Registration is now open for the 2026 St. Jude Walk East
Tennessee, presented by the East Tennessee Walking
Horse Association (ETWHA). The event will take place on
Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 9 a.m. at Northeast
State Community College’s Main Campus in Blountville,
Tennessee, in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness
Month.
The St. Jude Walk brings communities together to raise
funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, helping ensure families never receive a bill for
treatment, travel, housing, or food while their child receives
care.
Founded in 1983, the East Tennessee Walking Horse
Association has spent more than four decades promoting
the Tennessee Walking Horse while making charitable
giving a central part of its mission. Since partnering with
St. Jude in 2011, the association has donated more than
$159,000, including a record $25,000 contribution in 2025,
and is working toward another successful fundraising year.
One of the driving forces behind the partnership is board
member and longtime horse trainer Keith Ailshie, a
childhood cancer survivor who was treated through St.
Jude after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma at age 14. His inspiring journey highlights the
life-changing impact of St. Jude’s care and research.
“Our continued support of St. Jude reflects our
commitment to helping children and families facing
childhood cancer,” said ETWHA committee member and
web designer Tami Triplett. “Supporting this incredible
mission has been one of our organization’s proudest
accomplishments.”

The wait is over! The 88th Annual Tennessee
Walking Horse National Celebration has officially
released its final class sheet for the 2026
Celebration, set for August 26–September 5 in
Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Whether you’re making plans to attend, support
exhibitors, or simply count down the days until the
industry’s biggest event, now is the time to start
planning.
View the complete 2026 Final Class Sheet at
www.twhnc.com

Claire and Bryce Kincaid are overjoyed to announce the
arrival of their son, Slade Alexander Kincaid.
Their hearts are full as they welcome this precious new
blessing into the world. Slade has already brought endless
love, happiness, and excitement to his family, and they
look forward to watching him grow while making countless
cherished memories together.
Congratulations to Claire and Bryce on the birth of their
beautiful baby boy, and best wishes to the entire Kincaid
family as they begin this wonderful new chapter.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – TWHBEA, WHOA
and NWHA are proud to announce the
inaugural ThorSport Versatility Cup, a new
award program designed to recognize
competitors who demonstrate excellence
across multiple performance disciplines. The
program encourages competitors to broaden
their participation, enhance their
horsemanship and showmanship skills, and
pursue success across a variety of classes.
The ThorSport Versatility Cup will debut during
the 2026 show season and will be contested at
three premier events: TWHBEA World
Versatility Show from July 14-16, WHOA
International Grand Championship from July
14-25 and NWHA The National from
September 20-26.
Competitors will earn points in both Adult and
Youth divisions in the following classes:
Showmanship, Equitation, Western Riding and
Reining.
Exhibitors who compete at all three qualifying
events will receive an additional 10 point
participation bonus.
The ThorSport Versatility Cup will feature four
divisions: Adult Showmanship & Equitation,
Youth Showmanship & Equitation, Adult
Western Riding & Reining and Youth Western
Riding & Reining.
The ThorSport Versatility Cup is open to all
eligible exhibitors competing at the three
qualifying events.
Final standings will be determined by
cumulative points earned throughout the
season, and winners will be announced after
the conclusion of NWHA The National.
Points will be awarded to first through fifth
place as follows:
1st Place: 10 points
2nd Place: 6 points
3rd Place: 4 points
4th Place: 2 points
5th Place: 1 points
Points will be awarded to first through fifth
place as follows:
1st Place: 10 points
2nd Place: 6 points
3rd Place: 4 points
4th Place: 2 points
5th Place: 1 points
About ThorSport
ThorSport specializes in breeding, raising,
training and selling elite Western
performance horses. Its state-of-the-art ranch
and farms are dedicated to developing
champion horses through exceptional
breeding programs, innovative care and a
commitment to excellence. ThorSport is also
home to the Equine Surgical Center, which
advances equine heathcare through
collaboration and innovation while serving the
Middle Tennessee community and the
surrounding region.

