Hi,
Would you be opposed to having the horse and wheat on the outside of the crest (like a coat of arms design)?
I like the sunrise from entry #1, the colour of the what and horse in #5, the width of the text ring in #7 and the font in #3.
Also, the road could represent the Peace River (a major tourist destination in our region) if it was blue.
I know that defeats the 'road to the future' concept you have proposed, but it would appeal to the board, I think.