and judging system, an International High Point Program open to all TWHBEA members, worldwide marketing opportunities, equine industry issues addressed by TWHBEA and burgeoning youth programs. The meeting also saw the 2011-2012 budget approved and the election of the 2011-2012 Executive Committee, which consists of President Marty Irby, Senior Vice President Margo Urad, Administrative/Fiscal/Audit Vice President Rob Cornelius, Breeders Vice President Dee Dee Sale, Horse Shows Vice President Tracy Boyd, Equine Welfare Vice President Dr. Linda Montgomery, Owners/Exhibitors/International Vice President Steven Brown, Marketing Vice President Joyce Moyer, Enforcement Vice President Christy Lantis, Pleasure Horse Vice President Rick Wies, Performance Horse Vice President Tom Kakassy, Trainers Vice President Wayne Dean, Member At Large By Laws Loyd Hall ‘Buster’ Black, Member At Large Youth Linda Starnes and Secretary Sharon Brandon.

Overall, TWHBEA’s year-end activities proved productive and positive. They provided an open forum for friendly debate and generated a wealth of new ideas. They recognized the breed’s glorious past while looking forward to the brightest of futures.