For Immediate Release
February 1, 2007
For More Information, Contact:
Jennifer Shike, National Swine Registry
(765) 463-3594 or jennifer@nationalswine.com
NJSA Scholarship Winners Announced
The National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2006 NJSA Outstanding Member Scholarships. A special thanks to our judges for their efforts in sorting through these competitive applications. The judges included Jesse Heimer, Taylor, Mo.; Ernie Barnes, Iowa; Kim Brock, Okla.; Nicole Boettger, Iowa; Brad Angus, Ill.; Jill Zimmerman, Kan.; Warren Beeler, Ky.; Grant Grebner, Ill.; Terry Shaffer, Ind.; Jon Althaus, Ill.; Clint Schwab, Iowa; and Jodi Sterle, Texas.
The judges were impressed with the quality NJSA members who applied for the 2006 scholarships. The scholarships were scored on a combination of youth leadership activities, NJSA leadership and associated affiliate leadership, interest in swine industry and scholastic record. Ages were considered as of Jan. 1, 2006. The novice winner will be awarded $100. The winner of the junior division will receive $200. The intermediate winner will be awarded $300. Two senior winners will receive $1,000. Congratulations to each of these outstanding NJSA members!
Senior Winner: Bryant Boyer
Bryant Boyer, 19, is the son of Mark and Janet Boyer of Kempton, Ind. He is a freshman at Oklahoma State University where he is pursuing a degree in animal science. He hopes to pursue a career in the swine industry that will help promote and improve the industry’s competitive edge in the market for the consumer’s dollar.
He has been an active NJSA member, participating in the NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference, National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS), Eastern Regional, NAILE and World Pork Expo Junior National (WPX). In 2005, he was named the Herdsman of the Year at the NJSS. He currently serves on the NJSA shows team and was a MVP mentor.
Bryant is a strong believer in community service. His favorite community service project involved buying Christmas gifts for disadvantaged families in his area. As a college student, he continues to volunteer his time and participates in the “Into the Streets” program where he helps low economic families do household improvements such as painting. He also collects items for the Humane Society and is involved with the Adopt-A-Highway program in Oklahoma.
Bryant says, “My desire and passion for the swine industry will motivate me to attain my goals of improving and promoting the swine industry in the US and be a leader in the world market. Producers must use new innovative tools and ideas to leap ahead in the world market today. For now, I need the education and technology to prepare me to use my communication and teamwork skills that will enable me to lead the swine industry.”
Senior Winner: Brian Down
Brian Down, 20, is the son of Chuck and Mary Jane Down of Cabery, Ill. Brian is a sophomore at Joliet Junior College pursuing an ag transfer degree. Brian is an active member of Joliet’s livestock judging team and plans to continue his education at the University of Illinois in ag business management or ag education. Brian also manages his own swine operation, New Age Genetics, focusing on breeding show pigs and seedstock swine.
He has been active in NJSA for the past 8 years. He competed in the second NJSS in Indianapolis, Ind., earning the title of champion junior sweepstakes winner. Since then, he has established one of the most competitive sweepstakes profile – winning the sweepstakes at the 2001 Southwest Regional, 2001 Eastern Regional, 2002 NJSS, 2005 NJSS and was second in last year’s NJSS sweepstakes contest.
In addition, he has participated in the Western Regional, Southwest Regional, Eastern Regional, NAILE, American Royal, WPX, and NJSS. One of his proudest accomplishments was reaching his goal of raising a champion Yorkshire boar at an NSR type conference. At the 2001 American Swine Breeders Classic in Des Moines, Iowa, Brian did just that.
One of Brian’s goals is to help other kids get started with swine projects. He says, “I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for the showpig industry with others just starting 4-H or FFA projects. I encourage them to join the NJSA where they can meet new friends and learn more about their swine projects. At the 2006 NJSS, I was joined by seven younger NJSA members from my county.”
Intermediate Winner: Warner Phipps
Warner Phipps, 17, is the son of Bill & Robyn Phipps of Kearney, Neb. Warner is a junior at Kearney High School. He plans to attend a Division I college to pursue a degree in finance and wrestle.
