American Gelbvieh Junior Association Elects Board of Directors

Photo caption: These individuals will serve the American Gelbvieh Junior Association as their Board of Directors for the 2014-2015 year. (Seated from L to R) President Grace Hammer, Wallace, Kan.; Vice President Michael Ring, Oregon, Ill.; Vice President of Leadership Development Tiana Garcia, Las Animas, Colo.; Secretary Sydney Bigger, Media, Ill.; Treasurer Kelsey Shelley, Hillsboro, Ohio; (Standing from L to R) Kyle Vehige, Bonnets Mill, Mo.; Tanner Aherin, Phillipsburg, Kan.; Callahan Grund, Sharon Springs, Kan.; Carter Mitchell, Appleton City, Mo.; and Ex-Officio Van Tucker, Portis, Kan.

The American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) elected four members to serve on their Board of Directors for the 2014-2015 year. The election took place at the 2014 AGJA Barnyard Classic junior national show in Sioux Falls, S.D., on July 2. Elections for the 2014-2015 officers were also held the same day. 

The AGJA Board of Directors consists of nine junior members and one ex-officio member. Directors serve two-year terms and must be 16 years of age as of January 1, and may not have reached his or her 20^th birthday as of January 1. 

Newly elected directors are: Tanner Aherin, Phillipsburg, Kan., son of Dennis and Joyce Aherin; Chisum Grund, Sharon Springs, Kan., son of Jerry and Christy Grund; and Kyle Vehige, Bonnets Mill, Mo., son of Tom and Stacy Vehige. 

Michael Ring, Oregon, Ill., nephew of Skyler and Annette Martin was re-elected to a second term. 

Grace Hammer, Wallace, Kan., daughter of Lyle and Christy Hammer, was re-elected as AGJA president. Ring was voted to serve another year as vice president.    

Elected as vice president of leadership development was Tiana Garica, Las Animas, Colo., daughter of Keith and Teresa Garcia. Sydney Bigger, Media, Ill., daughter of Barry and Jody Bigger was voted as secretary. Kelsey Sheeley, Hillsboro, Ohio, daughter of Tim and Karen Sheeley was selected as the Association treasurer. Carter Mitchell, Appleton City, Mo., son of Kevin and Debbie Mitchell will continue to serve as AGJA director. 

Van Tucker, Portis, Kan., son of Gregg and Sandi Tucker, will continue to serve on the AGJA Board as ex-officio. Van has served on the Board of Directors for four years and most recently as AGJA secretary. 

“My favorite attribute of the AGJA is all the great people I have been fortunate enough to meet. Through our association, I have made connections both inside and outside of the breed that I know will last a lifetime,” said Hammer. “It has been an awesome experience getting to serve as a leader on our junior board, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for both our members and breed of cattle.”

The American Gelbvieh Junior Association serves more than 500 members nationally. The vision of the AGJA is to unify, educate, and develop leaders of the beef industry. To learn more about Gelbvieh or the American Gelbvieh Junior Association visit www.gelbiveh.org or call 303-465-2333. 

###