Trinity Packard, a junior firefighter, is president of the Lehigh County 4-H Equine Club, secretary of the Lehigh County 4-H Dairy Goat club, secretary of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Quarter Horse Associations, and is now a three-time national director for the American Quarter Horse Youth Association.

Packard, 16, from Slatington, is an 11th-grade student at Northern Lehigh High School.

For the past eight years, Packard has been an active 4-Her, who uses her leadership skills to help and inspire other youths.

Recently, she has been taking the equine world by storm with new ideas and lots of enthusiasm.

When Packard was 11 years old, she had an opportunity to show a World Champion Quarter horse named “Freds Afire.”

Together in three years of showing, they picked up more than 300 points, led the nation in various events, and was Top 20 at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Show.

This achievement sparked her drive to become an active director for the AQHYA.

She has earned many titles, but is most proud of her most recent achievement.

Packard was elected as an American Quarter Horse Youth Association Regional Director.

Founded in 1940, the AQHYA is the largest equine breed organization in the world.

Its goal is to expand youth participation with and knowledge of the American Quarter Horse.

The AQHYA Executive Committee and regional directors were elected by their peers at the 2019 Bank of America Excellence Seminar from July 9-11 in Amarillo, Texas.

As a regional director, Packard will play a major role in the youth association by planning events, participating in community service projects, and spreading the word about American Quarter Horses, youth activities, and AQHYA.

Packard stated that this election is the most memorable accomplishment during her youth career, as she gets to represent the largest single breed association in the world.

She said becoming a national director will help her become the youth leader she always wanted to be.

Packard can credit her involvement in 4-H for inspiring her to become a national director.

For the past eight years, 4-H has taught her leadership, communication, and promotional skills to better herself for the future.

Driven by her older peers, her goal was to become the president of the Equine Club.

Packard stated she wanted to inspire the children in her club like the past president did for her.

Lehigh County 4-H expanded her horizons and prepared her to hold this national board position for the AQHYA.

She encourages youth to begin their own successful journey by reaching out to their local 4-H Clubs through their websites, social media, or contacting a member such as herself.

She wants to remind the youth that each organization is like a big family that shares the love of leadership; do not pass up on the memories and knowledge you could gain from joining.

Packard wants to attend Penn State University or the University of Delaware for a degree in political science and economics.

She would also like to continue her work with the AQHYA by hosting webinars for 4-H and other groups, promoting them through social media, and speaking to youths across the globe about her passions.

With her remaining years in Lehigh County 4-H, she will continue her heavy involvement in clubs and projects.