2023 AMHA Annual Meeting and Election Results

The 2023 AMHA Annual Meeting was held Friday, January 6th at the Renaissance at SeaWorld Orlando in conjunction with the UPHA National Conference. The meeting was open to the public for all interested in the future of the Morgan horse. USEF president Tom O’Mara was present and spoke on the quality of the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show as well as The Morgan Horse magazine. He stated the success in the Morgan horse is evident in the people who show their devotion to it time and time again.  Registry Committee chair Harlan Grunden presented the increase the association has seen in registrations of recent years, which show the breed is on the incline.  The Finance committee showed that the association is in good financial standing with plenty of plans ahead to promote the breed and continue the rise of memberships and registrations.  The AMHA Board presented outgoing President Tony Lee with a certificate of appreciation, an honor well deserved for everything he has done for the Morgan horse and the AMHA.

Prior to the start of the meeting, voting was open for in-person voting as well as proxy voting for those who were unable or choose not to place their votes online or via mail.  Voting closed at 10 am and a quorum was confirmed for the election of the Eastern, Central, and Western regional directors.  C. A. “Tony” Lee, III was elected for another term as the Eastern Regional Director, Kelly Kraegel was elected for another term as the Central Regional Director, and Dallas Bolen was elected to serve a second term as the Western Regional Director.  It was also announced the new Board of Directors will be led by Steve Handy as AMHA President with Tony Lee stepping into the Vice-President role.

The 2023 AMHA Board is as follows (left to right in above picture)

Harlan Grunden, Central Region Director and Registry Chair

Sharon Boyce Bender, Western Region Director 

Terri Sturm, Western Region Director and Bylaws Chair

Ashleigh Wood, Eastern Region Director and VP of Finance

Steven Handy, Eastern Region Director and President

James Gruenberg, Central Region Director 

Kelly Kraegel, Central Region Director 

C.A. "Tony" Lee, III, Eastern Region Director and Vice President

Not Pictured, Dallas Bolen, Western Region Director