He has competed in the NJSS, Southwest Regional and American Royal. Some of his highlights in NJSA include finishing in the Top 10 Sweepstakes at the NJSS for two years as a junior and one year as an intermediate. He also won the Intermediate Skillathon at the American Royal and was featured as a Youth Spotlight on the NJSA web site. He has also participated in the national youth leadership conference.
He has served on the NJSA membership committee and shows team. He also sold raffle tickets for the NJSA, volunteered at the Kid’s Korner and handed out brochures at shows and sales in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.
Warner is a state medalist in wrestling (5th place). He also is a member of DAFY (Drug and Alcohol Free Youth), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, K-Club, FFA, National Honor Art Society and Kearney Youth Leadership program.
He has set many goals to gain more knowledge of the swine industry. In addition to expanding his family’s sow herd, he says, “I would like to have an internship at a boar stud, learn how to collect and market our own boar semen, expand my knowledge base of the purebred swine industry, capture a national and state FFA Swine Proficiency Award and a championship in the NJSS Sweepstakes Contest.”
Junior Winner: Jackson Johnson
Jackson Johnson, 11, is the son of Mike and Karen Johnson of Poneto, Ind. Jackson attends Southern Wells Elementary. He has been a member of NJSA for six years and has shown at the NJSS, WPX, NBS® Jr. Barrow Classic (NBS) and is a protégé in MVP.
He has received many great awards in NJSA including the title of third place junior sweepstakes winner at the 2006 NJSS and champion showmanship exhibitor in 2004 and 2005 at the NBS. He was featured as the Youth Spotlight in January 2003 and won the NJSA Novice Scholarship in 2004.
Jackson is a great volunteer in NJSA – he works in the NJSA Booth at the shows and sells raffle tickets to help raise money for NJSA shows and activities. In 2004, he was named the Top Salesman.
He is a member of the Huntington County, Indiana, 4-H program and helps with set-up and takedown at his county fair. He also works hard to keep the swine and goat barns looking good during the fair.
In school, he enjoys playing basketball and running cross-country. He also plays baseball on a local team in his hometown. He serves as the student leader of the Service Learning Committee at his school. This committee applies for grants and decides how to spend grant money.
Jackson says, “My goal is to continue to raise high quality purebred Duroc and Hampshire pigs with my family. I would also like to run for the NJSA Board so that I could encourage others to join the NJSA where they can gain great friends and have a really good time, too!”
Novice Winner: Adrian Austin
Adrian Austin, 8, is the daughter of Steve and Holly Austin of Mt. Vernon, Ill. She attends Field Grade School in Texico. She is an active NJSA member – competing in the NJSS and NAILE. She is also active in the Illinois Club Pig Association and the Marion County 4-H Cloverbud program.
She finished second in the novice sweepstakes contest at the NJSS in 2006 and 2005. She was also a member of the high team overall in the novice judging contest and finished fourth overall in the skillathon last year.
Adrian was named the champion novice showman for the past two years in the Illinois Club Pig Association. She enjoys helping her 4-H club with service projects when she’s not showing her pigs. She also helps her mom work in the Silent Auction, NJSA Booth and Kid’s Corner at the NJSS. Adrian and her older brother, Kane, both sold raffle tickets for the NJSA in 2006.
Adrian says that her favorite show is the NJSS for four reasons: skillathon, judging contest, pizza party and competition. She adds there are three other reasons, too – friends/family, fun and showmanship.
The swine industry has done a lot for Adrian. She says, “It’s made my summers fun and kept them rolling. I just hope that when I’m grown up and have kids of my own, they will like it as much as I do because I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing in the summer months than showing pigs.”
The 2007 scholarship applications will be due Dec. 1, 2007, to the NSR office. For more information, contact Jennifer Shike, NSR Director of Junior Activities, P.O. Box 2417, West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417, or call 765.463.3594, or e-mail jennifer@nationalswine.com.
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