Executive Director
National Cutting Horse Association
Fort Worth, Texas
Describe your event.
We have our Western National Championships each year at the Golden Spike Events Center in Ogden. It is a ranching and herding sport; we are the “league office” for cutting horse activities around the country. We sanction over 2,000 events per year with $42 million in prizes. It’s an 11-day show, and this year it will have 800 attendees.
Why did you decide to host the meeting in Ogden?
The facilities at the Golden Spike arena were really well suited to this particular event. Ogden is central and geographically desirable to us.
What surprised you the most about Ogden?
Spring is a great time of year; the grass is green and you’re at the foothills of the mountains, and people can take time to drive up into the pass and into the mountains.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most?
The people are nice, the facilities are great, and it’s pretty laid-back.
Was anybody particularly helpful?
Our primary contact is Jim Harvey at the Golden Spike Events Center. Through his initiative and that of the Golden Spike board, they do a nice collective effort of generating some local sponsorship and support for our event.
What would you have done differently?
I can’t really think of anything; we’re very satisfied with the venue.
What other types of groups would fit well with the property?
Equestrian-oriented events. They already have some successful rodeos and a Dutch oven cooking contest, and there’s a little horse racetrack there. It’s a good place for youth-oriented events.
How does Ogden compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings?
It’s unique because where we go with our big events—Fort Worth, Amarillo, Jackson, and Ogden—it’s hard to compare because they’re so different.
Would you return?
Yes, we are returning.