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The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to have ELEMENTA join our Corporate Partner family and sponsor the NRHA Amateur Derby, which will be held at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel on June 19 during the show, which runs at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds from June 13 to June 23.

“Love the animal first and the sport second” is Maria Cecilia Fiorucci’s motto, and this shines through once you enter the gates of ELEMENTA, a state-of-the-art breeding facility and competition venue nestled in the hills between downtown Rome and the Lake of Bracciano. The 500-acre farm has been carefully renovated and rebuilt by Maria Cecilia and her husband Giuseppe since they purchased it in 2018. More projects are in the works, including a stadium arena with seating for 3,000 people, which is scheduled to be operational in 2025.

“Our goal is to give the south of Italy and Europe a place to host national and international reining competitions as well as other top-notch equestrian events,” says Fiorucci. “We have already built a big reining arena close to the stadium, which will be the warm-up pen, and on-site, we have outdoor arenas for show jumping along with another covered arena with seating adjacent to the second covered warm-up pen.”

“Elementa represents the kind of passionate and innovative organization that drives the reining industry,” said NRHA Commissioner Billy Smith. “We are glad to have them as part of the NRHA Corporate Partner family.”

Though her passion for reining horses is relatively new, Fiorucci’s love for equines has accompanied her throughout her life, along with the memories of palomino American Quarter Horses her father purchased and brought to Italy 35 years ago. Today, most all royal reining bloodlines are found in ELEMENTA’s breeding program, making Fiorucci one of the top reining horse owners in the world. Her horses’ show records tell important stories with close to 150 horses on the ranch, including rescues. Custom Made Gun, purchased in 2018, returned to the U.S. the following year to show at The Run For A Million and tied for the Championship with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Cade McCutcheon in the saddle. Her stallion roster also includes Yellow Jersey, USA team gold and bronze individual medalist at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Fiorucci’s devotion to the sport goes above and beyond what happens at home. In Europe alone, Elementa has sponsored over 600,000 euros at reining events in the last five years.

“I love horses and the sport and am a keen supporter but have very high expectations where animal welfare is concerned,” Fiorucci said. “We need to enhance the guidelines – elevate ourselves – and one of the reasons I am proud to be an NRHA Corporate Partner are the goals set in the association’s 3-5 years Strategic Plan that includes particular attention to animal welfare and growth of our youth. As sponsors, we reflect what our industry portrays, and we must bear this in mind. It is also a great honor to be the title sponsor of the NRHA Derby Amateur Division; we at ELEMENTA are thrilled to support and give a fair playing field to the up-and-coming amateurs showing their aged horses.”

The National Reining Horse Association is proud to welcome Morton Buildings, Inc., to its Corporate Partner family. Morton Buildings will be present at the NRHA 6666 Derby presented by Markel and the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. They will also sponsor the NRHA Top 20 Owners and contribute a prize package for the leading owner of 2024.

Morton Buildings is a nationwide leader in post-frame manufacturing and construction with over 120 years in business. Morton Buildings has grown to over 100 construction centers throughout the United States and provides buildings for a broad range of industries and usages – equestrian stall barns & indoor and covered riding arenas, hay and machinery storage, garages & hobby shops, and commercial buildings such as office warehouses, personal storage units, and more. One thing has been at the core of the business throughout these years – to provide a better-quality, better-looking building.

“I was thrilled to hear of the partnership with Morton,” says NRHA Assistant Commissioner Christa Morris-Stone. “I grew up knowing the Morton name and when my husband and I were looking for someone to build a barn for us a few years ago, they were who we chose. We knew they would stand behind their materials and construction for the long haul. Our barn went up so quickly and smoothly, and their staff were wonderful! I love that NRHA is partnering with them, and I suggest talking with them on your next building project.”

“Our team at Morton Buildings is excited about this partnership,” states Dennis Lee, Equestrian Product Line Manager. “Morton and NRHA both have long and rich histories of serving those in the equine and ranching industries. We are committed to top-quality craftsmanship and providing the best-in-class product for those striving to be top of their class. We look forward to partnering with NRHA as the premier builder of equine structures focused on safety, functionality, and style for the care of their members’ equine companions.”

“Keeping horses safe is a number one priority when constructing a new equestrian barn, riding arena, or run-in shelter,” states Lee. Equine owners also need a functional building that is durable and can withstand the demands of their equine companions.” Morton buildings are custom designed for each customer’s unique needs and are built to keep horses safe, be functional for daily use, and be stylish for the owner’s property.

Morton Buildings is a vertically integrated company – they design, manufacture, deliver, construct, and service the warranty on the building. All the employees are owners of Morton Buildings with the goal of providing their customers with a building that is built stronger, lasts longer, and looks better.

About Morton Buildings, Inc.

Morton Buildings, headquartered in Morton, Illinois, is the industry leader in post-frame manufacturing and construction. At Morton, the difference is in the details. From our cutting-edge innovations and best-in-class warranty to our craftsmen in the field, we are dedicated to surpassing expectations. Our legacy of excellence in construction spans more than a century and has more than a quarter-million satisfied customers. Morton Buildings is 100% employee-owned and proud to be ranked #68 on the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) 2023 Employee Ownership 100 list, which includes the nation’s largest companies that are at least 50% owned by an employee stock ownership plan. For more information, please visit www.mortonbuildings.com.