In 1995, the Bulloch County Horseman’s Association (BCHA) was founded, and today remains the sole pleasure horse association representing the entire Coastal Empire under the Georgia Federation umbrella. Its dedicated members from Bulloch and neighboring counties come together to compete in western pleasure events, aiming to qualify for the state show in Perry, Georgia, each Labor Day weekend.
In 2018, Rachel Selph, a lifetime member and former President of BCHA, envisioned a legacy of support for young riders through a youth scholarship program. To fund this initiative, the club decided to host a sporting clay shoot, leveraging the enthusiasm of board members and youth participants who were also avid clay shooters.
The inaugural Broken Clay Shoot took place in 2019 at Baygall Sporting Clays, raising $1,081 in profits and awarding $1,000 in scholarships.
Since then, the event has flourished. The shoot has gained a following of sponsors, competitors, and volunteers who come back every year. Cason’s Auto Service and Mr. Transmission of Brooklet has strongly held the Ultimate Sponsor position for all six years.
The 2024 Broken Clay Shoot was their most successful year yet in addition to receiving a record number of scholarship applications. BCHA was thrilled to award $10,000 in scholarships to nine deserving students across elementary, middle, and high school levels:
- Elementary School: Braelyn Sapp $750, Ezra Ellrod $500, Kylie Boggs $250
- Middle School: Alexis Halt $1,500, Ayden Nash $1,000, Phallen Nash $500
- High School: Haleigh Smith $2,500, Avery Taylor $2,000, Montana Rooker $1,000
To date, over $20,000 in scholarships has been awarded since the event’s inception to BCHA youth, some of which are now attending the University of Georgia.
The BCHA is eagerly looking forward to 2025. If you are interested in sponsoring or participating in the Broken Clay Shoot, please follow the BCHA Facebook page Broken Clay Youth Scholarship Shoot or contact Nadine Loitz at [email protected].
Join BCHA on February 22, 2025, at Baygall in Garfield, Ga., for another exciting year!
