National Swine Registry

NJSA

Leadership

Apply to be on the NJSA Junior Board of Directors
Board members serve the NJSA in local, regional and national activities.
They work hard to educate, motivate and inspire current and potential NJSA members, swine breeders, parents, civic and community leaders, teachers, and leaders in business and industry. Read below to find out more information on how to become a NJSA board member!

Applicant letter
Candidate application
Becoming a NJSA director
Handbook excerpts for applicants

President Aimee Shaffer

Albany, Ind.

Aimee Shaffer, 20, is a sophomore at Purdue University, majoring in animal agribusiness.

Shaffer first learned about the NJSA while showing at the NAILE, and has participated in every NAILE that the NJSA has been present at since. At the NJSS, she takes part in the showmanship contest, skillathon and judging contest. Last year, she attended the NJSA leadership conference, where she heard about the NJSA mentoring program, MVP. She is now a mentor for three young NJSA members.

At Purdue, Shaffer is involved in the Glenwood Cooperative and was her 2005 pledge-class treasurer. She is also a Block and Bridle member and serves as the co-chairman of the Block and Bridle Hog Show. She was a 10-year 4-H member and was involved in FFA throughout high school. She served as her chapter president, vice president and secretary. She also served as the District IX FFA secretary.

“I want to pass my love and passion of the swine industry on to the NJSA members,” Shaffer says. “I want to be able to reach even more of today’s youth that are not involved in the NJSA and help the NJSA continue to grow.”

Shaffer hopes to establish regional leadership conferences to focus on members who cannot travel across the country, organize NJSA events for younger members and increase advertising of the mentor program. She would like to see an outstanding member section in each issue of “The Pinnacle” to recognize more members

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

Vice President Ashley Hop

Templeton, Calif.

Ashley Hop, 18, of Templeton, Calif., is a 2006 graduate of Templeton High School. She plans to attend Cuesta Community College and transfer to a four-year university majoring in Ag Communications.

For the last six years, Hop has been a member of the NJSA. She has participated in the NJSA Western Regional, NJSS and has attended the NJSA leadership conference.

Hop served as FFA sectional president and her chapter’s president. She has held numerous leadership positions in her local 4-H club, as well. She is a member of the California Junior Livestock Association and the California Pork Producer’s Association. She has served on the California Junior Livestock Association Junior Board of Directors, representing the swine division.

“The skills that I have gained in various leadership positions will help me pass along the passion that I feel for the industry and share the knowledge that I have acquired,” Hop says. “I feel that I am able to interact with the youth, as well as industry leaders.”

As a board member, Hop would like to create more programs to motivate junior members to participate in the various NJSA activities and shows. She believes that the members of NJSA enjoy showing, but they also have fun competing in other activities, such as the barnyard olympics, skillathons, judging contests and speech contests.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

Secretary Doug Albright

Coldwater, Mich.

Doug Albright, 21, is a sophomore at Black Hawk College – East Campus. After this year, he will transfer to a four-year university to study agricultural business and political science.

Throughout his eight years of involvement in the NJSA, Albright has attended every NJSS. He has also competed at the Eastern Regional, Western Regional, Southwest Regional, World Pork Expo Junior National and the National Barrow Show® Junior Barrow Classic. He has participated in the NJSA leadership conference four times. He has also written two articles for “The Pinnacle,” the NJSA’s official newsletter, and helped at the NJSA booth at the National FFA Convention.

Albright has been actively involved in 4-H, FFA and college activities. At Black Hawk, he is the agribusiness club vice president and was a freshman representative for the Student Government Association. He served as the Michigan State FFA Reporter, as well as his chapter president in high school. Albright has held numerous leadership positions in his local 4-H club, too. He has been the president and vice president of the Michigan Junior Livestock Society and has been an active member of the Michigan Purebred Swine Breeders.

“It’s time for me to give back. Time to be that leader that so many NJSA board members were for me,” Albright says. “With the experience I’ve gained from being a state FFA officer and involved in other junior associations, I feel that I can have the same impact on NJSA members as past directors have had on me.”