Ralph Wildon Johnson, age 93, of Shelbyville,
Tennessee, passed away peacefully with his family by his
side on June 20, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Born on July 31, 1932, in Resaca, Georgia, Ralph lived a
remarkable life defined by service, hard work, adventure,
faith, and devotion to family.
Ralph proudly served his country in the United States
Navy during the Korean Conflict. In his early career, he
contributed to the guidance systems used in the NASA
Apollo missions that carried astronauts to the moon. He
later co-owned Johnson Construction and Paving
Company before retiring from Nissan Motor
Manufacturing.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilou Johnson; sons
Steven Johnson and wife Miranda Johnson; Edward
Johnson and wife Lisa Johnson; granddaughter Kenley
Johnson; and sister Ruby Faye Brindle of Signal
Mountain, Tennessee.
Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Helen
Massie Johnson; sister Lorain Webb of Dalton, Georgia;
brother Colbert Johnson of Eden, North Carolina; and
sister Rewanda Arthur of Cohutta, Georgia.
Visitation with the family was held Tuesday, June 23,
2026 at Doak Funeral Home and Cremation Services with
Masonic Rights that followed
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in
the Chapel of Doak Funeral Home and Cremation
Services with Carl Hall and William Crews officiating.
Burial followed in the Willow Mount Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to
American Lung Association of Tennessee (One Vantage
Way, Suite C- 250 Nashville, TN 37228)
Doak Funeral Home and Cremation Services served the
family.

The WHOA Show Series scheduled for May 23 in
Brownsville, KY has been rescheduled for October 31st,
2026. Please make this change on your calendar and make
plans to support the show.

Mariah Moore and Kameron Newsome are excited to
announce their engagement.
Surrounded by the love and support of family and friends,
the couple is looking forward to this special season of their
lives as they prepare for their future together.
Mariah and Kameron are grateful for the memories they
have already shared and are excited to begin the next
chapter of their journey. They look forward to a lifetime filled
with love, laughter, and happiness.

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association Scholarship
application deadline is July 1, 2026, and time is running
out!
Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the WHTA
website to review the scholarship requirements and
download an application. If you have any questions or
need assistance, please contact Kailin Graves at
whtrainers@gmail.com or (931) 808-0955.
Be sure to submit your application before the July 1
deadline!

Debra Lynn Roberson Graham, age 71, passed away on June 8, 2026. She was born on September 23, 1954, to Mildred and Robert Sidney “Buck” Roberson.

Debbie was a graduate of Fayette Academy and later earned her degree from Lambuth College. She devoted her life to education and spent 43 years shaping young minds as a first-grade teacher, including many years at Fayette Academy. Teaching was more than a profession to Debbie—it was her passion. Through her patience, kindness and unwavering dedication, she touched the lives of countless students and their families, leaving a lasting impact on generations of children.

Outside the classroom, Debbie had a lifelong love for Tennessee Walking Horses. She was actively involved in owning and showing horses and shared her knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry through her many years of writing for the Walking Horse Report.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Robert Sidney “Buck” Roberson, and her husband, Jimmy Graham.

She is survived by her first cousins, Cindy Matlock, Anita Myers, Sandra Sanders, Jeffrey Cooley, Michele Bogue and Karin Bogue. Debbie will be remembered for her dedication to education, her love of horses and the kindness she shared with everyone she met. Her legacy lives on through the many students, friends and family members whose lives she enriched.

Memorials may be made to Oakland Presbyterian Church, 14780 Highway 194, Oakland, TN 38060, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. If a memorial gift is made, an acknowledgment may be sent to Cindy Matlock, P.O. Box 85, Somerville, TN 38068.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association (TWHYA) is proud to announce that Ross Campbell of Cullman, Alabama, has been selected to judge the 8th Annual TWHYA Summer Splash Horse Show, set for Friday, June 12, 2026, at Champions Arena on the Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
The Summer Splash Horse Show is entirely planned and operated by members of the TWHYA, giving youth hands-on leadership experience in every aspect of event production — from selecting classes and trophies, to choosing the judge and volunteering to ensure the show runs smoothly.
“The Summer Splash Horse Show is fully planned and carried out by our youth members and serves as our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Finley Reed, President of the Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association and Chair of the Summer Splash Show Committee. “We appreciate the support of everyone who helps make this event possible.”
The Summer Splash is the largest fundraiser of the year for TWHYA, providing essential funding for youth activities, scholarships, educational opportunities, and leadership development programs throughout the year.