Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – October 28, 2024 – The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) has wrapped up its 2024 board election, welcoming six in-state directors and reappointing its out-of-state director for another year. This year’s election saw a low voter turnout, leading the board to simplify the process by selecting the top six in-state nominees by acclamation.

In a typical election, the process includes a nomination phase and a final round of voting. However, according to OQHRA bylaws, candidates need at least five nominations to make it to the ballot. This year, only six in-state members reached that threshold, which happened to match the number of available board seats. To avoid additional expenses, the board approved chose to bypass the voting round and confirm the six nominees by acclamation.

“This decision just made sense,” said OQHRA President LeAnn Burns. “We had six candidates for six spots, all of whom met the nomination requirement, so we chose the most efficient route.”

Krissy Bamberg, OQHRA Executive Director, echoed this sentiment. “It was a practical approach, considering the circumstances. We want to honor our members’ time and resources while following our bylaws,” she added.

The new in-state board members include both experienced voices and new energy. Jason Olmstead, a trainer from Pryor, joins the board as its newest member, bringing a fresh perspective. Re-elected members include Kathy McNally of Guthrie; Cole Morehead of Lexington; Shari Burger from Blanchard; Tim Tallchief from Jones; and Dr. Doug Ruby from Piedmont. These five directors bring years of knowledge and commitment to OQHRA, while Olmstead is expected to add new insights.  No other person received more than 3 votes.

In addition, Lake Newcomb, a longtime director and past president, has been honored with the title of Director Emeritus. Newcomb has served OQHRA for many years, often as part of the executive team, and his contributions to the association have been invaluable.

The out-of-state director position, however, faced a different challenge. No out-of-state candidate received the minimum five nominations required for official nomination. To address this, Burns, with board approval, reappointed Fran Cavenaugh to the role. Cavenaugh, who served in this capacity last year, agreed to continue for another year.

Reflecting on the low voter turnout, Bamberg acknowledged that member engagement is an area for improvement. “OQHRA belongs to its members, and we rely on their involvement,” she said. “With only 114 in-state ballots returned from 714 sent, and just 24 out-of-state ballots returned from 895, we know we have work to do to increase participation.”

The OQHRA Board of Directors encourages members to engage throughout the year by attending open board meetings, where they can stay informed and contribute ideas. “We truly hope more members will join us at these meetings and become active voices in the organization,” said Burns.

Meeting schedules and other details are available HERE.