Contact Us
• Administrative Staff
• Commercial Services Staff
• Communications Department
• Field Representatives
• Junior Activities Department
• Pedigree Department
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Darrell D. Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
darrell@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since 1994, American Yorkshire Club employee since 1987
Darrell administers the policies as dictated by the NSR Executive Committee and the four Breed Association boards of directors. Overall, he is responsible for fiscal management, staff recruitment and retention, and program accountability. He represents NSR in various national organizations, including National Pedigreed Livestock Council (NPLC), National Swine Improvement Federation, NPPC Pork Alliance and National Pork Board committees. Darrell previously served as president of the National Association of Swine Records for 11 years. He is also past president of the NPLC and past board member of the National Pork Producers Council.
Darrell and his wife of 32 years, Merlene, have two sons: Ben and Greg. Ben and his wife, Shelly, blessed Darrell and Merlene with their first grandson, Samuel Gabe, in August 2002.
Robin Lucas
Administrative Assistant
robin@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since 1994, American Yorkshire Club employee since 1980
Robin oversees the pedigree department. She handles questions for breeders related to their accounts and pedigrees. She also is in charge of payroll and accounts receivable and payable. She travels to NSR national shows to help with check-in and to clerk the sales.
Robin and her husband, Frank, have three great daughters: Chastity and her husband Aaron French; Carrie and her husband Josh Johnson; and Kayla and her husband Corey Myers. Robin says her five grandchildren brighten her life: Elijah, Shelby, Rhylee, Allie and Carson.
Mike Paul
Vice President of Operations
mike@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since 1996
Mike oversees the activities of the NSR field representatives. In addition, Mike manages NSR-sponsored shows and sales, serves as the president of the National Association of Swine Records (NASR) and is a member of the National Pedigreed Livestock Council board of directors.
Mike and his wife of 32 years, Sue, have one daughter, Jamie. Mike and Sue are the proud grandparents of Nicole, who was born Feb.13, 2001.
COMMERCIAL SERVICES STAFF
Clint Schwab
Director of Commercial Services
clint@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since January 2008
Clint's job responsibilities include: helping commercial-oriented NSR members document their positive impact on commercial-swine production; assisting breeders to identify and supply market opportunities for superior genetics; coordinating muscle-quality evaluations; and representing breeders and the NSR at various regional and national trade shows and conferences. He also oversees the STAGES genetic evaluation program and coordinates the DNA Genotyping Program, along with consulting with commercial pork producers about genetics, management and value-added opportunities.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University, and master’s and doctorate degrees in animal breeding and genetics from Iowa State University.
At ISU, Clint was an animal science lecturer, coached the livestock judging team and served as the academic adviser for 22 undergraduate students while assisting with departmental recruiting efforts. He has conducted swine breeding and genetics research, and has trained domestic and international visitors in the use of real-time ultrasound scanning techniques. Schwab has also served as a consultant in the development of specialized lines through selection, ultrasound training and data analysis for various breeders in the United States and Canada.
Clint and his wife, Sarah, reside in Brookston, Ind.
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
Christy Couch Lee
Director of Communications
christy@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since May 2003
Christy’s responsibilities include organizing the production and content of Seedstock EDGE, "The Pinnacle" and "For the Record;" communicating with breeders and businesses on advertising needs and requests; editing content of NSR communications; working with NSR staff to develop and create unified communications mediums; and writing feature stories.
Christy grew up on a purebred cow-calf operation in southern Indiana, and competed at local, state and national cattle shows. She received her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater in 1999.
Christy served as the editorial intern for the Angus Journal in the summer of 1998 and as a field editor for The Quarter Horse Journal from 1999-2000. For three years, she worked at the John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center in Lenexa, Kan., first as a regional editor for The Furrow, then as the managing editor of Homestead magazine.
Christy and her husband, Craig, live in Wellington, Ill., with their small herd of Angus cattle. They have two kids, Waylon Barrett, born in May 2005, and Nolan Franklyn, born in June 2008.
