Front (l-r): Amy Newnum, Tonya Fender, Kaylee Miller, Mackenzie Langemeier, Kayla Meyer
Back (l-r): Cory Carpenter, Matthew Morrison,
David Ammann, Greg Krahn
David Ammann | Corey Carpenter | Tonya Fender |
Gregory Krahn |Mackenzie Langemeier | Kayla Meyer |
Kaylee Miller | Matthew Morrison | Amy Newnum
Please download application above and mail to:
National Swine Registry
Attn: Cally Hass, Director of Junior Activities
2639 Yeager Rd.
West Lafayette, IN 47906
President
Mackenzie Langemeier, 21, of Marion, Texas, is a junior at Texas State University where she is majoring in ag business with a minor in marketing. Her goal is to work for a pharmaceutical sales company and work with veterinarians and ranchers.
Langemeier has been a member of the NJSA for 10 years. She has participated in many of the NJSS events as well as the Southwest Type Conference and the National Youth Leadership Conference.
“The NJSA has played such an important role in my life,” she says. “I have learned and gained so many new experiences to live by.”
Outside of the NJSA, Langemeier is very active in college. She’s a member of the Block and Bridle club, Collegiate FFA and also active in the Texas Hunters Club and Texas Pork Producers. While in high school she held officer positions in FFA, 4-H, Business Professionals of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, student council and served on the Texas Junior Livestock Association’s board of directors. She also played basketball, soccer, track, cross country, golf and was even the field goal kicker for the varsity football team.
If elected, she hopes to help implement a family-oriented barbeque during the NJSS. She also hopes to see a leadership program that will allow younger youth to experience a leadership role through a day of interviews, speeches and board member role playing.
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Vice President
Kaylee Miller, 20, of Brazil, Ind., is a sophmore at Coffeyville Community College. She plans to transfer to Purdue University and major in ag communications or ag economics.
“If chosen for a leadership position in the NJSA, I will hopefully impact the youth of our nation while developing my life skills,” she says.
Miller grew up on a dairy farm, but found her place in the swine industry. She has shown at the NJSS the last three years and the Southeast Regional the last four years. She also showed at the NAILE and World Pork Expo, and participated in the National Youth Leadership Conference last year.
Miller was an 10-year member of 4-H and was a junior leader. She is currently on her college’s livestock judging team and is a member of Collegiate Farm Bureau. She has been involved in FFA, marching band, softball and the Indiana Junior Swine Association. If elected, Miller would like to start a program called “Just One” to help increase membership.
“I would encourage each member to bring just one non-member of the NJSA to just one show with them,” she says. “I think that if the “just one” slogan is promoted correctly, we could grow the membership by exposing a non-member to all of the fun activities that are available at each show.” She would also like to see more motivational speakers and have state teams participate in skillathons.
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Secretary
Kayla Meyer, 20, of Hinckley, Ill., is a sophmore at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana majoring in agricultural education. Her goal is to become an ag teacher and inspire the agricultural leaders of tomorrow.
Meyer has been active in the pork industry most of her life and is a member of the Illinois Club Pig Association. She served as the DeKalb County Pork Ambassador last summer and wants to become a NJSA board member to help ensure the growth of the association.
Meyer has attended many NJSA shows and conferences and was an MVP last summer at NJSS.
“I thought being a mentor was a very important role and I took it seriously,” she says.
While attending college, Meyer has been active in the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, ACES Global Ambassadors, Hoof-n-Horn club, the Association for Career and Technical Education, Alpha Tau Alpha/AgEd club, and the Ski and Snowboard club.
In high school she was a member of FFA, Future Educators of America, Student Council, 4-H and the National Honor Society. She also played volleyball and basketball.
Meyer’s ideas for the NJSA are to help recruit members to the NJSA at a more local level through FFA and 4-H organizations and inform potential members of the benefits of the association. She would also like to see more NJSA leadership competitions at the local level.
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Western Director
Corey Carpenter, 20, of Red Bluff, Calif., is the son of David and Mary Carpenter. He plans to transfer to either California State University-Chico or Oklahoma State University this fall to study animal science.
A member of NJSA since he was 10-years-old, Carpenter has attended the National Youth Leadership Conference and seven regional shows, earning top honors in both showmanship and skillathon.
He says he is inspired to be on the NJSA board to serve the members, and because of the role models he has had in previous directors.
"Following their example helped shape me into the person I am today," he says. "I believe you must first become a good follower before you can become a great leader!"
Carpenter is president of his collegiate Young Farmer's Association, herdsman of the college swine unit, was keynote speaker at the MJC Agriculture Open House, and named Young Farmer of the Year for Tehama County.
He held many offices in his nine years in 4-H and five in FFA, and received his FFA American Degree. In high school he played varsity basketball and football and was in Business Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Relay for Life, Farm Bureau and the California Pork Producers Association.
His career goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in animal science and teach at a junior college or university. He plans to continue to raise hogs and cattle and educate young people about livestock production.
Carpenter says his goals for his NJSA director team include encouraging communication with members through email and calls, increasing awareness of the NJSA through 4-H and FFA, and having a greater presence at state fairs.
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Central Director
Gregory Krahn, 20, of West Bend, Wis., is the son of Ron and Eileen Krahn and will be a senior at Western Illinois University this fall.
Krahn has been a member of NJSA for five years. His family's increased involvement in swine over the past few years spurred him to become more involved in the NJSA, especially after attending several shows and volunteering at the NAILE.
He was an 11-year 4-H member, varsity football player and wrestler, and wrestling team captain. He has volunteered as a wrestling coach, county swine youth leader, and at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville jackpot show.
