Va. Gold Cup & Join Us in Broken Arrow, OK
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98th Virginia Gold Cup
Last weekend, I experienced my first Virginia Gold Cup in The Plains, VA.
For 98 years, there’s been tailgating, revelry, and hat contests in Virginia Hunt Country. Here’s a brief history of the event:
The legendary annual Virginia Gold Cup steeplechasing classic, now run before a sellout crowd of over 60,000 people, comes from much simpler beginnings.
Steeplechasing in Virginia has been a way of life since early Colonial times when the horse was the primary way of transportation, farming and war. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson met in sporting competition over fences. Organized steeplechase races have run in Fauquier County since 1844 originally at White Sulphur Springs then a fashionable spa near Warrenton.
On April 3, 1922, eight sportsmen met at the Fauquier Club in Warrenton and decided to organize a four-mile race between flags over the natural walls and fences of the nearby hunting countryside. Pledging $1,000 to purchase a trophy for the winning owner, they ruled that it be kept permanently by the first owner to win the race three times, not necessarily in consecutive years nor with the same horse. Just 34 days later, they held the first Virginia Gold Cup race. From its beginning, the race was intended to be a national event drawing “the best hunters in America.”
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In 1924 the race moved to a new course, Broadview Farm near Warrenton, and was run for the first time under national steeplechasing rules. It has run each year since with only few interruptions during World War II.
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The Virginia Gold Cup has over the past century made steeplechasing one of the most prestigious sports in America. Former NSA President George Strawbridge calls the Gold Cup’s Great Meadow racecourse, “The crown jewel of American steeplechasing.” Nick Arundel said simply “what this generation and The Virginia Gold Cup is doing at Great Meadow is driven by harmony with its community, its traditions and its environment.”
POMA Business Conference - Broken Arrow, OK
Calling existing and budding outdoor communicators: If you’re free next month, I want to encourage you to attend Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)’s annual Business Conference.
This year’s confab will be held in Visit Broken Arrow just out Tulsa, Oklahoma, from June 12-15, 2023.
Here’s a snapshot of our agenda:
SESSION, MEAL AND EVENT SCHEDULE
MONDAY, JUNE 12
Arrive in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma so you’re sure to not miss a minute of the action that’s planned over the next three value-packed days!
Check out the Visitors Guide!
7 – 9 p.m. — Food Truck Meet-And-Greet (open to all attendees to mix and mingle with board members and fellow POMA members before the event officially starts) at Stoney Creek Hotel. Sponsored by Visit Rapid City
TUESDAY, JUNE 13
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Registration. Sponsored by the National Bowhunter Education Foundation
10 – 11:30 a.m. The Right to Write Workshop — A workshop based upon Julie Cameron’s book of the same name, and her “Artist’s Way” series. According to Cameron, we're all natural writers, but we get stuck in our own heads and can’t get out of our own way. During this workshop, glean tools to use in everyday writing life to get unstuck and be a better writer – even if all that includes is writing e-mails to your peers. Hosted by Michelle Scheuermann, BulletProof Communications, LLC.
11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Corporate Partners Set Up for Speed Meetings and Product Showcase
12 – 1:30 p.m. — Welcome Lunch & Membership Meeting. Sponsored by SPYPOINT
1:45 – 3:45 p.m. — Speed Meeting – Media meets with Corporate Partners. Bring Business Cards!
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. — Product Showcase w/ Cocktail Reception. Sponsored by Visit Ogden
6:15 – 8:15 p.m. — Welcome Dinner and Entertainment. Sponsored by Visit Broken Arrow
8:30 p.m. — POMA After Hours Networking. Sponsored by Visit Wichita
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14
7 a.m. – 9 a.m. — Registration. Sponsored by the National Bowhunter Education Foundation
9:15 – 10:30 a.m. — Editor’s Panel: Britney Booth, Editor of Ruffed Grouse Society’s Covers Magazine, Hunting Life Magazine and North American Gamebird Association’s NAGA News; Chad Love, Editor of Quail Forever Journal; Kevin Michalowski, Executive Editor of Concealed Carry Magazine, Trey Reid, Managing Editor of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and Editor-In-Chief of Strung Sporting Journal and Megan Richard, Editor of Whitetails Unlimited. Sponsored by Whitetails Unlimited
10:30-10:45 a.m. — Break
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Editor’s Mini Sessions
12 – 1 p.m. — Lunch
1 – 3 p.m. – MedicUp Stop The Bleed Workshop – Learn how to recognize and treat a massive bleed with the use of tourniquets and proper wound packing techniques.
3 – 3:15 p.m. – Break
3:15 – 5:15 p.m. – Back Pocket Skills: iPhone Photography Workshop with Idea Ranch – Learn specific iPhone photography strategies, work with different lighting conditions and discuss post-processing techniques to enhance your images. Several staged scenes will allow you to practice outdoor lifestyle and product photography in a hands-on and interactive way. By the end of the workshop, you'll have valuable insights that will enhance your photo portfolio, writing pieces, or gear reviews.
6 – 6:30 p.m. — Cocktail Reception
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. — Keynote Speaker: Col. Nick Nichols, Folds of Honor
7:15 – 8:15 p.m. — Dinner. Sponsored by Folds of Honor
8:15 – 8:45 p.m. — Auction Night
9 p.m. — POMA After Hours Networking. Sponsored by Delta Defense
On Thursday, June 15th, I’ll moderate a breakout session on digital media featuring Sarah Southerland, (Communications and Information Specialists, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife), Jessica Rockeman (Delta Waterfowl) and Chris LaCivita from Safari Club International.
Not yet a member? Fear not: We’re offering a special rate for newbies.
Want to join POMA as a first-time Media member and attend our Annual Business Conference? Click the link above to register for the conference and use code “new23” to save $100.
Opportunities
Young Voices Communications Apprenticeship
Media Research Center Internship
Young Voices Contributor Program
Independent Women’s Forum Visiting Fellowship
Sights and Sounds from D.C.
ICYMI
Articles/commentary/media appearances from the past week.
MEDIA MENTIONS
I appeared on Fox 5 DC to chat the latest economic news. And I was quoted in Fox Business about the bizarre Kia Hyundai challenge.
ARTICLES/BLOGS
Townhall: Unicorn Dreams: Biden Clean Energy Push Expensive, Environmentally-Destructive
IWF: Fisherman Case Before SCOTUS Could Reverse Chevron Doctrine
Townhall: Forest Service Wants to Permanently Close 226K Acres to Recreational Shooting
Podcasts You May Have Missed
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
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—Gabriella