Meet Our Board Candidates

In Tucson AZ, I was an Al Marah Arabian Apprentice Horse Trainer and a Therapeutic riding Program Volunteer. For my lifetime, I have helped people learn how to help their horses, through several ways, other than training, horse care, Barefoot trimming, Nutrition and now Equine Dentistry. Where as a Master Equine Gnathological Practitioner, I am now an instructor at EGTI in Glenn’s Ferry Idaho. Through the journey of life and horses it allowed me to meet Mickie Proulx, almost 10 years ago in Willow, Alaska. Fast forward to nearly a year ago, Mickie took her last breaths in Oregon, where I had arrived just 10 minutes before her passing. And as we had always talked, I again made that promise to her; that all of the horses would be taken care of, Rehomed, sold and such. Through the tragic loss and many tears, I then gained my first Norwegian Fjord horses. Use this field to describe your story, how your experience is relevant to this role, your vision, and/or any other statements you wish to convey to the members. Limit - 1500 characters. Please contact us if you need more space. I believe that Gods vision for me was too big for my lifetime home in the Great, but very far away State of Alaska. So, my boots are on the ground in Southern Idaho where I am working to build my new life, and my own Fjord Herd. I am No stranger to the breed, as I had already had longtime friendships and clientele with Fjord Horses, I knew the breed very well, although I had. Not owned one until this year, yet I do continue with ownership of my Beloved Arabian Horses. I hope to Share this unique breed, in as many ways as possible. I am an instructor at the Equine Gnathological Training Institute, (Equine Dentistry) where I have brought my Fjords to School to let Students work on their mouths. The Fjord breed in general has been an excellent, willing participant, in sedation free dentistry. And already is creating brand new fjord fans. My vision is also that in the small Wild West town of Glenn’s Ferry, with the backdrop of the Oregon Trail, Equine Dentistry Schools, cowboys, cattle, cornfields, Museums, and even fossils, that there is great potential for the Norwegian Fjord Horse to reach a new level of popularity, showing off their many talents. I plan that they will be pulling wagons through this little town! It is commonly taught at the Equine Gnathological Training Institute, to be a voice for the horse….. so really, this sums it up. What can we do, as a community of people to promote all of the good things that give value to this treasured breed. Trail Riding, Packing, Driving, pulling Wagons, 4H & Pony Club, Riding Lessons, Jumping, Eventing, Dressage. Showing? I know I can be an asset to this group at some point. I believe that Gods vision for me was too big for my lifetime home in the Great, but very far away State of Alaska. So, my boots are on the ground in Southern Idaho where I am working to build my new life, and my own Fjord Herd. I am No stranger to the breed, as I had already had longtime friendships and clientele with Fjord Horses, I knew the breed very well, although I had. Not owned one until this year, yet I do continue with ownership of my Beloved Arabian Horses. I hope to Share this unique breed, in as many ways as possible. I am an instructor at the Equine Gnathological Training Institute, (Equine Dentistry) where I have brought my Fjords to School to let Students work on their mouths. The Fjord breed in general has been an excellent, willing participant, in sedation free dentistry. And already is creating brand new fjord fans. My vision is also that in the small Wild West town of Glenn’s Ferry, with the backdrop of the Oregon Trail, Equine Dentistry Schools, cowboys, cattle, cornfields, Museums, and even fossils, that there is great potential for the Norwegian Fjord Horse to reach a new level of popularity, showing off their many talents. I plan that they will be pulling wagons through this little town! It is commonly taught at the Equine Gnathological Training Institute, to be a voice for the horse….. so really, this sums it up. What can we do, as a community of people to promote all of the good things that give value to this treasured breed. Trail Riding, Packing, Driving, pulling Wagons, 4H & Pony Club, Riding Lessons, Jumping, Eventing, Dressage. Showing? I know I can be an asset to this group at some point.

