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Meet the Staff :: Clay Zwilling
Clay was raised on a small grain and purebred livestock operation in western Illinois. He attend Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., and later transferred to Oklahoma State University (OSU) where he received his bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural education. While at OSU, Clay was named an All-American Livestock Judge and was on the 2012 National Champion Livestock Judging Team. He also earned his Master of Science from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the NSR, Clay worked at Farm Credit Illinois as the Director of Marketplace Education and Development, leading the association’s educational and young farmer programs. Clay is a past Illinois FFA State President and stays involved with the National FFA by serving as the Livestock CDE Superintendent. In his spare time, Clay enjoys spending time with his wife, Deanna, watching college football and traveling. Clay’s favorite quote is by John Wayne, “No moral man [ … ]
Meet the Staff :: Will Taylor
Growing up Will Taylor, Flora, Ind., was an active member of his FFA Livestock Judging Team, showed pigs for six years in 4-H and enjoyed traveling to shows such as the World Pork Expo, National Junior Summer Spectacular and the North American International Livestock Exposition. Taylor has also enjoyed being a NJSA member.
Taylor is a 2016 graduate of Lincoln Land Community College with an Associates of Science in Agriculture. He is currently attending Western Illinois University where he is studying agricultural science with minors in agricultural economics and animal science. Taylor is currently a member of the Western Illinois Livestock Judging Team and involved in the Honors College, as well as the Hoof ‘N Horn club.
Taylor is excited about the opportunity to network and get to know purebred breeders across the country and he looks forward to building relationships with these NSR members.
Meet the Staff :: Layna Bond
After my first year of showing in 4-H, I knew my passion for showing pigs would lead me to a career in the swine industry. I grew up on a small family farm, in Galatia, Ill., where we raised and showed pigs at state level. Additionally, I showed cattle at state and national levels. In high school, I was very active and successful in FFA, where I was an officer, competed in CDEs and was named State Star Farmer of Illinois. After high school, I attended Lake Land College, in Mattoon, Ill., where I obtained an Associate of Agriculture. While at Lake Land College, I was a member of the Livestock Judging Team, a Student Ambassador and a member of the Agriculture Transfer Club. Currently, I am a junior at Oklahoma State University majoring in animal science-business with a minor in agricultural economics. I am [ … ]
Meet the Staff :: Brynn Roy
I am currently a sophomore at Purdue University pursuing a degree in Agribusiness Management with a minor in Organizational Leadership. I was born and raised in the stock show world and swine industry. I grew up on a farm in West Lafayette, Ind., where my family raises showpigs and cattle. I started showing cattle when I was eight years old, but after my first year in 4-H my family took an interest in showpigs. My involvement in the industry mainly resides in my participation in the Indiana Junior Swine Circuit. However, as a NJSA member I enjoyed showing at the World Pork Expo. At Purdue University I am currently an active member of Purdue Block and Bridle, as well as Kappa Kappa Gamma Women’s Fraternity. As the NJSA intern, I’m eager to learn the various aspects behind the work put into these events, while continuing [ … ]
2017 NJSA NYLC Speaker :: Jessica Webster
Jessica Webster is from Runnells, Iowa where she grew up showing cattle and hogs, across the country. During her show career, Webster competed in many NJSA events. She is currently a student at Oklahoma State University (OSU) where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural economics. Additionally, Webster is the Data Intern for the Oklahoma Youth Expo. At OSU, she is the president of Block and Bridle and is a member of the Animal Science Leadership Alliance, Alpha Zeta Honorary Fraternity and the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter. Her favorite quote is by John Wooden, “Remember that there is no substitute for hard work and careful planning. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
2017 NJSA NYLC Speaker :: Tyler Norvell
Tyler Norvell is originally from Amber, Okla., where he grew up on a wheat and cattle farm. Norvell was a member of the Butler Community College Livestock Judging Team, and a member of the 2005 Oklahoma State University (OSU) National Champion Livestock Judging Team. After graduating from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, Norvell worked, for six years, as a lobbyist at Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Norvell is currently the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE). In addition to his work with OYE, Norvell operates his own business, Norvell Consulting, where he lobbies for multiple clients in Oklahoma. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Beth, and two daughters, Saylor and Madilyn, who just recently started showing pigs at NJSA events. His favorite quote is, “Know what you don’t know.”
2017 NJSA NYLC Speaker :: Kass Pfeiffer
Kass Pfeiffer is originally from Orlando, Okla. She obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, in animal science, at Oklahoma State University. Currently, Pfeiffer works as the Director of Operations for the Oklahoma Youth Expo. She is also the treasurer for the Diamond Hats Organization, a board member for the Animal Science Alumni Association and a member of the American Angus Association. Pfeiffer is still very involved with her family’s farming operation. Her favorite quote is by Thomas Edison, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
2017 NJSA NYLC Speaker :: Roy Lee Lindsey Jr.
Roy Lee Lindsey Jr. is originally from Cordell, Okla., where he grew up working at his father’s farm equipment dealership and the family farm. The Lindsey family farm consisted of registered Angus cattle, crossbred club calves, wheat and alfalfa. He received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and his master’s degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University. Currently, Lindsey works for the Oklahoma Pork Council. Prior to working for the Oklahoma Pork Council, Lindsey worked as a 4-H Youth Educator in Cleveland County, Okla. and Douglas County, Kan. He is a lifelong supporter of 4-H and FFA programs and has served as the president of the Sirloin Club of Oklahoma and on the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation Board of Directors. Lindsey’s favorite quote is by Harry Truman, “No man should be president who does not understand hogs.”
2017 NJSA NYLC Speaker :: Blayne Arthur
Blayne Arthur is originally from Chickasha, Okla. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Arthur worked as a loan officer. In October 2009, she began working for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, as the Social Media Coordinator and Executive Assistant. Arthur is currently the Executive Director of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, where she focuses on providing support to all Oklahoma 4-H members. Arthur has received numerous awards including her recognition in the 2011 Journal Record Achiever Under 40, as the “2014 Agricultural Women of the Year,” along with the 2016 “Distinguished Service Award,” presented by the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. Arthur enjoys mentoring college students through the American Farmers and Ranchers LEAD program, as well as attending NJSA events with her husband, Jerrod and their children, Kelton and Kennedy. Her favorite quote is by Coco Chanel, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must [ … ]
NJSA Southeast Regional
Perry, Ga. • Jan. 25-29
The NJSA hosted its first regional show of 2017 on January 25-29, in Perry, Ga. The largest of the regional shows, the NJSA Southeast Regional traditionally draws quite a crowd. This year’s show was no exception with 325 exhibitors and 794 pigs traveling to the show from 20 different states. For the first time in the shows history, exhibitors from California enjoyed the Southern hospitality of the Peach State.
This year’s gilt show was evaluated by Blane Olson, Ill.. Olson sorted through 484 head of purebred and crossbred gilts on Friday, January 27. When the dust settled, Savanah Page, Ga., was crowned Champion Crossbred Gilt, while Keaton Woods, Ind., was named reserve champion. In the Overall Purebred Gilt drive, Travis Hamilton, Colo., captured top honors with his Champion Duroc Gilt. The Reserve Grand Champion Overall Purebred Gilt title was awarded to Pierce Woodruff, Iowa, with [ … ]