Junior Board

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 :: Xavier Ferris
VICE PRESIDENT :: Merideth Behrens
SECRETARY :: Amanda Smee
PUBLIC RELATIONS :: Haylee Ferguson
FUNDRAISING :: Brayden DeBorde 
DIRECTOR :: Ryan Lane
DIRECTOR :: Samantha VanVorhis
DIRECTOR :: Mackenlee Evans
DIRECTOR :: Hannah Wetzel

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, 2024, and no older than 20 years of age by January 1, 2024. 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

2024 Junior Board Application

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