Hi my name is Erica Walker I am 26 years old. I have 8 horses of my own, 2 which being Fjords that live in my small backyard farm. I have Managed a Retail Business for 8 years recently leaving to start my next chapter as a proud business owner to a company that I started from the ground up, that all started from wanting my Fjord on my shirt. I have been a part of 4-H for the last 18 years, and now a Leader of Curry Combs 4-H Horse Club, and helping Run the Horse Tent for the Monmouth County Fair. along side of Garden State Horse and Carriage Society for 21 years. Growing up I have been surrounded by horses and livestock. I have successfully broken several horses to ride and have rehabbed multiples recuses as well. I am currently in the process of breaking my just turned 3 year old Mangus who is a Fjord. In the past I have shown my late Fjord CRR Karibide in multiple shows driving and under saddle, including Barrel Racing, Hunter/Jumpers, Hunter paces, Parades, Expos and Fairs. I am currently showing my Fjord Luka who is 14 years old in multiple horse shows, riding in parades and attending the Pennsylvania Horse Expo this coming year as well as a few years prior, but not limited to other public functions to increase the public awareness of the breed. As a Board member for NFHA I would love to expand our Organization, and make others aware of The Norwegian Fjord Breed. We as an organization we can attend more Events/Expos, Fjords are known as the horse from Frozen, which I feel we can use towards our benefit. Challenging our members to join in on different challenges every few months will get more members activity, with more activities involves more publicity. I would love to host monthly news letters shouting out members adventures and stories.

I am writing to express my interest in the Board of Directors Open Position with Norwegian Fjord Horse Alliance. I am confident I have the qualifications and skills necessary for the job and am eager and excited to put my fundraising knowledge and experience to work for you. I have followed the NFHA for some time now, and I admire the growth that has already been established. NFHA now has a great foundation with a talented team to now successfully drive it forward. As an experienced fundraiser I believe I can contribute in an impactful way. I have led several teams of fundraising professionals to develop and implement innovative fundraising initiatives, most of these have exceeded our vision. I have a deep understanding of the equine industry. Having been raised on my father’s combined training farm, I competed internationally during my high school years and achieved a full equine scholarship at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Following my college graduation, I worked as an equine vet tech while achieving my graduate degree at the University of Arkansas in Non-Profit Administration. I have successfully established two therapeutic riding centers and enjoyed four years as a Regional Representative for the Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding. (PATH). Adopting two Fjord Mares, Saga and Boel, has been the highlight of my life. I soon approach retirement, and they are both in for a busier life, hopefully to include long-distance trail riding and pulling their Amish made wagon in local parades. My goal is to build a resilient organization and with integrity and hard work we will reap the rewards and celebrate the love we all have for our Fjords. I look forward to those days. It will take a positive collective effort, and I stand willing to offer my knowledge and service to this pursuit. Use this field to describe your story, how your experience is relevant to this role, your vision, and/or any other statements you wish to convey to the members. Limit - 1500 characters. Please contact us if you need more space. Fundraising Experienced Fundraiser with 24 years of success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies. Proven track record in securing major gifts, cultivating donor relationships, managing capital campaigns and exceeding fundraising goals. Skilled in online fundraising, event planning, and creating printed and on-line compelling fundraising materials to drive revenue growth. WORK experience Fundraising 10/2021 – 12/2/2024 Shelterwood Academy for At-Risk Youth •Spearheaded a revolutionary AI-driven donor segmentation strategy, resulting in a 45% increase in major gifts and a 30% boost in overall fundraising revenue within 18 months. •Orchestrated a regional virtual gala leveraging augmented reality technology, engaging 400+ attendees and raising $5 million for new programs and capital growth. •Implemented a Sales Force donation tracking system, enhancing transparency and increasing donor retention rates by 23% year-over-year. Development Director 05/2021 – 09/2021 CORRAL Equine Psychotherapy (For girls that have been extracted from trafficking) •Developed and executed a multi-channel fundraising campaign integrating social media, personalized video content, and targeted email marketing, resulting in a 60% increase in new donors and $1.6 million in additional contributions. •Led a committee of 7 fundraising professionals, implementing a data-driven performance management system that improved individual productivity by 31% and team goal attainment by 28%. •Pioneered a corporate partnership program utilizing gamification elements, securing five Fortune 500 companies as long-term donors and generating $1.6 million in annual recurring donations. Executive and Fundraising Director 08/2005 – 04/2021 Helping Hands Equine Assisted Therapy Fundraising. •Designed and launched a mobile-first crowdfunding platform, attracting 700+ new millennial donors and raising $1.2 million for various platforms in its first year. •Collaborated with the marketing team to create an award-winning storytelling campaign, increasing social media engagement by 150% and driving a 30% uptick in online donations. •Optimized grant application processes through automation writing tools, resulting in a 20% increase in new donors and $1.8 million in additional grant fundraising. SKILLS & COMPETENCIES •Grant writing and research •Donor cultivation and stewardship •Major gifts solicitation •Fundraising event planning and execution •Online fundraising and digital marketing •Capital campaign management •Corporate sponsorship acquisition •Fundraising strategy development and implementation •Team management and volunteer coordination •Budgeting and financial reporting •Relationship building and networking •Persuasive communication and presentation skills •Data analysis and donor segmentation •Social media engagement and promotion •Time management and prioritization COURSES / CERTIFICATIONS Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) 04/2021 CFRE International Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) 04/2017 Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fundraising Management Certificate (Missouri) 04/2014 Mission Increase School of Christian Fundraising Principles 08/2012 Education MS Graduate Degree – Non Profit Administration Fayetteville, Arkansas Bachelor of Science in Biology/Equestrian Science Stephens College/University of Missouri -Columbia Columbia, Missouri