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Kati Leslie
Assistant Editor
kati@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since June 2006
Kati assists with the editorial layout, feature writing, photography and planning for Seedstock EDGE and “The Pinnacle.” In addition, she helps with other NSR breeder needs, including catalog and brochure coordination and NSR Web site projects. She also attends various NSR events throughout the year.
Kati graduated from Indiana State University in May 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in communication studies.
As a Sycamore, Kati was actively involved in student publications for four years and earned 10 statewide and regional awards for her writing, photography and design work. Kati served as editor in chief and managing editor of the Indiana Statesman, ISU’s newspaper, and also worked as a reporter and photographer for iQ, ISU’s magazine.
During college, Kati completed internships with ISU Communications and Marketing, Downtown Terre Haute Inc. and the Terre Haute Tribune-Star daily newspaper. She was named the Outstanding Journalism Graduate by communications faculty members and received the Four-year Highest Achievement Award from ISU Student Publications.
Kati and her husband, Dustin, live in Mulberry, Ind., with their dog, Hank.
Tammy Taylor
Production Coordinator
tammy@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since February 2008
Tammy’s responsibilities include overseeing and coordinating the production of Seedstock EDGE, “The Pinnacle” and “For the Record.” She works with the printer to schedule production of various communications projects throughout the year, including breeder fliers and NSR projects. She also compiles show reports and assists with editing as needed.
Tammy graduated from Seeger Memorial High School in West Lebanon, Ind., and attended Purdue University and Ivy Tech in West Lafayette.
For 16 years, Tammy worked for the Conservation Technology Information Center in West Lafayette, during which she served as its director of operations. In this position, she oversaw all office accounting, worked with the United States Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and Tennessee Valley Authority on grant reporting and complying, and coordinated national meetings. She has also worked for Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc. as an administrative associate and human resources specialist. She has also served as the executive secretary to Bob Rohrmann with The Bob Rohrmann Automotive Dealerships.
She and her husband, Mike, have two daughters: Katie, 19, and Valerie, 15; and a dog, Gracie. They reside in West Lafayette.
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Steve Weintraut II
Graphic Designer
steve@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since October 2006
Steve designs advertising for Seedstock EDGE, and produces layouts for various breeder catalogs and fliers, and numerous promotional materials for NSR and NJSA throughout the year. He also performs NSR Web site design and updates.
Prior to joining the Seedstock EDGE staff, Steve worked for seven years with MacDonald Advertising Service in Lafayette, Ind., producing nine monthly publications, and creating advertising and Web site design.
Steve attended Ball State University and studied graphic design. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Mulberry, Ind.
Rachel Doctor
NSR Communications Summer 2008 Intern
rachel@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
Rachel of Huntington, Ind., will graduate from Purdue University in December with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication.
At Purdue, Rachel is a member of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and Destination Purdue magazine. She is also a member of the Indiana Hereford Association and Farm Bureau. She has worked as a student editor in the Purdue Animal Sciences Department, as a freelance writer and photographer for The Farmer’s Exchange and as a teacher’s assistant in the Purdue Agronomy Department. She has also served as a summer 4-H assistant at the Indiana State Fair.
Rachel showed swine, cattle and sheep in 4-H. Her experience and skills will be a positive asset to the NSR.
FIELD REPRESENTATIVES
Ralph Doak
Field Representative
ralph@nationalswine.com
1675 Accomodation Road
Wilmington, OH 45177
Office: 937-382-8180
Cell: 765-427-9910
Fax: 937-383-0257
NSR employee since 1994, purebred association experience since 1988
Ralph is responsible for making herd visits wherever he is needed in his eastern region. He also works all NSR shows and sales, along with several state fairs.
Ralph and his wife of 33 years, Becky, live on a farm outside of Wilmington, Ohio. They have two daughters: Rachel and her husband, David Swartz; and Amy, and her husband, Daniel Hunter. They also have three grandchildren, Evan, Ella and Reid.
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Sam Howell
Field Representative
6521 North Parkview Terrace
Peoria, IL 61614
Office: 309-691-6956
Cell: 765-427-9909
Fax: 309-691-6463
NSR employee since 1994, purebred association experience since 1993
Sam travels the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and California, and covers the Southwest region, making farm visits and assisting NSR members wherever needed. He works all NSR events, plus pig sales in the spring and state fairs in the summer.
