Day 14: Friday, January 18
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up

What's Kentucky Round-Up?

The Story of S_______ (not the Story of Pi)

Yesterday I had a visitor we'll call S____ (I love when stories talk about S_____, it is so mysterious.  As if S____  MUST be hiding from the FBI, or why would you use S______ instead of his/her name?  Note: This S______ is NOT hiding from the FBI!)

S_____ became interested in Kentucky Round-Up when he read the article in the Lexington Herald-Leader.  He is in the thoroughbred (racing) industry, has never volunteered for anything but many times has said to himself, "I need to help out with this, or that,".. but for some reason has not gotten off the dime.

We are lucky that the article struck such a chord with him.  He has a strong marketing background, has lots of contacts on Thoroughbred farms, and believes firmly in what we are trying to do, which is to put in place a formalized way of getting youth into our horse industry - into ANY segment of it, whether racing, showing, trail-riding....

He is going to use some of his contacts to try to get the Thoroughbred farms involved in this project.  It is late to do that (only two weeks to go!) but he may be successful with some, and with the others he might be able to get them committed to the purpose so that they can help us out next year.  

I loaded him up with materials about Kentucky Round-Up, including a piece I wrote about WHY we are doing it and how important the goal is.  Then I added to his "load" our annual report, brochure and a sample postcard we sent to the legislators.  He is well-armed for his farm mission.  And out the door he went. Godspeed!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, we secured a family with young kids to do the barrel racing demo, and sent the order for all the signs in (all 28 of them, PHEW!), talked to AQHA about sponsoring (No, but they would send brochures and we need to get Ky QHA to help out), talked to a few more vendors who want to set-up, and generally answered all the flotsam and jetsum emails about the event. 

We continue to look for flatbed trailers for a mobile stage for the concert.  If you have any ideas, PLEASE email me. 

The ship slowly moves forward.

Until tomorrow...