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Region 8 Executive Committee

John Simmons - Region 8 Director

rainbowarb@aol.com

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My name is John Simmons, I am presently the Region 8 Director, and my lovely wife is Donna. I am a retired Police Officer, retiring at the rank of Captain, after serving 38 years in law enforcement. I have an Associate's Degree, and a Bachelor's Degree in the Administration of Criminal Justice. I have been raising, breeding, and showing Arabian Horses for over 35 years.

 

My wife and I own a small farm in Kearney, MO where we have bred one or two Arabian mares each year. We have actively shown our foals successfully at Class A Shows, Regional Shows, and at both the Canadian, and U.S. National Shows in Halter, Western Pleasure, and Hunter Pleasure. I have been vigorously involved with the Eastern Kansas Arabian Horse Association (EKAHA) since 2001.

 

I have been a member of the Board of Directors with EKAHA from 2003 to 2016, serving as Vice President 3 years and as President 3 years. I have been one of, and currently am, an EKAHA Delegate, and have served in that capacity since 2007. In 2004 I was honored to receive the Arabian Horse Association Club Level Volunteer Service Award and in 2015 I was privileged to receive the Arabian Horse Association Regional Level Volunteer Service Award. I have been actively involved in multiple EKAHA activities, the MOKAN (Missouri/Kansas) Border Bonanza Show, a Region 8 and Region XI qualifying show, since 2010, and have served as the Co-Show/Barn Manager for the last three years. I have also served as a Region 8 Show Commissioner since 2010 and was elected as the Region 8 Treasurer in November 2015, and began serving in that capacity November 2016.

Jim Porcher - Vice Director

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Raised on a working cattle ranch in southern New Mexico, Jim Porcher has been involved in the horse industry, as a trainer and breeder, since the 1970s. He has trained National winners in Western Pleasure, Country English Pleasure, Show Hack, Hunter Pleasure, Halter and Working Hunters as well as National winners in Spain and International winners at the European World Cup. Jim retired from professional training in 2012 and has been reclassified as an Amateur competitor. Jim competes in the Open Working Hunter division on his home-bred Anglo-Arabians. He serves at the President of the Arabian Horse Association of New Mexico, Chair of the Region 8 Show Commission, Region 8 Vice-Director and is a Commissioner for the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals.

Mark Goff - Treasurer & Past Director

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Mark is the Past Director of Region 8. Mark has been associated with Arabian Horses since he was a teenager. His parents owed a breeding farm for more than 20 years. He has shown as an amateur and has won multiple National Championships in the English division. Mark currently holds a USEF “R” in Arabians and an “r” in Morgans. He has been a long time Region 8 delegate from the Four Corners Arabian Horse Club and served as Region 8 Treasurer from 2000 to 2017. His professional background is in accounting, serving as a controller for an engineering firm for over 16 years.

Liz Wheeler - Secretary

lizw37@aol.com

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Liz Wheeler is a new face on the Executive Committee…well, new to this committee but certainly not new to Region 8 activities—because Liz Wheeler from Franktown has been a tireless supporter of the Arabian horse for over 30 years.

From Loftee Arabians (in Franktown, Colorado) Liz and husband Fred bred and campaigned their own National Champion, KL Explosive. As outstanding achievement as this is, it’s almost eclipsed by her career as a supporter of the Arabian horse. A member of the Colorado Arabian Horse Club for 30 years, she has served on the CAHC Board of Directors and as president of their Southern Division for 10 years. For over eight years, she’s managed the CAHC Fall Show, CAHC Spring Show and the Latigo One Day Show and also served on the Board of the Colorado Breeders Alliance and as their show secretary.

While this is her first time serving on the Region 8 Executive Committee, Liz has chaired the Region 8 Nominations Committee for six years, served on the Region 8 Audit Committee for four years and as the Chairperson of the AHA Judges and Stewards Commissioner Review Panel for six years.

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