NCHA Awards First-Ever Loper of the Year

Ella Blazek is awarded the first-ever Loper of the Year title at the NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity.

Brad Pryor, president and founder of Rafter P Construction, a leading design-build construction company in the farm and ranch industry, has instituted the Rafter P Loper of the Year award with the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA). The $5,000 cash prize, custom Gist buckle, and Rafter P gift basket went to Ella Blazek, who was recognized as the first-ever recipient of the award at the NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity on Nov. 11, 2023.

Pryor founded his company culture on hard work, grit, and determination, and he wanted to invest in those same values, which he sees in the lopers of the NCHA. According to Pryor, "It’s the least I can do to give back to the backbone of the NCHA.”

Pryor selected Blazek, who works for well-known horse trainer Kenny Platt located in Fort Lupton, Colo., from a large pool of potential and hard-working lopers because of her outstanding character traits and work ethic. Blazek is also an accomplished competitor in the NCHA, and she went on to win the reserve champion title in the T/K Cutting Horses Limited Open after receiving the Loper of the Year award. She achieved this feat riding her horse, Ristos Boon, with a score of 217.5 on Nov. 28 during the 2023 Metallic Cat Futurity.

In addition to this award, Pryor has instituted the Rafter P Hardship Award with the NCHA to provide financial assistance to a youth member in good standing with the NCHA during the Summer Spectacular and Youth World Finals.

Jay Winborn, the Executive Director of NCHA, is excited about recognizing the hard work of many individuals in the organization, along with Rafter P.

According to Winborn, "Our goal is to highlight and encourage the exceptional people that put in the effort to make the NCHA the esteemed organization it is. We are thrilled to recognize Ella Blazek as the 2023 Rafter P Loper of the Year for all of her hard work and dedication to the sport of cutting and NCHA.”