Albright would like to motivate younger members to become more involved through speakers or workshops led by junior board members. He also believes forming state organizations would promote unity and enhance member development. As for fund raising, Albright feels the junior board members could utilize their connections to find new sponsors who would benefit from donating to the NJSA.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

Central Region Director

Bryant Boyer

Kempton, Ind.

Bryant Boyer, 19, of Kempton, Ind., is a freshman at Oklahoma State University (OSU), majoring in animal science.

Throughout his six years in NJSA, Boyer has competed at national and regional events, including the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), Eastern Regional, NJSS and World Pork Expo. He has participated in showmanship, livestock judging, public speaking and skillathon at these events. Boyer has attended the leadership conference twice and served on the leadership committee for two years and one year on the planning committee. He is also a mentor in Mentoring Values People (MVP) and serves on the shows committee. In 2005, Boyer received the NJSA Herdsman of the Year award.

Boyer has been involved in 4-H, FFA and collegiate activities. At OSU, he is part of the Freshmen in Transition program and the Block and Bridle Club. Boyer was in FFA for four years and competed on the livestock judging team. As a 10-year 4-H member, he served as his club’s president for six years. He was a member of the 2005 Indiana State 4-H Junior Leader Council and was a delegate to the 2005 Indiana National 4-H Congress.

“The NJSA has truly developed my character with all of the positive opportunities that I have experienced,” Boyer says. “My purpose for seeking a position on the NJSA board is to share my teamwork and communication skills with an organization that values high standards of ethics for its members.”

Boyer would like to implement more regional leadership conferences to allow members to build teamwork and leadership skills, as well as discuss new issues and challenges affecting the purebred swine industry. Boyer would also like to create some international interest in the NJSA.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

Eastern Region Directors

Hyatt Frobose

Pemberville, Ohio

Hyatt Frobose, 19, of Pemberville, Ohio, is a sophomore at BCC, majoring in animal science and minoring in agricultural economics.

Frobose’s first exposure to the NJSA was in 1998 when he competed in the skillathon and livestock judging contest in Lafayette, Ind. He competed at his first NJSS in 2000 and hasn’t missed one since. He also exhibited at the 2004 National Barrow Show® Junior Barrow Classic. Frobose has attended the leadership conference twice and has served on the NJSS and leadership committees. He is also a mentor in MVP.

Frobose has been actively involved in 4-H and FFA, as well as collegiate and community activities. At BCC, he is a member of the livestock judging team and has received numerous awards, including high-individual honors at the San Antonio Stock Show. Frobose is also involved in Butler’s Agriculture Club, Students in Free Enterprise and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. As a member of the Eastwood High School FFA chapter, Frobose was awarded three state proficiency awards, State FFA Degree, American FFA Degree and won several state contests. He also served as president of the Wood County 4-H Club. Frobose was a member of the Ohio Pork Producers Association and was an Ohio pork ambassador in 2002.

“I believe that I can provide the type of leadership to other young people that will not only keep them interested in the purebred swine industry, but help them develop and express their talents for the future,” Frobose says. “I can be a leader and role model to the members of the NJSA and also garner key relationships with industry leaders.”

Frobose would like to educate junior members about the link between the showpig industry and commercial hog production. He would also like to implement a gilt donation program that would give more members hands-on production experience. Also, he would like to begin a science fair competition to encourage members to learn more about hog production.

Garrett Hamby

Williamsport, Md.

Garrett Hamby, 17, of Williamsport, Md., is a senior at Clear Spring High School. This fall, Hamby plans to attend the University of Maryland and major in animal science.

Hamby is involved in showing, skillathon and judging within the NJSA. He has attended the NJSS, Eastern Regional and Southeast Regional.

Hamby has held leadership positions in both 4-H and FFA. As a 10-year 4-H member, he currently serves as president of the Washington County Swine Club and the Huyett’s Club, and vice president of the Beef Club.

