September 7, 2021
Let me introduce myself and give you some history about my experience and journey with the NBHA, as well as what you can expect with me as the state director.
My name is Rob Blohowiak, I am 52 years old, and I am a charter member of the National Barrel Horse Association. That means that I have been a member of the NBHA every year since its inception, and I have paid over $1300 in membership fees.
However, it starts even earlier than that...
After graduating from college in 1991, I started a barrel horse training and sales business with my father, Ralph, in Manawa, Wisconsin. During this time, I was traveling nationally to most of the major futurities and hosting jackpots at my home. My travels allowed me to meet and make connections with many wonderful people and professionals in the barrel horse world. One of these people was Talmadge Green. Talmadge was the first barrel racer to win over a million dollars in barrel racing futurities. Our relationship took me to hosting several Talmadge Green barrel racing clinics at our farm. During our 1992 clinic, Talmadge sat in our kitchen and explained his idea about a 3D barrel race. He went over it several times and talked about how everyday barrel races could go from 20 to 30 riders up to 60 or more because now everyone could compete together. There would be no need for novice classes, and the same few winners could still compete, but now others could get in on the action. Talmadge was in talks with Morris Communications in Augusta, Georgia, to help finance and start the NBHA.
I was asked to be on the formation committee with several wonderful people in the industry from all over the country. I was flown to Augusta for several meetings along with Martha and RE Josey, Mike Green, Van Manley, Jo Turner, Rick Sykes, Pete May and Raymond and Vicky Duke. We sat in a conference room and talked about how it would work, why it would not work, how it would be different in Texas than it would in Minnesota and what would be the structure of the organization. Ultimately, Morris Communications took on the project and needed it to make money within the first 5 years, or the project would be scrapped. They wanted the National Finals to be held in their hometown of Augusta, but the rest was up to Talmadge and his team.
I became the first Great Lakes Regional Director and began my tenure by appointing state directors in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. The first Wisconsin State NBHA Finals was held at my home in Manawa, Wisconsin, and had approximately 40 riders. The first NBHA World Championships was in 1993 and had a futurity and derby along with the open, youth and senior divisions. The association continued to grow, and the 3D barrel racing system, while criticized highly, was taking off and clearly changing barrel racing forever. Talmadge was right. Barrel races went from 30 riders to 60 riders. We had mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, kids, pros and locals all joining and running barrels together. Now after 28 years, the NBHA is one of the largest organizations for barrel racers and continues to grow.
A bit about me personally, I started riding when I was 7 and began barrel racing shortly thereafter. I have 25 NBHA world championship qualifications in the 1D and have had the privilege of riding and training many great barrel horses. I met my best friend, Cathy Rutten, when I was 8, and she was a bit older. While we have spent some years apart in the past, our friendship is strong and now we live about 10 minutes away from each other. Cathy is ready to jump in and help me with her amazing organizational and leadership skills. She is also an amazing barrel racer and has loved horses her whole life.
So what can you expect for the 2021/2022 season? Well, the same great things you saw last year. The Wisconsin NBHA is not broken (Thank You Ed and Brenda and all who have been before me), so we have nothing to fix. We do, however, want to continue to improve your experience at the finals, provide fun for the whole family and continue great competition in the arena. Here are a few specifics:
Let me introduce myself and give you some history about my experience and journey with the NBHA, as well as what you can expect with me as the state director.
My name is Rob Blohowiak, I am 52 years old, and I am a charter member of the National Barrel Horse Association. That means that I have been a member of the NBHA every year since its inception, and I have paid over $1300 in membership fees.
However, it starts even earlier than that...
After graduating from college in 1991, I started a barrel horse training and sales business with my father, Ralph, in Manawa, Wisconsin. During this time, I was traveling nationally to most of the major futurities and hosting jackpots at my home. My travels allowed me to meet and make connections with many wonderful people and professionals in the barrel horse world. One of these people was Talmadge Green. Talmadge was the first barrel racer to win over a million dollars in barrel racing futurities. Our relationship took me to hosting several Talmadge Green barrel racing clinics at our farm. During our 1992 clinic, Talmadge sat in our kitchen and explained his idea about a 3D barrel race. He went over it several times and talked about how everyday barrel races could go from 20 to 30 riders up to 60 or more because now everyone could compete together. There would be no need for novice classes, and the same few winners could still compete, but now others could get in on the action. Talmadge was in talks with Morris Communications in Augusta, Georgia, to help finance and start the NBHA.
I was asked to be on the formation committee with several wonderful people in the industry from all over the country. I was flown to Augusta for several meetings along with Martha and RE Josey, Mike Green, Van Manley, Jo Turner, Rick Sykes, Pete May and Raymond and Vicky Duke. We sat in a conference room and talked about how it would work, why it would not work, how it would be different in Texas than it would in Minnesota and what would be the structure of the organization. Ultimately, Morris Communications took on the project and needed it to make money within the first 5 years, or the project would be scrapped. They wanted the National Finals to be held in their hometown of Augusta, but the rest was up to Talmadge and his team.
