I am from the small town of East Berlin, Pennsylvania where I live on small farm with seven horses that decorate our fields year-round. My family consists of my mother, Denise Good, who has taught me nearly everything that I know about horses, my father, Jeffrey Good,who has wholeheartedly supported me in every aspiration I had within this industry, and my sister, Kaitlyn Good, who has been my lifelong best friend. My grandparents, Robert and Janet Godfrey, have been my biggest fans in every desire I have had within the equine industry. For my entire life, the All American Quarter Horse Congress has been the highlight of every October. My grandparents anticipated this event because they could watch their grandchildren compete on their American Quarter Horses, and enjoy the exhilarating western atmosphere of the show. My grandmother would start packing her suitcase for the show in July just so she would be ready to leave in October. Every morning at the show, my grandfather's favorite thing to do for my sister and I was to buy us the mouthwatering Sweet Shop cinnamon rolls, buy himself a pecan roll, and then return to our horse trailer and eat them together while my grandmother drank her Lipton tea. It's a small memory, but one that is the epiphany of the Congress. The Congress was an event that brought my family together, and it is the location of some of the fondest memories I have with my family.
I have shown Quarter Horses all of my life because of my mother's involvement in showing at AQHA shows. In 2014, I attended my first Youth Excellence Seminar where I found my passion for leadership. In 2016-17, I was elected as a Region 5 Director, and the next two years in 2017-2019 I was the AQHYA First Vice President. My involvement in AQHYA taught me valuable career skills, developed my leadership skills, improved my public speaking skills, and provided me with an incredible network of mentors and friends. My fondest memories from my experience in AQHYA include planning Region 5 Conferences, meeting horse crazy youth from around the world at the Youth World Cup, and participating in community service projects that changed the lives of people in need. I just recently retire from my position as First Vice President in July at the Bank of America Youth Excellence Seminar which was bittersweet. I am blessed to have been part of something that made my goodbyes so difficult, but I cannot wait to embark on my next journey competing for the All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen. I plan to continue to advocate for the future of our industry, the youth, and represent our incredible association.
Looking back at my 7 year old self walking into Congress Hall and meeting the elegant, poised, and graceful Queen Contestants in their glittering outfits, and getting goosebumps as they crowned the beautiful Congress Queen, I am proud to say that I have achieved those wild dreams that little girl was dreaming of. Little did I know all those years ago, that my passion and excitement for the Queen Contest would lead me down a journey that would eventually present me with the opportunity to represent my state, Pennsylvania, in this spectacular competition. I can't wait to embark on this journey, and I wish the best of luck to the rest of the contestants.