He has won numerous awards through 4-H, such as champion overall swine showman at the Maryland State Fair. He has also been a FFA member for two years, in which he is currently a junior adviser. Through FFA, Hamby has participated in agronomy, ag sales, agriscience fair and environmental resource management.

“I feel this is a great opportunity for me to experience many new things through the NJSA,” Hamby says. “This will also be a good opportunity for me to help others and share my experiences and knowledge with others.”

Hamby would like to see more NJSA advertising at smaller shows and county fairs. He would also like to provide more activities for younger members and to boost fund-raising efforts.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

Southwest Region Director

Nick Hofschulte

Miami, Okla.

Nick Hofschulte, 18, is a freshman and livestock judging team member at Connors State College.

Hofschulte has competed at the NJSS, World Pork Expo JuniorNational, Southwest Regional and NJSA leadership conference. He has also served on the membership committee, distributing information at local and state shows about the NJSA.

Throughout high school, Hofschulte served as his FFA chapter’s reporter, vice president and president. He has also been involved in 4-H livestock judging for eight years and held his club’s president, vice president and secretary positions.

“I have a great passion, not just for the purebred swine industry, but even more for the events that offer opportunities to NJSA members,” Hofschulte says. “I want to share my passion with members and further enhance my involvement in the NJSA.”

As a board member, Hofschulte wants to invite speakers to the leadership conference who have careers in the swine industry unrelated to hog production. He hopes these speakers will showcase the industry’s multiple career opportunities to NJSA members. He also would like to see a swine showing and judging camp at the leadership conference. The camp would give younger members a chance to interact with older members and learn more about showing hogs. Adding a speech contest to regional shows is also an idea he plans to explore.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

Western Region Director

Kayla Wood

San Jose, Calif.

Kayla Wood, 17, of San Jose, Calif., is a senior at Live Oak High School. She plans to attend Modesto Junior College, where she will major in agriculture business and minor in animal science.

Wood’s NJSA involvement includes showing at the Western Regional and NJSS, and attending the leadership conference. She has been to the leadership conference three times and received the leadership award last year.

Wood is very involved with 4-H and FFA. Through 4-H, she has been a sergeant-at-arms and a staff member at 4-H camp. She is currently vice president of the Morgan Hill FFA and treasurer of the Santa Clara section. She is in charge of her FFA chapter’s scrapbook.

“To be in a leadership position in the NJSA is an honor and a privilege,” Wood says. “I am always looking for opportunities to expand my knowledge, develop new friendships and be a part of something meaningful. Being on the board would give me an opportunity to share my knowledge.”

Wood wants to have leadership conferences for each region and set up NJSA booths at state fairs. She would also like to see small workshops at shows on showmanship, as well as current swine industry issues.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer

At Large Director

AJ Lanier

Phillipsburg, Kan.

AJ Lanier, 17, of Phillipsburg, Kan., is a junior at Phillipsburg High School and plans to attend Kansas State University to major in mechanical engineering following graduation.

As a nine-year NJSA member, Lanier has been involved in many aspects of the association. He has participated in the NJSS for the last four years and has attended the leadership conference for the last three years. Lanier is also a mentor in the MVP program.

Lanier is involved in 4-H and FFA and is a member of his high school’s cross country and golf teams. As an 11-year member of the Iowa Union 4-H Club, Lanier has served as his club’s recreation leader, 4-H Council representative, vice president and is currently president. He has also served on his county’s Fair Food Stand committee and has acted as assistant swine superintendent at the Phillips County Fair. In 2006, Lanier was awarded the state award for his Kansas Award Application. He was also a delegate for the National 4-H Congress held in Atlanta, Ga.

“The NJSA has the best leadership and training,” Lanier says. “I want to make a positive difference in the minds of young people. I have been influenced by NJSA leaders, through their examples and encouragement, to become a more active member.”

Expanding the regional leadership conferences, increasing scholarships opportunities and promoting the industry to youth in urban areas are some ideas that Lanier would like to explore.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Kayla Wood | Aimee Shaffer | Ashley Hop |
Doug Albright | Nick Hofschulte | AJ Lanier | Hyatt Frobose | Bryant Boyer