AJSA Junior Board
The AJSA is lead by a team of nine outstanding individuals. Eligible seats are elected each summer during the Youth Conference by their peers to lead the organization and carry out activities, programs, and events for the association. With the mission to positively impact the leaders of tomorrow and today by committing themselves to the Shorthorn breed, its members, and each other, makes this a tremendous opportunity for learning about teamwork, responsibility and leadership.
PRESIDENT :: Haylee Ferguson
VICE PRESIDENT :: Brayden DeBorde
SECRETARY :: Amanda Smee
PUBLIC RELATIONS :: Mackenlee Evans FUNDRAISING :: Hannah Wetzel
DIRECTOR :: Samantha VanVorhis
DIRECTOR :: Jay Allen
DIRECTOR :: Audrey Robertson
DIRECTOR :: Victoria Thompson
Junior Board Expectations
The AJSA is progressive and ambitious, requiring its Board of Directors to treat their roles as leaders and role models with a high level of commitment. Please always remember that! The following are just some of the expectations that you are to meet during your term on the AJSA Board of Directors.
- You must be at least 17 years of age by January 1, 2025, and no older than 20 years of age by January 1, 2025. Junior Board members will be allowed to finish out term even if they age out of showing.
- Have attended at least 1 Junior Nationals
- Be willing and able to travel independently as required in service to the AJSA and ASA
- Attend and help carry out the ASA and AJSA activities (check-in, make-up ring line-up, ring man duties, etc.) at Jr. Nationals, Louisville, and Denver/Cattlemen’s Congress
- Be willing to help with all functions of AJSA fundraisers, including calling breeders and other individuals for donations.
- Attend the Summit Conference tentatively scheduled for the last week of July every other year at various locations around the country
- Attend Junior Board meetings throughout each year and the Youth Beef Industry Conference in the years ending in an even number (ie. 2022, 2024, etc.)
- Write all articles, letters, thank you notes, emails and other correspondence regularly and on time
- Be willing and able to check email/texts as needed, and respond in a timely fashion
- Seek out and accept the constructive criticism and evaluation of your total performance
- Strive to get AJSA members involved and enthused about AJSA activities and make personal connections with the AJSA members from diverse regions and walks of life
- Maintain and protect your personal health so that you may be of the utmost service to the AJSA and your fellow board members
- Forego public uses of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances at all times during any AJSA or ASA related event during your term of service, regardless of your age
- Avoid places or activities that in any way could raise questions as to one’s moral character or conduct
- Serve as a member of a team, always maintaining a cooperative attitude
- Represent the AJSA, your fellow Board of Directors, and the ASA with the greatest level of excellence, professionalism, and enthusiasm
2025 Junior Board Application – available Jan. 2025
Past Junior Board Presidents and Junior National Shows
Year | Place | State | Dates | Elected President | Town | State | |
1968 | Conference | Louisville | KY | July 22 & 23 | Mark Tracy | Boulder. | CO |
1969 | Conference | Kansas City | MO | June 30 – July 2 | Jerry Arthur | Fletcher | OK |
1970 | Conference | Byers | CO | June 29 – 31 | Ed Kruse | Genoa | NE |
1971 | Conference | Omaha | NE | July 12 – 14 | Sam Ott | Burlington | OK |
1972 | Conference | Northfield | OH | July 7 – 9 | Richard Cone | Camas | WA |
1973 | Conference | Oklahoma City | OK | June 29 – July 1 | Martin Stanley | Kintyre | ND |
Show | Springfield | IL | July 17 | ||||
1974 | Conference | Nashville | TN | June 29 – July 1 | Jerry Nickel | Carmel | IN |
Show | Columbia | MO | 10-Jul | ||||
1975 | Show & Conf | Omaha | NE | July 23 – 25 | Dave Steck | Wataga | IL |
1976 | Show & Conf | Lafayette | IN | June 28 – July 1 | Jack Brooks | Rockwall | TX |
1977 | Conference | Fort Worth | TX | June 14 – 16 | John Gunn | Greenfield | IN |