Sam and his wife of 42 years, Linda, live in Peoria, Ill. They have three daughters: Jodi, Tammi, and Sami and her fiance, Chris McMillan. They also have two grandchildren, Dustin and Kylie.
Kade Hummel
Activities Field Representative
kade@nationalswine.com
PO Box 55
Cabery, IL 60919
Office: 765-938-9217
Cell: 765-427-3481
NSR employee since March 2005
Kade of Cabery, Ill., devotes half of his time to assisting with the various regional and national events of the National Junior Swine Association, and half of his time representing the National Swine Registry at events and shows.
He attends all national NJSA events and represents NSR at other major youth swine shows throughout the country. In addition, Hummel represents NSR at all national type conferences and serves the NSR membership in many of the more-traditional field representative roles.
Kade is available for genetic consultation for junior and senior members, and represents the organization at some major pedigreed swine events in the Southwest.
He possesses a strong background in the swine industry, having served most recently as manager of a sow research farm for United Feeds in Sheridan, Ind. He grew up showing hogs, and worked for Engnell Brothers Duroc Farm while attending college at Western Illinois University.
While at WIU, Kade served as assistant livestock judging coach and held leadership positions, including vice president of the Hoof ’N Horn Club and the Student Ag Association.
Jordan Gentry
NSR Field Staff Summer 2008 Intern
jordan@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
Jordan of Remington, Ind., is a junior majoring in agribusiness management at Purdue University.
At Purdue, he is a member of Block and Bridle, Alpha Gamma Rho Professional Fraternity, Grand Prix Foundation Board and National Agri-Marketing Association.
Jordan is also involved in the NJSA and the Indiana Junior Swine Circuit, and works as a sales representative for EQ Solutions.
Jordan’s experience working on his family farm, Gentry Farms in Remington, background in the swine industry and desire to promote the NJSA will be extremely beneficial to the NSR.
Jennifer Shike
Director of Junior Activities
jennifer@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
NSR office: 765-463-3594
Illinois office: 217-485-5315
Mobile: 217-369-2868
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since August 2000
Jennifer is responsible for vision-casting and overseeing the activities of the National Junior Swine Association. She organizes all NJSA leadership activities, conferences and programs. She is responsible for organizing the National Junior Summer Spectacular and co-managing the World Pork Expo Junior National. She is responsible for all fundraising efforts and NJSA scholarship programs. In addition, she contributes editorials and articles to Seedstock EDGE, and works closely with the NJSA Board of Directors and NJSA intern. She works alongside Katey Brattain, NSR Junior Activities Coordinator, and Kade Hummel, NSR Field Activities Representative.
Jennifer grew up showing Quarter Horses. She was a member of the 1999 Kansas State livestock judging team and the 1997 Black Hawk East livestock judging team with her husband, Dan. Jennifer also judged on the 1998 Kansas State and 1998 Black Hawk East horse judging teams.
In 1998, Jennifer interned with the National Swine Registry. She also served as the Angus Journal editorial intern in 1999. She received her bachelor's degree in agricultural communications and animal science from Kansas State University in 2000.
Jennifer and Dan reside in Tolono, Ill., and they have two kids, Olivia Jane, born in May 2006, and Hunter James, born in April 2008. Dan is a professor at the University of Illinois and coaches the livestock judging team. He organizes the NJSA judging contests at the National Junior Summer Spectacular and World Pork Expo Junior National.
Katey Brattain
Junior Activities Coordinator
katey@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since July 2007
Brattain organizes and carries out all NJSA regional shows and the National Barrow Show® Junior Barrow Classic, co-manages the World Pork Expo Junior National and contributes to the planning of the National Junior Summer Spectacular. She also processes show entries and conference applications; oversees the Mentors Value People program and NJSA promotions at the National FFA Convention; and works closely with the NJSA intern and NJSA Board of Directors. She works alongside Jennifer Shike, NSR Director of Junior Activities, and Kade Hummel, NSR Field Activities Representative.