I became the first Great Lakes Regional Director and began my tenure by appointing state directors in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. The first Wisconsin State NBHA Finals was held at my home in Manawa, Wisconsin, and had approximately 40 riders. The first NBHA World Championships was in 1993 and had a futurity and derby along with the open, youth and senior divisions. The association continued to grow, and the 3D barrel racing system, while criticized highly, was taking off and clearly changing barrel racing forever. Talmadge was right. Barrel races went from 30 riders to 60 riders. We had mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, kids, pros and locals all joining and running barrels together. Now after 28 years, the NBHA is one of the largest organizations for barrel racers and continues to grow.
A bit about me personally, I started riding when I was 7 and began barrel racing shortly thereafter. I have 25 NBHA world championship qualifications in the 1D and have had the privilege of riding and training many great barrel horses. I met my best friend, Cathy Rutten, when I was 8, and she was a bit older. While we have spent some years apart in the past, our friendship is strong and now we live about 10 minutes away from each other. Cathy is ready to jump in and help me with her amazing organizational and leadership skills. She is also an amazing barrel racer and has loved horses her whole life.
So what can you expect for the 2021/2022 season? Well, the same great things you saw last year. The Wisconsin NBHA is not broken (Thank You Ed and Brenda and all who have been before me), so we have nothing to fix. We do, however, want to continue to improve your experience at the finals, provide fun for the whole family and continue great competition in the arena. Here are a few specifics:
- We must continue to make the finals affordable for families but make sure that fees are in line based on added money, prizes and need to cover the expense of the facilities.
- The show committee will meet to cover specific topics related the competition year and the state championship show. You can bring your concerns to your district director or any director for that matter, and they will be brought to the show committee. We intend to project plan the finals and expect members to help with specific duties at the finals. This is too big of a show for only the committee to run, and I personally find it in poor taste that we have to make announcements to get additional helpers at the show. It is my vision that all duties will be accounted for before arrival on the show grounds, and all districts will participate.
- We have created a new website (winbha.com) and want to drive most of the information needed to the website. We will continue to use our facebook page for announcements and quick updates, but please get used to going to the website to find the answers to your questions. A note about social media: we will not tolerate arguing, bullying or general bashing of the NBHA or its affiliates on our social media page. Comments will be deleted or not permitted if this occurs.
- We are looking at the possibility of online entries and up-to-date live results.
- There has been talk about a more centralized location. The Elkhorn Equestrian Center has bent over backwards to help us grow and accommodate our event. We will be staying in Elkhorn for the foreseeable future. You are welcome to bring suggestions but know that we require a large venue with 400+ stalls and excellent barrel racing ground indoors.
- There is also a lot of talk about jump out fees versus stalls. This issue will be discussed by the show committee. We are all taking a break, since the finals just recently ended, and most of us had to get back to work and our families. Everyone has seen the opinions on Facebook, and you have been heard. The show committee and I will address this issue as one of our first.
- The NBHA State Championship Show is meant to be a 4-day, fun weekend where folks have bonfires, play games, walk around and visit each other’s campsites, have fellowship and, yes, run barrels. We are thrilled to have WPRA girls run with futurity trainers, and 4H kids with rodeo kids. The finals is for everyone! If you must pop in and out, we appreciate that. But know that for most, it is an end of summer, 4-day bash that is looked forward to all year.
- When looking at the NBHA State Championship Show, do not compare it to GFB or SC Productions or other for-profit barrel races. This show is put on by UNPAID VOLUNTEERS.
I will leave you with this, I am stoked to be the new state director and to share this journey with my best buddy, Cathy, my wife, Mary, and our great directors and show committee. I will listen, but I will not be abused. I will do my best to ensure good and fair competition, and a great time making lots of memories for everyone. Below this letter is the purpose of the NBHA. I know you have read this long letter, but please skim below and realize what the NBHA has done for our sport and how far it has come. I have now come full circle in my journey with the NBHA, and I look forward to where it will take all of us.
Sincerely,
Rob Blohowiak
Sincerely,
Rob Blohowiak
The purpose of the NBHA is to promote the sport of barrel racing and its growth on local, state, provincial, national and international levels.
- Increase the number of participants.
- Improve the quality and safety of shows.
- Enhance the image of barrel racing.
- Provide all barrel racers, regardless of age, sex or experience, the opportunity to compete for prize money, awards and points in local events throughout the year so they may qualify to compete in NBHA State/ Provincial, National and World Championships.
- You will become part of an international barrel racing organization developed to improve your sport, making it better for you and all other barrel racers.
- The sanctioning power of the NBHA helps to improve conditions at existing shows and to upgrade arenas to meet NBHA safety standards and show requirements.
- You can ride in sanctioned shows, close to home, to compete for NBHA points and prize money and qualify for year-end awards, State/ Provincial, National and World Championships.
- The NBHA is designed primarily for the local weekend competitor. You will have the opportunity to compete for more prize money and awards plus district, and State/ Provincial, National and World titles. The NBHA 4-D and 5-D format means more entries and larger purses, but more importantly, it gives YOU a fairer chance to win!
- You will receive the BARREL HORSE NEWS containing monthly show updates. The BARREL HORSE NEWS is a monthly magazine dedicated to our members and the sport of barrel racing.
- As you join forces with other barrel racers around the world, the NBHA is attracting additional national and regional sponsors who are bringing more prize money, awards, benefits and publicity to our sport.
- You have the opportunity to help make the NBHA one of the largest equine sport associations in the world.
- If you are a barrel racer or if you want to become a barrel racer the NBHA is the association to join