My name is Kendal Pappas and I own and operate Pappy Van Fjords alongside my husband, Anthony. We have an almost year old son, Niko, and reside on our 23 acres in Fair Grove, MO with our 8 fjords. I am an ER nurse who has taken some time off from the bedside to raise our son and enjoy this wonderful horse breed. I have been an equestrian for over 20 years and bought our first fjord in January of '22. My husband's work moved us from SC to MO in July of '23 and we quickly added to our herd and created a small breeding program. I have competed in eventing up to the training level, and now enjoy our fjords for trail riding. I am aiming to do some hunter paces and/or fox hunting in the future and am interested in learning about working equitation. I have thoroughly enjoyed this breed and love talking with people about how wonderful they are. Lately, I have been offering to help and foster horses with the Norwegian Fjord Horse Rescue Network and plan to continue doing so. My dad always told me growing up that horses were something that I could ALWAYS come back to when life allowed. I spent a few years travel nursing so I parted ways with my percheron at the time to not be selfish. I found a lot of the Fjord Facebook pages when my son was barely a year old in 2021. I was struggling with not working anymore and still balancing the role of motherhood. My husband realized something was missing and I needed a piece of “me” back… to escape to the barn for a bit and be in the saddle. He told me if I could find a "low maintenance" breed (if that even exists), I could get another horse. During my years of eventing, I would see a fjord here and there but not often. I always thought they were so cool, but at the time I loved having that 16.3hh OTTB. Fast forward a decade...plus some, there was nothing more that I wanted than to have a nice, solid horse with the personality of a gold retriever to enjoy days at the barn with or hours on the trail. After doing a lot of researching and talking to a few breeders, we decided to try and find a fjord. HUGE thanks to Ashley Ralph for really starting my addiction ;) I want to help share the knowledge and love for this amazing breed of horse. Every time I bring a horse out, I can see people’s faces light up. I love answering questions and letting people love on them like I am so blessed to be able to do everyday. Having a toddler does make getting out to shows a bit difficult nowadays but I have plans to start traveling for a few events and shows in the future. We are joining our local saddle club and going to participate in their fun shows to get the horses out and seen. If elected for the board, I hope to be able to engage with many more fjord lovers out there and make a positive impact for this little community.

Hello Fjord friends, I am Taylor Sample. My family bought our first fjord when I was in 5th grade and haven’t looked back. We used to attended the show at blue earth, and stood a stallion for over a decade. I spent six years in the Air Force which has taught me to work well with diverse groups of people. Currently, I work in the medical field. It is my desire to help the NFHA develop and promote the Norwegian Fjord Horse in a positive and inclusive manor. With a breed this unique and uncommon, we need to include, encourage, and support everyone who has a passion for our horses.