In May 2007, Katey received her degree in animal agribusiness from Purdue University, where she was a member of the Purdue University Agricultural Council and Animal Science Ambassadors.
In addition to assisting with her family’s purebred swine operation in Greencastle, Ind., Katey served as NJSA president and on the Indiana Junior Swine Circuit Board of Directors and was a recipient of one of the 2005 NJSA senior scholarships. Prior to accepting this position, Brattain served as the NSR Yorkshire Secretary. She has also performed the duties of NJSA program assistant.
Melissa Volosin
NJSA Summer 2008 Intern
melissa@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
Melissa of Fort Collins, Colo., is a junior majoring in agricultural business and animal science with a minor in business administration at Colorado State University. At CSU, she is a member of the livestock judging team, vice president of Block and Bridle and has served as the Block and Bridle Little National Western chairperson.
Melissa is also a member of the NJSA, National Junior Maine-Anjou Association, American Lowline Association and the Colorado Cattleman’s Association. She has presented steer-fitting clinics and children’s presentations about parts of the pig and showmanship.
Melissa's experience working with youth, passion for the swine industry and work ethic makes her an excellent addition to the NSR.
PEDIGREE DEPARTMENT
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Lisa Kennedy
Hampshire/Landrace Secretary
lisa@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since 1994, American Yorkshire Club employee since 1991
Lisa assists breeders with questions pertaining to registration of litters, transfers, conference entries, etc. She attends national conferences to clerk the sales and assist with the preparation of show and sale catalogs. Lisa also arranges travel itineraries for the NSR Board of Directors and staff. She also performs secretarial duties for Darrell Anderson and Mike Paul.
Lisa and her husband, John, reside in rural Warren County. Lisa’s one-and-only sibling, Frankie Lucas, is married to NSR Administrative Assistant Robin Lucas.
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Rhonda Eller
Data Entry Specialist
rhonda@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since 1994, American Yorkshire Club employee since 1981
Rhonda is responsible for entering all daily litters and transfers for all breeds. She also works with customers over the phone and via e-mail regarding their litters, updating their maintenance fees and Yorkshire memberships, and updating Seedstock EDGE subscriptions. She also assists with mailing projects and helps the “show crew” with pen cards and pedigrees.
Rhonda married Tom in 1995. Tom is an administrative postal employee, "eligible" for retirement in 2005. They each have a son, Ryan and Josiah. She keeps busy after hours with helping the family.
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Jessica Goyette
Duroc Secretary
jessica@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since June 2001
As the Duroc Secretary, Jessica stays busy assisting breeders with any questions and concerns, mailing supply orders, updating Seedstock EDGE subscriptions and entering STAGES data into the NSR database. She also processes Duroc pedigrees and is the first responder when the phone rings.
Jessica contributes to the pedigree department by helping coordinate blotter cards and setting up new members into the system.
Whitney Homer
Yorkshire Secretary/DNA Coordinator
whitney@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since May 2008
Whitney of Concord, Ill., processes Yorkshire pedigrees and assists Yorkshire customers with inquiries. She also enters STAGES data, works with the GeneSeek lab on blood banking and stress testing, and attends NSR shows.
Whitney earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Western Illinois University in May. She has served as a Western Illinois Agriculture Vocator and was a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority and Collegiate FFA. She completed an internship with the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Marketing and Promotions, and was previously employed at All Pets Veterinary Clinic as a veterinary technician.
As a volunteer for ANGEL Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program, Whitney spent more than 100 hours working with physically, mentally and behaviorally disabled children and adults.
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Linda Trapp
Receptionist
linda@nationalswine.com
P.O. Box 2417
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417
765-463-3594
Fax: 765-497-2959
NSR employee since February 2006
Linda answers the phone and directs calls to the appropriate staff. She also handles other clerical duties.
A longtime resident of the Lafayette, Ind., area, Linda has a strong background in performing various office tasks and has earned certification in several professional office skills programs. She spent the last 32 years as a quality control inspector for Landis/Gyr Inc.
In her spare time, Linda enjoys spending time with her six grandchildren and boating in the summer.
