Grahamite accepts Young County Arena Manager position

Toni Elliott is making the move from Brock to Graham to take the position of Young County Arena Manager, bringing her back to her hometown to seek out new opportunities.

The city of Graham began the search for a Young County Arena Manager on Jan. 8, following the resignation of previous manager Tony Fellows. Applicants went through a six-person committee which consisted of Jack Graham and David Norman from the Graham Economic Improvement Corporation board, Zack Burkett III and Jeff Gough of the Young County Arena board, City Manager Brandon Anderson and Graham Industrial Association and Economic Development of Graham Executive Director Jeff Mercer.

Elliott was one of around 11 applicants which the city narrowed to five. The city arranged for interviews for the remaining five  at the end of February and beginning of March. She previously worked as a licensed professional counselor for 15 years with a practice in Weatherford. While she was happy with her position in Weatherford, she said life changing events happened which made her open for new opportunities.

Elliott said her plan for the arena are to keep the events which bring in revenue while adding some which could generate more.

“There are some new fresh ideas I have,” she said. “I would like to bring some bull ridings back, bring some freestyle bullfights back. That is something that is really big and getting bigger. A lot of people don’t really know about that, but it is really growing.”

Elliott said a big push will be to bring youth to the arena to further the industry. She said she is thinking of having a family night at the arena where riders could come out and use the arena together.

For the rest of the story see the Wednesday, March 13 edition of The Graham Leader.