Officers and directors of the USJersey organizations were elected during the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) held June 29 through July 2, 2016 in San Diego, Calif.
Chris Sorenson, Pine River, Wis., was re-elected to a fifth one-year term as President of the American Jersey Cattle Association on July 1. Sorenson is a partner in Hillview Jersey Farm, a family corporation encompassing 850 acres and a Registered Jersey™ herd enrolled on REAP, the AJCA’s comprehensive service package that includes registration, Equity milk marketing support, type appraisal, and performance testing. As AJCA Director from 2007 to 2012, he served on the Finance, Registration, Breed Improvement and Executive committees. He was co-chair of the National Heifer Sale in 1987 and again in 2011, when it was an all-donation event benefiting Jersey Youth Academy. Sorenson is in his fifteenth year as Town of Leon chairman, and was recently re-elected to the local school board.
Sam Bok, Defiance, Ohio, was elected to a second three-year term as AJCA Director from the Fourth District. He and wife Julie own and operate Boks Jersey Farm, a 400-cow Registered Jersey™ herd enrolled in AJCA’s REAP program. He has been a delegate for the board of COBA/Select Sires. Bok represented Defiance County on the Farm Service Agency for nine years, also serving on the board and as president of Defiance Landmark Inc.
Walter Owens, Frederic, Wis., was also elected to a second term as Director from the Seventh District. Owens along with his wife, Joyce; brothers, Wilfred and Roger; children, Brandon, Jeff, and Michelle; and nephews, Steven and Doug, and their families own and operate Owens Farms Inc. The 650-cow Registered Jersey™ herd is enrolled on REAP. Owens is currently a member of the Jersey sire committee for Select Sires Inc., and previously served on the Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s Dairy 20/20 Initiative advisory group.
Thomas L. Seals, Beaver, Ore., was re-elected as AJCA Director from the Tenth District. With his wife Jennie and son Coltan, he operates Legendairy Farms LLC, a 300-cow Registered Jersey™ herd enrolled on REAP. Tom was a member of the AJCA Type Advisory Committee from 2006 to 2010. He has served on the board of the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and as president of the Oregon Jersey Cattle Association. Tom is currently a board member of Tillamook County DHIA and Tillamook County Creamery Association.
A. Russell, Hilmar, Calif., was elected to a second term as AJCA Director from the Twelfth District. Russell and his wife, Kirsten, own and operate Yosemite Jersey Dairy, a 2,300-cow Registered Jersey™ dairy enrolled in AJCA’s REAP program. They also are partners with family members in Clauss Dairy Farms-Dalhart (CDFD) and CDFD-Exum Calf Ranch near Dalhart, Texas. C. A. currently serves on the boards of Hilmar Cheese Company and the California Jersey Cattle Association. He has been a member of the AJCA Type Advisory Committee and is a past-president of the Merced County DHIA.
Chairs of standing committees for 2016-17 are Walter Owens, Finance; Corey Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C., Breed Improvement; Edward Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Development; and Phil Gordon, Syracuse, Ind., Information Technology & Identification. Owens will also serve as Vice President for the coming year.
National All-Jersey Inc.
Following the Annual Meeting of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) on June 30, David Endres, Lodi, Wis., was elected to continue as president by the Board of Directors. James S. Huffard III, Crockett, Va., was re-elected as Director from District #5 and also as NAJ Vice President. Michael Wickstrom, Hilmar, Calif., will continue to serve as Finance Chair.
The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868, compiles and maintains animal identification and performance data on Jersey cattle and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater profitability. Since 1957, National All-Jersey Inc. has provided services that increase the value of and demand for Jersey milk and milk products and Registered Jersey™ cattle and genetics. For more information on AJCA and NAJ services for dairy business owners, visit the website at HERE or connect at facebook.com/USJersey.