Meet The Board 2024 Candidates
Kristie Jorgensen
Kristie Jorgensen lives in Enumclaw, WA. She got her first donkey in 1977, immediately fell in love with donkeys & mules, and for the past 26 years has had a passion for sharing these amazing animals with others.
She owns Sagebrush Ranch Mammoth Jackstock and loves raising, training, and showing her donkeys. She competed at a number of donkey & mule shows in the western US throughout the 2000s, participating in almost every discipline, including English, Western, Gymkhana, and Driving both singles & teams.
She has been an entrepreneur since the age of 16. She founded LongearsMall.com in 2000 and also manages the Donkey Tree pedigree database at DonkeyTree.com.
Professionally, Kristie was a Computer Software Engineer for 15 years, then switched tracks and worked as a Mary Kay Sales Director for 10 years. She has now returned to the technology industry, working for Sharp Business Systems.
Kristie has a huge interest in promoting this industry to youth and getting more young people involved in participating with donkeys & mules. Because she first got into donkeys & mules as a teenager and has also been involved in leading a number of other youth programs in the community, she loves enabling young people and seeing them achieve their dreams, and she wants to continue that mission with AMA.
Kristie has been the Show Secretary for the Western States Mule & Donkey Spectacular for the last two years. She still owns and trains Mammoth Jackstock donkeys and hopes to show them again this coming year.
She is excited about the possibility of being an AMA board member and continuing to help promote these amazing animals and this industry.
Sue Wallace
Sue Wallace and her husband, Doug, own a 40-acre donkey and mule ranch, as well as a horseshoe supply company, in Enumclaw, WA. They have four sons: Tony, Travis, Cody & Justin,
and a daughter, Cassi.
Sue's farm, Osceola Kingdom Longears, was established in 1994. For many years, she was involved with Donkeys Unlimited, a donkey welfare organization in Washington state. Sue was also involved with Washington Donkey Days, which was an all-breed donkey show, as well as helping to organize four other donkeys and mule shows annually from the late 1990s to early 2000s, most of them being AMA shows. In recent years, she has also helped run the Western States Mule & Donkey Spectacular with Kellie Shields.
Professionally, Sue had a very successful career in the office equipment and mortgage industries for many years. Then, while raising her family, she decided to work from home and became a Mary Kay National Sales Director. Since retiring from Mary Kay, she has returned to Sharp Business Systems.
Sue returned to showing mules 5 years ago after raising her family and is excited about the possibility of being on the AMA board and helping continue to grow AMA and the donkey and mule industry.
Michelle Miranda Kern
My name is Michelle Miranda Kern, and I would like to be a board member for the AMA. I very much enjoy riding and showing my
mule, Maggie. Also, I value the many friends I have made in the mule world. I would love to be a part of an organization that advocates
for the mule and donkey therefore, I would appreciate your vote.
Claudia Stevens
Hello, fellow AMA members. I’ve been asked to say a little bit about myself.
I live in Napa Ca with my husband and many four-legged family members.
Several years ago, I started riding mules instead of horses. I showed them as well as lots of trail riding. I switched from mules to donkeys about four years ago. I enjoy riding my sweet donkey and telling all my horse friends the benefits of “long ears.” If elected to the AMA board, I will work to grow its membership, especially with the youth.
Thank you
Claudia Steven
Michelle Chico
My name is Michele Chico with your support, the AMA has been an inspiration to educate people about just how Awesome mules and Donkeys are. Being your treasure for the last two years we have seen many changes, I would like to continue working with the AMA as a board member to tackle challenges, adapt to changes and support new growth. Thank you
Vicki Powers
I’ve been showing mules and an active supporter of AMA since 1990, riding my mule Sunny in the Amateur and Bridled Divisions. Recently I have returned to showing in the Non Pro Division riding my Bay Molly Halley Berry. I also have Hollywood Cowboy, who was shown by one of Linda Laird’s youth competitors during his Green years and has just completed his first year in the Bridled Division. I will continue to support and encourage the AMA youth and all members of the AMA and promote the versatility of the mule through my service on the Board.
Amy McLean
I met my first donkey when I was a year and a half old, his name was PJ. He was a guard donkey. My dad, a city slicker from Atlanta, Georgia, turned to my mom, who was from Manhattan, NYC, and said we are moving to the country and getting a donkey and mule farm! I guess you could say I was imprinted by long ears at an early age. I showed in my first AMA-sanctioned show in 1997. I served on the board in 2014 and have tried to remain an active and supportive member since such as answering the mule and donkey Q&A questions from the website, helping supply the latest educational information for members through articles posted on the AMA website and in my professional life researching donkey and mule to provide answers to help our long-eared friends live a healthier and better life. I’ve shown at donkey and mule shows on a national level, served on other mule and donkey Association boards across the country, assisted with rule and show committees, fundraising, and grant writing for associations, and held the position of International Director of the American Quarter Horse Association, where I was responsible for managing international shows and educational workshops to promote the advancement of the breed. I’ve enjoyed participating and actively supporting the AMA circuit shows for the past several years and look forward to giving back and sharing my experience and knowledge as a member of the board.
Kerry Tracey
I’m Kerry Tracey from Bishop, California. For the past several years, I’ve been an active supporter of AMA. Over the past several years, I’ve learned about how mules worked as opposed to just horses. When I began riding with Linda Laird, I have been nothing short of impressed with the mule and the ability’s they have. I have been successfully showing and training Hollywood Cowboy for the past year in the bridled division. I like mules because of their intelligence and ability to mentally adjust to multiple disciplines. I would like to be on the board to help promote the mule and help showcase their range and ability as capable partners for youth amateurs and professionals alike. I have always enjoyed the mule community and the way that they support and encourage each other to learn and grow as horsemen. Encouraging people to not be afraid to come out and show for fear of the judgment and negativity that can be so prevalent in showing the world. I look forward to being involved with mules for a long time to come.