Anna’s passion for horses developed during her childhood in Wisconsin. While riding the bus to school each day she would imagine a horse running alongside, jumping driveways, mailboxes and other obstacles. Her love for horses led her to Silvermine Farm in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where she traded hours as a barn rat for riding lessons from age 10 until high school graduation. Due largely to the generosity of others, during this time Anna had the opportunity to lease and borrow horses, gaining riding and showing experience in a variety of disciplines.

Anna pursued an education focused on horses first at Colorado State University (CSU) and later at Texas A&M University (TAMU), earning a BS in Equine Science/Agricultural Business, a MAg in Extension Education, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration. Her career path began in academics, teaching and developing curriculum at CSU and TAMU. Later, Anna served industry member organizations as Chief Foundation Officer and Chief International Officer for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the world’s largest equine breed association, and then Executive Director for the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), which oversees competitions for Anna’s favorite sport – reined cow horse. Along the way, Anna received support and guidance from mentors and industry experts, which furthered her appreciation for how important having a “leg up” can be.

Anna’s passion for horses continues to be a priority in her life, and she is the proud owner of Rockin Paddy, or “Grace,” and Frat Cat, better known as “Fraizer,” who she competes in NRCHA, AQHA and SHTX with.

Foremost, Kate loves to tell other people’s stories and make connections. Early on, she found writing came easily. She wrote stories about her adventures with her childhood horse, “Roanie,” and the friends she made on the horse show circuit growing up outside of Houston, Texas. In college at Texas A&M University, Kate pursued an Agriculture Journalism degree, and truly found her calling on the AgriLeader magazine staff. She rode through college, competing on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team, and on the Quarter Horse circuit. After graduating, work took her to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo as communication coordinator, where she learned to wear many media hats.

After graduating with a Master of Science in Agriculture Leadership, Education and Communications, with a focus on photography, Kate joined the Western Horseman staff. Since 2010, she’s worked extensively in the Western performance horse industry as a writer and photographer. In 2021, she became the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s communications manager before returning to full-time freelance writing and photography, as well as social media management, in 2022.

Writing and providing photographs for Western equine and lifestyle publications is Kate’s specialty, that and connecting people in the industry. She continues her horse crazy childhood dreams, competing in Stock Horse of Texas versatility events from her home base in the Texas Hill Country, where she lives with her husband, Robert, and two Labradors, Huk Fin and Hattie.

Born in the suburbs of St. Louis, Patti Colbert’s connection to the Western lifestyle came through watching television. Her dream was to steal a steed from the pony rides and ride off into the sunset. After moving to Texas in the mid 70’s Patti was able to connect with horses by working at barns and volunteering as a 4-H Leader, and she fell in love with the production of equine events.

She went to work for the Texas Quarter Horse Association, managing the Quarter Horse racing and show industry. Patti helped pass pari-mutuel racing, negotiate race dates, expand the Texas-Bred Program, manage the Texas Classic shows and create the Texas Classic Racing Futurity. Her next move was to the American Quarter Horse Association where she was responsible for raising millions of dollars for the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s scholarship, equine research and preservation programs.

Patti then opened her own firm and worked with clients like the American Angus Association, The American Paint Horse Association, Texas A&M University and more. She and her team took on the management of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, and in 2007 created the Extreme Mustang Makeover events placing thousands of previously wild Bureau of Land Management Mustangs into private care. During that time she was involved with the production of movie and television projects such as Wild Horse, Wild Ride, Unbranded, Project Cowboy and Nat Geo’s Mustang Millionaires.

She was proud to receive the 2014 American Horse Publications Innovator of the Year Award, the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Fern Sawyer Award and to have been inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Currently on the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Advisory Board Chair for the Ride on Center for Kids.

Throughout her career Patti made her home ranch a place for people to connect with horses. For years Colbert Ranch was open to the public for recreational trail rides along with troubled teen and military veteran programs. Patti now loves competing in Stock Horse of Texas events, being with her incredible family and especially enjoying a glass of wine with her friends after staying on her horse in the cow work!

Ellen is no stranger to the Western way of life. She has deep ranching roots that trace back to her family’s Midland-based Parks Ranch, is a longtime supporter of the equine industry. Bell’s grandfather, Roy Parks, ran cattle in West Texas and was president of the American Quarter Horse Association. Bell’s husband, Larry, and their children, Matthew, Brian and Amy, initially bred horses to make solid ranch geldings. It was spurred on through young Amy’s love of riding horses that began during a camp stay. It soon blossomed into a larger enterprise that involved the entire Bell family. Today, the Kalpowar Quarter Horses name stands as the breeder on multiple Quarter Horses that compete in cutting, reined cow horse, reining and roping events, and more.

Following the loss of their daughter, Amy, at 33 years old, in 2014, the Bells created Amy Bell Charities to continue Amy’s passions and works throughout the world. Amy’s provision to sell two horses in order to continue to sponsor a young African boy was stipulated in her will, and providing for his clothing, medical supplies and more was important to her. A school was built with the money from the horse sale, and a well put in for ease of water gathering.

Today, the charity supports African-based projects like the Uganda Water Well Ministry, Nchila Reserve’s Hospital and Orphanage, ChildFund International Projects, and also equine focused programs in the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association.

As a family, Kalpowar Quarter Horses supports the National Reined Cow Horse Association as the Celebration of Champions title sponsor and provides support to the Art of the Cowgirls’ World’s Greatest Horsewoman event. While it took Ellen some time to find the desire to attend a horse show without her daughter, once she did, she was reminded of the healing properties of horses.

Ellen is an elder and deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in her hometown of Midland, Texas, involved with the Junior League on several committees learning to juggle multiple personalities, the March of Dimes Board of Director, involved in the Cerebral Palsy Center at the Midland Rehab Center, in addition to her work with the Amy Bell Charities non-profit.