At its recent annual meeting the National Dairy Shrine appointed two new board members and welcomed new leadership to the Board of Directors.
The person who will lead the organization as President in 2026 is Jodi Hoynoski of Gill, Massachusetts. Jodi grew up on Lost Elm Farm in Berlin, Wisconsin and has spent 20 plus years of her career at Holstein Association USA, the world’s largest dairy breed organization. She is currently Holstein Association USA Strategic Projects Manager and Holstein Foundation Programs Director where she enjoys leading the renowned Young Dairy Leaders Institute.
The organization also selected Jason Johnson of Northwood, New Hampshire as its president elect. Jason is currently serving as Director of Farm Relationship and Procurement for Lactalis USA, but spent the first 20 years of his career managing dairy operations around the United States and Canada before moving back to New England to pursue a career in processor/producer relations. His primary responsibilities are to lead work on animal welfare, farm sustainability, direct supply procurement strategy and logistics for Lactalis’ nationwide direct supply network. Jason and his family also own a small herd of registered Jerseys, where they raise breeding stock under his grandparent’s original prefix – Johnsonacres. Besides serving as a director of National Dairy Shrine, he is also a director of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
Joining the board of directors are Sarah Thomas and Lauren Breunig. Sarah Thomas is a North Carolina native that now calls the Buckeye State of Ohio her home. After earning her bachelor degree in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech, Sarah earned her master degree in Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership from The Ohio State University. She now serves as a Product Support Analyst at Select Sires, Inc. where she supports the company’s mating software program, Select Mating Service (SMS). Outside of work, Sarah enjoys being an advisor for the Ohio Junior Holstein Association, is an assistant coach to Ohio State’s dairy judging team, and judging shows.
Lauren Breunig is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who hails from her family’s dairy in Sauk City, Wisconsin. She is majoring in Life Sciences Communication and has been active on campus with the Badger Dairy Club, the Association for Women in Agriculture, National Agri-Marketing Association and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Lauren is the fourth student to become a member of the National Dairy Shrine Board of Directors.
