Tennessee Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame 2024 | Inductee #15

Mitch & Geana Leslie | Cookeville, Tennessee

Horseman Couple Devotes 42 Years of Service

For sixty years, the lifeblood of the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association has run through the veins of a few long-serving members committed to promoting and preserving TQHA and the American Quarter Horse. Few have done it longer or better than Mitch and Geana Leslie.

Mitch began showing at TQHA shows in 1981 and was soon elected to the Show and Contest Committee. He chaired the committee for twelve years, during which time he helped secure the Tennessee Farmers Co-op sponsorship and the Sundowner Trailer sponsorship for roping events. Mitch also chaired the Trail Ride Committee for four years and served as an AQHA affiliates representative, helping secure the “Affiliate of the Year” award from AQHA. He is one of only three members to ever serve more than one two-year term as President of TQHA.

Geana came to Tennessee to attend Virginia Intermont and later became Director of the Horse Program at Hiwassee College. After the program closed, Geana began training and showing professionally, and she and Mitch married in 1987. She has served on the Youth, Show and Contest, and Professional Horsemen’s Committees. Many of her clients have shown not only in-state but also at the Congress and AQHA World Show.

Together, Mitch and Geana have trained or shown 150 horses and showmen to TQHA Champion or Reserve and All-Around awards.

For their lifetime of leadership and commitment, we induct Mitch and Geana Leslie as the 15th members of the TQHA Hall of Fame.