Anna Morrison Named Chief International Officer

[source: AQHA.com]

The American Quarter Horse Association welcomes Anna Morrison of College Station, Texas, as the Association’s chief international officer. She will start her new role on January 17.

Morrison will be responsible for determining and formulating policies and procedures to provide overall direction of AQHA’s international activities and functions. She will serve as a liaison between AQHA and the Foreign Agriculture Service concerning the cooperator contract between AQHA and FAS. Morrison will also maintain and evolve AQHA’s leading international market position by continuously examining, locating and developing international business relationships.

“We believe Anna will be a great addition to our team here at AQHA,” said Craig Huffhines, AQHA executive vice president. “As an international organization, it is important that we focus on constantly evolving AQHA’s international programs to fit the needs and wants of our members worldwide. By hiring Anna, we believe we are making the appropriate strides to provide enhanced opportunities for our Association across the globe.”

Morrison’s resume boasts a successful international career in the equine industry. For the past seven years, she has worked in Texas A&M University’s Equine Initiative and department of animal sciences. In her role in the Equine Initiative, Morrison was responsible for designing and implementing multiple youth educational programs across Texas, as well as organizing and executing AQHA-funded seminars in Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay. As an animal science faculty member, Morrison designed and taught undergraduate courses and oversaw graduate students in the master of equine industry management program.

Prior to joining Texas A&M University, where she completed her Ph.D. in higher education administration, Morrison served as a coordinator in the equine sciences program at Colorado State University, where she taught two courses, advised 90 undergraduate students and coordinated multiple continuing education and youth education programs. Morrison earned dual bachelor’s degrees in equine science and agricultural business, as well as a master’s degree in agricultural extension education, from Colorado State University. During her years with Colorado State University, she taught in AQHA-funded horsemanship camps in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Morrison has been active in the equine industry, serving as chairwoman of the AQHA Marketing and Membership Committee, member and secretary of the Texas Quarter Horse Foundation Committee, a member of the Stock Horse of Texas executive committee and board of directors, and a ring steward at several AQHA world championship shows. She has also been active as an exhibitor of American Quarter Horses in both AQHA and Stock Horse of Texas competition, and most recently earned the reserve world championship title in amateur Versatility Ranch Horse at the 2015 Zoetis AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, held in 2016.

In 2005, Morrison served as AQHA’s first international intern. During that time, she coordinated and traveled to clinics in seven countries across Europe, serving as a liaison and ambassador for the Association. In total, Morrison has been involved in organizing and conducting AQHA-sponsored educational programs in Europe and South America for 14 years.

For more information on AQHA’s international programs, visit www.aqha.com.