Krahn competes on the Western Illinois livestock judging team, works at the university swine farm, and is a member of Hoof 'n Horn Club and Ag Council. His goals are to help his judging team improve, be a valuable teammate, and contribute to livestock improvement at the university swine farm. He is currently interning at The Maschoffs.
Krahn says Wisconsin is not as recognized for pig shows as other states, and he would like to be a NJSA director to "not only improve the Northern region involvement in NJSA, but also play a big role in NJSA members across the country."
Krahn sees social media as important in building membership, and believes in the effectiveness of a personal phone call or a handshake and an introduction in building NJSA membership.
"NJSA is the biggest impact on the junior swine industry across the country today, and will continue to be," he says.
"I would like to give back to the youth, in a way the older generation gave to me."
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Eastern Director
Tonya Fender, 18, of Lynchburg, Ohio, is the daughter of Gary and Connie Fender. She plans to attend Lake Land College in the fall, then later transfer to a senior college for a degree in ag business and ag communications, as well as judge livestock.
Fender says she would like to be a NJSA director because it is truly a passion of hers. A member of NJSA since 2000, she says, "A leadership position is a way I can serve as an advocate for the industry I love so much, and encourage others to become involved."
She has shown pigs for 15 years, including at the World Pork Expo, National Junior Summer Spectacular, Southeast Regional, National Western, American Royal and NAILE. She competes in showmanship, skillathon, judging and sweepstakes and is an MVP mentor.
Fender is president of her 4-H club and FFA chapter, and in National Honor Society, Mathletes, junior county fair board, Envirothon team, theater arts, Spanish Club, Highland County Pork Producers, Pricetown Church of Christ, and the National Rifle Association. She was the 2010 Highland County Pork Industry Queen.
Fender plans to boost NJSA membership by increasing awareness at state and local fairs, and sharing personal NJSA experiences through social networking and one-on-one conversation.
She would like to see more clinics on showmanship, skillathon and judging contests, so members can improve their knowledge, and programs to promote ag jobs.
"It is critical as board members we encourage these activities, keeping in mind it is not all about the blue ribbon – it is about the future of the swine industry and gaining experiences that will make [NJSA members] stronger leaders of tomorrow."
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Eastern Director
Matthew Morrison, 19, of Conewango Valley, N.Y., is the son of David and Margie Morrison. He will be a sophomore at Black Hawk East and plans to transfer to a four-year university and go into swine genetics or agricultural education.
Morrison says he wants to be an NJSA director to help build members' futures in the ag industry.
"The NJSA has played a crucial role in shaping my life; a leadership position would give me an opportunity to give back and help those who have helped me," he says.
Morrison has shown gilts at the National Junior Summer Spectacular and the NJSA Eastern Regional. He says his connections made through NJSA led him to Black Hawk East to study ag.
Morrison was a member of 4-H for 10 years, showing cattle and hogs, and was a Teen Ambassador and on various livestock committees. He has been in FFA since 2004, serving as chapter president and sentinel, and competed at the National FFA livestock judging contest, as well as other judging contests across New York and the Northeast. He currently is on the freshman livestock judging team at Black Hawk.
Morrison says if he is elected to the NJSA board he will focus on improving membership in the Northeast.
"Growing up in New York, I realize the difficulties in traveling to the Midwest to attend events," he says.
"There are swine enthusiasts all across the country and I would concentrate my efforts on tapping into this pool of new members."
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At-Large Director
Amy Newnum, 19, of Kingman, Ind., is the daughter of Harold and Dawn Newnum. She will be a sophomore at Purdue University, studying agriculture finance.
A NJSA member since 2005, Newnum has shown and competed in showmanship and skillathon.
"Being a part of the swine industry has affected my life dramatically," she says.
"It has given me many opportunities most kids do not get to experience. I want to be a part of something that will open doors for others and give them an experience of a lifetime.
Newnum is a member of Purdue's Collegiate FFA, volunteers with the Rockville Rotary Club and is a member of the Indiana Junior Swine Circuit. She was previously a 10-year 4-H member, an FFA member, class president, Student Council president and vice president, National Honor Society president, and the 2010 Parke County Fair Queen.
Newnum's career goals are to work as a financial consultant or accountant, and she plans to stay involved in the swine industry through her career or in a partnership with her brother in the breeding industry.
She says as a director she will work to increase membership by increased advertising, promotion and additional competitive activities.
"I believe there is a bright future for the National Junior Swine Association," she says.
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At-Large Director
David Ammann, 19, of Highland, Ill., is the son of Mike and Shari Ammann. He will be a sophomore at Lake Land College.
Ammann plans to attend a four-year university in animal science, then possibly attend graduate school to study swine. He also hopes to be successful in his collegiate livestock judging career, and someday judge an NJSA regional show as well as advance his showpig business.
Ammann has shown pigs since he was 7 years old, and says, "A goal of mine has always been to serve on the NJSA Board of Directors to give back to the NJSA what they have offered to me, and further educate the youth of the swine industry."
He has competed at the National Junior Summer Spectacular, World Pork Expo, Southwest Regional and Southeast Regional. He is on the NJSA shows committee and in the MVP program, and won the all-around NJSA sweepstakes in 2009-2010.
Ammann was a member of 4-H for 10 years and FFA for four, serving in various offices and competing on the 2010 Illinois state livestock judging team. He also played varsity golf, basketball and baseball, has refereed and umpired games, and participated in mission trips. At college he is on the livestock judging team and in Ag Transfer Club.
Ammann's plans to increase membership are to use social media, educate members on future careers, build the MVP program, and develop breed-specific awards.
"I want to help young people just getting started in NJSA meet new friends, but mostly show them how amazing the NJSA is and what it has to offer," he says.