AQHA President Frank Merrill was at the first AQHA World Championship Show in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1974. And he’s been to every one since.

 Throughout his tenure on the Executive Committee, Frank has worked to improve and enhance the show for all of our exhibitors. In that time, the Association has increased the added money to the show to $600,000 and worked to find ways to augment almost every area of the show.

 Last year, Frank appointed a special task force to brainstorm and develop ways for AQHA to make the exhibitors’ time at the show even more meaningful. Those suggestions ranged from more recognition for every exhibitor, owner and breeder of World Show horses to adding more big screens, announcing exhibitors’ accomplishments and adding to the World Show experience with choreographed music, spectator giveaways and games and enhanced awards presentations. All of those recommendations have been added to the show.

 “Our exhibitors spend a tremendous amount of time, money and effort to make it here to the World Show,” Frank said. “I want each of them to know the significance of their accomplishments. We’ve added so much excitement to the awards presentations, and I’ve made it a point to take the extra time necessary to ensure every award winner gets a picture receiving their ribbon that they can treasure for the rest of their lives.

 “Some of my most precious memories are of standing in the World Show arena and having my picture taken with the judges or show staff.”

Along with the extras happening in the arena for exhibitors and spectators, those in the barn are also benefiting from the new Superbarn, featuring new stalls, and a bright, open atmosphere.

"We really need to compliment Oklahoma City on the improvements they’ve made to the fairgrounds,” Frank said. “The new barns truly reflect a world championship atmosphere.”

And the action in the arena is matching the improvements to the show.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the owners and exhibitors in the senior western pleasure class,” Frank said. “That was the best western pleasure class I’ve watched in years, and the exhibitors and horses really stepped up when called upon.

 “That was a great spotlight for the quality of our horses and our trainers and their ability to highlight the movement of the American Quarter Horse. It was unfortunate that we had to separate the horses down to just 15 because the horses in both cuts were competing at a finals level.

“I look forward to working with our exhibitors, owners and alliance partners to continue this momentum as we go forward to developing consistent standards across the industry for the western pleasure horse. And it makes me excited to meet with the leading riders in the pleasure industry in Amarillo on December 19.

 "All of those things help make the World Show the best it can be,” Frank said. “There’s not another show like it.”