Show | Des Moines | IA | July 11 – 13 | ||||
1978 | Conference | Kansas City | MO | July 16 – 18 | Rex Tribbett | Linden | IN |
Show | Nashville | TN | July 6 – 8 | ||||
1979 | Conference | Fredericksburg | VA | June 15 – 17 | Rex Tribbett | Linden | IN |
Show | Springfield | IL | July 5 – 7 | ||||
1980 | Conference | Rochester | MN | June 12 – 15 | Ron Alden | Hamilton | MO |
Show | Manhattan | KS | July 15 – 18 | ||||
1981 | Show & Conf | Louisville | KY | July 20 – 24 | Ralph Kaehler | Waldorf | MN |
1982 | Show & Conf | Springfield | MO | July 6 – 10 | Todd Wise | Owaneco | IL |
1983 | Show & Conf | Amarillo | TX | July 7 – 9 | Shad Marston | Canton | KS |
1984 | Show & Conf | Louisville | KY | July 14 – 18 | Gip Gafford | Garden City | TX |
1985 | Show & Conf | Milwaukee | WI | June 29 – July 3 | Rob Johnson | Fredericktown | OH |
1986 | Show & Conf | Stillwater | OK | July 9 – 12 | John Bedwell | Okeene | OK |
1987 | Show & Conf | Terre Haute | IN | July 7 – 10 | Chris Nikkel | Canton | KS |
1988 | Show & Conf | Omaha | NE | July 5 – 9 | Jeff Jordan | Rensselaer | IN |
1989 | Show & Conf | Troy | OH | June 27 – July 1 | Mary K. McFarland | Watertown | SD |
1990 | Show & Conf | Murfreesboro | TN | June 19-23 | Mary K. McFarland | Watertown | SD |
1991 | Show & Conf | Columbia | MO | July 8 – 13 | Doug McAllister | Fresno | OH |
1992 | Show & Conf | Costa Mesa | CA | July 8 – 11 | John Allen III | Saxonburg | PA |
1993 | Show & Conf | Springfield | IL | June 28 – July 2 | Cory Schrag | Marion | SD |
1994 | Show & Conf | Des Moines | IA | June 28 – July 2 | Toby Jordan | Rensselaer | IN |
1995 | Show & Conf | Hutchinson | KS | July 10 – 15 | Brad Good | Barnard | KS |
1996 | Show & Conf | Wichita Falls | TX | June 24 – 29 | Nancy Grathwohl | Powhattan | KS |
1997 | Show & Conf | Lawton | OK | June 23 – 28 | Brad Fahrmeier | Lexington | MO |
1998 | Show & Conf | Louisville | KY | July 6 – 11 | Rachel Williams | Boling | TX |
1999 | Show & Conf | East Lansing | MI | June 21 – 26 | Gina Kruse | Kersey | CO |
2000 | Show & Conf | Kansas City | MO | June 25 – July 1 | Kurt Schwartz | Topeka | KS |
2001 | Show & Conf | Springfield | OH | June 24 – 29 | Tasha Jordan | Sibley | IL |
2002 | Show & Conf | Springfield | IL | June 24 – 29 | Tim Barnes | Mayview | MO |
2003 | Show & Conf | Indianapolis | IN | June 30 – July 5 | Allison Meyer | Greensburg | IN |
2004 | Show & Conf | Sioux Falls | SD | June 28 – July 3 | Sara Hunter | Goodell | IA |
2005 | Show & Conf | Harrisburg | PA | June 28 – July 2 | Jaime Brown | Elgin | OK |
2006 | Show & Conf | Des Moines | IA | June 19 – June 24 | Jake Alden | Hamilton | MO |
2007 | Show & Conf | Lawton | OK | June 4 – 9 | Alicia Stover | Binger | OK |
2008 | Show & Conf | Kansas City | MO | June 30 – July 5 | Ben Warfield | Marriottsville | MD |
2009 | Show & Conf | Springfield | IL | June 29-July 4 | Callyn Hahn | Watseka | IL |
2010 | Show & Conf | East Lansing | MI | June 21-June 26 | Brenda Sisung | St Johns | MI |
2011 | Show & Conf | Indianapolis | IN | June 27-July 2 | Emily Moore | Jerseyville | IL |
2012 | Show & Conf | Grand Island | NE | June 25-June 20 | Karl Miller | Prophetstown | IL |
2013 | Show & Conf | Des Moines | IA | June 24-29 | Ashley Vogel | Hartley | IA |
2014 | Show & Conf | Louisville | KY | June 23-28 | Dustin Smith | Decorah | IA |
2015 | Show & Conf | Grand Island | NE | June 20-25 | Haley Alden | Hamilton | MO |
2016 | Show & Conf | St. Paul | MN | July 2-7 | Mitchell Smith | Pendleton | IN |
2017 | Show & Conf | Tulsa | OK | July 3-8 | Zach Fanning | Chestnut | IL |
2018 | Show & Conf | Madison | WI | June 26 – July 1 | Jake Nikkel | McPherson | KS |
2019 | Show & Conf | Lebanon | TN | June 17 – 22 | Kane Aegerter | Seward | NE |
2020 | Show & Conf | Abilene | TX | June 21 – 27 | Lexi Wetzel | Faribault |
MN |
2021 | Show & Conf | Louisville | KY | June 20 – 26 | Korbin Collins | Flanagan | IL |
2022 | Show & Conf | Kansas City | MO | June 19-25 | Faye Smith | Newton | KS |
2023 | Show & Conf | Des Moines | IA | June 18-24 | Xavier Ferris | IN | |
2024 | Show & Conf | Timonium | MD | June 15-22 | Haylee Ferguson | TN |