2019 Board of Director Candidate Bios

Cindy Besser
MQHRA Board Member and Secretary

I have been racing Quarter Horses since 2007.  We started with one Mare, Hempeness, who I still have in my barn.
She allowed us to really enjoy racing because every baby she had has won and paid their own way.  We have 2 daughters by her that will have babies racing this summer.  Sweet Wrangler is a mare I bought and sent to the track to “test the dream” she is also a broodmare.  We have also had great luck with her babies.  We raise our own horses because I love watching them develop and grow, learn a job, and see them run.  The first time they start, almost makes you cry tears of joy and excitement, a feeling of pride, knowing what all went into getting them to that first race.  I currently have 14 horses and a baby coming in March.
Besides the race horses, I own Roasted To Perfection Horse Feed.  A company I started February 10, 2010, we just celebrated 9 years in business.  We ship feed to many different states across the country.  I developed RTP to feed to all ages of horses in any discipline.  My mares eat this, babies, race horses, retired race horses, everyone in the barn.  The only thing that varies is how much each horse eats.  I have been married 37 years.  I have 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

Paul Luedemann
MQHRA Board Member

 

EXPERIENCE

 

MQHRA Board Member, current

 

Minnesota Racing Commission Quarter Horse Breeders’ Fund Advisory Committee, current

 

MQNRA BOARD,  2000s

 

President of the MHSRA High School Rodeo, 1993-1996

 

President of the MRA Minnesota Rodeo Association,  2000-2006

 

 

WE ENJOY A FAMILY BUSINESS

 

My wife (Maren) and I have a ranch in Buffalo and raise Quarter Horses. I have 4 daughters and 10 grandkids.

 

We have been racing at Canterbury sense 1990. We are currently foaling out 4 MN bred Quarter horses.

 

Maren has trained many barrel horses and mostly horses that were on the track. She has enjoyed much success in her training and riding. I roped steers for several years and still hope to do it again someday.

 

 

 

 

Steve Kane
MQHRA Board Member

 

 

 

 

 

Ken Quade
MQHRA Board Member

 

 

Jen Perkins
MQHRA Board Member, Executive Director

I joined the MQHRA board in 2017, following the departure of Rosemary Higgins, and have been serving as the Executive Director of the MQHRA for two years.

 

I am originally from Utah, where my family has owned and bred horses for six generations. My earliest memories are cheering on my grandparents’ horses at Wyoming Downs in the summer and watching our chariot team compete in the winter.

 

I completed the graduate program at the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program in 2010; during my time there, I interned at Sam Houston during their Quarter Horse meet in 2009. In 2016, I graduated from University of St. Thomas with a Master’s in Business Administration. That same year, I also completed the Racing Officials Accreditation Program through University of Louisville.

 

During my time at the University of Arizona, I assisted the AQHA Racing Committee with research projects and consulting. After graduation I worked for the AQHA for six years, first in fan education as part of the Racing Aces program, then full time in the Amarillo office as the Director of Racing.

 

In addition to my current role with MQHRA, I work full-time for a major casino company, managing their online racing product, and I am a freelance writer for Stallionesearch.com and JockeyTalk360.com. I participate in several Minnesota Racing Commission committees and work groups, attend AQHA Racing Committee meetings and Affiliate workshops, and attend industry conferences and events to stay informed of current events.

 

As executive director, I am proud of the awareness the MQHRA has gained across the country and the reputation of our racing program, and I am excited to continue to build awareness and support of our program for Minnesota-bred horses.

 

Ed Hardy
MQHRA Member, Canterbury Park Hall of Fame Trainer