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 Kayla Wood

San Jose, Calif.

Kayla Wood, 19, is a sophomore at Modesto Junior college, where she is majoring in animal science and minoring in agricultural business.

Wood’s NJSA involvement includes showing at the Western Regional and NJSS, and attending the leadership conference. She has been to the leadership conference four times and received the leadership award in 2006. Now, she helps put on these events for the generations to come.

Wood is very involved with activities on the MJC campus. She is a herdsman for the swine unit, where she manages a 70-sow operation, along with three other herdsman. She is also an officer and inter-club council representative for the Young Farmers Club.

“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 keep the NJSA going on the right track and hopes she can make a difference in the lives of all NJSA members.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Lynsee Shaffer | Jordan Brockhaus | Kayla Wood
Bryant Boyer | AJ Lanier | Ryan Hoelscher | Hyatt Frobose | Charlie Hensy

Vice President Hyatt Frobose

Pemberville, Ohio

Hyatt Frobose, 21, is a senior at Kansas State University, majoring in animal science. After earning his bachelor's degree, he plans to obtain a master's degree in swine nutrition/animal behavior. He aspires to be become a livestock judging coach one day.

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 Kansas State, he is a member of the livestock judging team, Collegiate Farm Bureau and Block and Bridle. He plans to compete on the meats judging team in 2009, and is currently working on a research project involving the digestibility of a high-protein Distiller's byproduct in starter pig diets.

He has received many awards, including high-individual honors at the San Antonio Stock Show. 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.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Lynsee Shaffer | Jordan Brockhaus | Kayla Wood
Bryant Boyer | AJ Lanier | Ryan Hoelscher | Hyatt Frobose | Charlie Hensy

Secretary Garrett Hamby

Williamsport, Md.

Garrett Hamby, 19, is a sophomore at the University of Maryland, studying pre veterinarian/animal science.

Hamby serves on the NJSA leadership team and as a mentor in the Mentoring Values People (MVP) program. He has attended many shows, including the NJSS, Eastern Regional, Southeast Regional, North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) and Eastern Nationals.

Hamby has held leadership positions in both 4-H and FFA. As an 11-year 4-H member, he served as president of the Washington County Swine Club and the Huyett’s Club, and vice president of the Beef Club. Through FFA, Hamby has participated in agronomy, ag sales, agriscience fair and environmental resource management.

He has won numerous awards through 4-H, such as champion overall swine showman, Grand Champion Market Hog and Champion Bred-and-Owned Yorkshire at the Maryland State Fair.

“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's goals are to visit 4-H clubs in the Eastern Region to promote NJSA and recruit active members, and to create 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 | Lynsee Shaffer | Jordan Brockhaus | Kayla Wood
Bryant Boyer | AJ Lanier | Ryan Hoelscher | Hyatt Frobose | Charlie Hensy

Central Region Directors

Bryant Boyer

Kempton, Ind.

Bryant Boyer, 21, is a junior 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, the Block and Bridle Club and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. 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.

Lynsee Shaffer

Albany, Ind.

Lynsee Shaffer, 20, is a sophomore at Butler County Community College (BCC) and plans to transfer to Purdue University to study agricultural education and agribusiness.

As an eight-year NJSA member, Shaffer has attended numerous NJSA shows, participating in showmanship, skillathon and judging contests and barnyard olympics and has attended the past four NYLCs. She is a member of the NJSA leadership committee and the MVP program.

Shaffer is a member of the BCC livestock judging team and Phi Theta Kappa. She is an active member of the Indiana Junior Swine Circuit and co-owns Shaffer Sister Show Pigs.

“I have a great desire to be a larger part of the impact that this great organization plays on its junior members,” Shaffer says.

Shaffer would like to see increased NJSA member involvement through ice-breaker games and speaker events. She also would encourage an informational session before many contests for new participants.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Lynsee Shaffer | Jordan Brockhaus | Kayla Wood
Bryant Boyer | AJ Lanier | Ryan Hoelscher | Hyatt Frobose | Charlie Hensy

Southwest Region Directors

Jordan Brockhaus

Tuttle, Okla.

Jordan Brockhaus, 19, is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University (OSU), majoring in agribusiness with a marketing minor.

As a nine-year NJSA member, she has participated in many NJSA shows and four NYLCs.

At OSU, she participates in the National Panhellenic Council, Ag Council and Student Today Alumni Tomorrow.

She has also volunteered with the Highland Park Reading Buddies and Oklahoma State Fair Ag-tropolis.

“I learned very early in life that it’s not what you receive, but what you give that gives you the most gratification,” Brockhaus says. “I have found in my other leadership roles the value of touching one life comes back tenfold.”

Brockhaus would like to increase promotion of NJSA winners through additional press releases and photos.

She also would like to see a showmanship clinic held the day before a show for education and networking.

Ryan Hoelscher

Hereford, Texas

Ryan Hoelscher, 17, is a senior at Vega High School. After graduating, he plans to attend college to study agricultural engineering.

Hoelscher has helped with set up, contests and selling merchandise at several NJSA shows since he was 9. He has won NJSS Herdsman of the Year and Workhorse awards for his efforts. He is a member of the NJSA shows and leadership committees.

As a nine-year 4-H member, Hoelscher has been club president, state 4-H council member and state swine record competition winner. He has also been involved with Student Council, band, basketball and drama.

“As NJSA members, we are a vital part of the future of the purebred swine industry and the NSR,” Hoelscher says. “(By attending the NYLC), I learned how important it is to have good public relations with the general public.”

Hoelscher wants to see the NJSA identity publicized, especially in his home state of Texas.

His ideas include distributing information at shows, encouraging members to wear NJSA shirts and conducting drawings for NJSA apparel.

Top | Garrett Hamby | Lynsee Shaffer | Jordan Brockhaus | Kayla Wood
Bryant Boyer | AJ Lanier | Ryan Hoelscher | Hyatt Frobose | Charlie Hensy

At-Large Directors

Charlie Hensy

Newkirk, Okla.

Charlie Hensy, 19, is a sophomore at Howard College, studying agricultural education.

In the past three years, Hensy has competed in judging, showmanship and skillathon contests and swine shows at the World Pork Expo, NJSS and Southwest Regional.

He has been a leader in 4-H and FFA, serving as his 4-H club reporter and FFA chapter president. He competed in FFA livestock judging and played baseball and football.

“I’m seeking a position to be a director, so kids could look up to me as a role model,” Hensy says. He says he also would like to give back to the NJSA.

Hensy plans to focus on increasing membership and creating several regional leadership conferences with workshops for speech, judging and showmanship.

AJ Lanier

Phillipsburg, Kan.

AJ Lanier, 19, is a freshman at Kansas State University, majoring in mechanical engineering.

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

At Kansas State, he is a member of the Trapshooting Club. Lanier served as an 11-year member of the Iowa Union 4-H Club, and 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 | Lynsee Shaffer | Jordan Brockhaus | Kayla Wood
Bryant Boyer | AJ Lanier | Ryan Hoelscher | Hyatt Frobose | Charlie Hensy