Elections

Brief Bio: I have served as the UNH Dairy Club president for two terms and in that time have played a large roll in planning and executing my school's hosting of NESA (the Northeast Regional SAD-ADSA). I have very strong time management skills and am very good and getting tasks done or delegating them to the right people to get the job done.

Why serve: I want to serve as an ADSA SAD officer because I want represent my school at the national level and I want to take my involvement in ADSA to a greater level having first served as a local club president. In addition, I really enjoyed my time at the last SAD meeting and the activities that were put on for students and so in my senior year I want to be a part of the team that helps organize and run these events for the next group of attending students.

Brief Bio: I have been a part of the Dairy Community for as long I can remember having grown up on a small 200 cow robotic dairy farm in Central Virginia. I became more involved in agriculture when I joined the 4-H dairy club in my county. I was able to compete in state and regional dairy competitions like Dairy Quiz-bowl and the Junior Dairyman’s contest. Once I reached High School, I joined our FFA Chapter where I was able to compete in public speaking contests about precision agriculture. Having developed a passion for agriculture over the years, I am now moving through the next chapter of my life that is Virginia Tech. Here I am majoring in Agricultural Science with minors in Agribusiness and Leadership and Social Change. At school, I am a member of the Dairy club serving as chairman for committees such as the 2021 International Trip, and Milkshake Sales at Hokie football games. I am also involved in other campus organizations like Collegiate Young farmers where I help bring agriculture to today's youth. After graduation, I intend to continue doing this through Cooperative Extension as a 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent. To reach this goal I have worked to make connections in Virginia Extension and am currently interning at the Albemarle/ Charlottesville Office. In addition to this, I am still actively working on my family’s farm with most of my focus on Calf and Heifer management as well as working on a Dairy Goat farm in Charlottesville, VA where I have been able to learn about an entirely different area of the Dairy Industry that I would’ve otherwise never experienced. I am currently the President of the Southern Regional ADSA-SAD and hope to serve on the National Officer team as well.

Why serve: I would like to serve as an ADSA-SAD Officer to give students networking opportunities. At last year's National Meeting I was able to meet people who have directly influenced what my career goals are today, and I want the opportunity for other students to have that same experience. I believe ADSA is a great place to learn more about Dairy but more importantly, it puts a face to the Dairy Community that we all know and love. As an officer, I would first make the students’ connections a priority, both with each other and with other people within the dairy industry. This will not only provide opportunities to meet potential employers/coworkers but also give the students a glimpse into the life of each member of the complex Dairy Community. Next, I want to make sure there is plenty of time allotted for students to learn more from presenters at the conference. There are new studies and dairy practices being developed every day and the National ADSA Conference is a place where people can get that knowledge directly from its source. Lastly, I would like to use the position as a platform to reach more people interested in dairy through different communication channels like Social Media. I hope that you consider me for an ADSA officer position for the coming year.

Brief Bio: I grew up in Burke County, Georgia where dairy farming is not uncommon. I was involved in commercial heifer projects all four years of high school and spent some time working on one of the local dairies as well. I was also avidly involved in our FFA chapter and marching band. Now I am a senior at the University of Georgia studying Avian Biology with an Animal Science minor. Although my major is in a different department, I have been much more involved in the Animal and Dairy Science Department at UGA during my undergraduate career. In my dairy science club, I have been a member of the registered dairy show team for three years, served as club president during my junior year, and will be spending my senior year as the chair for both our Commercial Dairy Heifer Show and Registered Dairy Show team. I also had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the UGA Dairy Cattle Evaluation Team this past year. In addition to this, I have been a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority on campus where I have served as a committee chair for 7 semesters and helped plan and facilitate several events.

Why serve: Although I did not grow up on a dairy farm as many ADSA SAD members did, a love for this industry was instilled in me very early in my life. Everything about the dairy industry and the community of people I have met within it is so special to me. I believe that serving as an ADSA SAD national officer would give me a spectacular opportunity to meet the individuals who are the future of this industry and share my undeniable passion for it.

Brief Bio: Faith, family and farming has been the basis of my family’s heritage for generations. At a young age, I became interested in the daily operation of my family’s dairy farm in Northeast Iowa. As I got older, I asked for more responsibilities and asked numerous questions to broaden my knowledge. Throughout my development, I realized that this industry is not only my past, but it is my future. Currently, I am a junior at Iowa State University working to triple major in Dairy Science, Agriculture Communications and International Agriculture. After my college graduation in May of 2022, I anticipate working for a regional or national dairy checkoff organization where I gauge consumer interest, loyalty and trust in dairy products and farming practices. Ultimately, I would like to return as the fourth generation on my family’s dairy farm to start an on-farm creamery and agrotourism business to educate consumers first-hand where their food comes from. During my time in the Dairy Science Club at Iowa State, I have been able to assist in the planning of the Midwest Regional ADSA-SAD Conference in marketing and promotion, serve on the officer team, work alongside alumni, engage with prospective club members and so much more. From all of this, I found I have the needed qualities to serve as a National ADSA-SAD officer such as being inclusive, passionate and a maximizer. With these assets at hand, I promise to make sure all students’ needs are heard. I hope to share my passion with each member and prospective members so they can know the opportunities of the dairy community. Lastly, I know, especially in times like these, that not everything goes as wanted. I hope to bring my positive mindset and find new routes for students to continue to grow professionally within the National ASDA-SAD.

Why serve: We are incredibly fortunate to be among a group of people with a vast array of interests. Of course, we all hold a special place in our hearts for the dairy cow, but we all have a different pathway for our future. This organization encompasses many students with different backgrounds, perspectives on dairy and desired careers of the industry. As a National ADSA-SAD officer, I hope to be able to provide the necessary resources for each member. From attending ADSA conferences and industry tours provided by the Dairy Science Club at Iowa State, I found that we need to be more inclusive. With this position, I hope to work with professionals across the country to conduct interviews and collect knowledge on their job position. I want to create a space where members can go and search for career options in hopes they can find something that suits what they want in their future. Besides being able to help connect students to professionals, I hope to create more interaction between chapters. Being that we are all across the country, each chapter has unique aspects to showcase. From on-campus creameries to nearby dairy companies, each club has something they are able to share with another. During my time as an ADSA-SAD officer, I want to help strengthen interactions among universities so students can be more aware of opportunities and resources. Being able to serve as a National ADSA-SAD officer, I am determined to implement my ideas and the ideas of other members. In this position, I know that I can help each student feel welcomed and assure them they are in the right place. The dairy industry needs the bright minds of our students and I am proud to be able to help all members find their place.

Brief Bio: My name is Rose Vaughan, I’m from Pittsboro, NC. I am a senior at NC State in Animal Science with a minor is Extension Education. Apart from my classes, I’m very involved in the Animal Science program through several facets. I was the Treasurer of the Dairy Science Club for the 2019-2020 school year where I ran the fundraising committee, organized fundraising events, applied for club funds, and budgeted the club’s funds. I am now serving as the Vice President for the Dairy Science Club for the school year 2020-2021. I also regularly volunteer at the Dairy Educational Unit to feed calves and milk in the parlor. Additionally, I worked at the Swine Educational Unit for a year. I gained experience in pork production on all levels including breeding, gestation, farrowing, nursery pigs, and finishing. I look forward to using my education and experiences to pursue career in the Extension Industry with a focus on livestock.

Why serve: I want to be an officer because I want to get more involved in the dairy industry. I think this will be a good opportunity to learn and build off of what I’ve learned in my classes. Being an officer will also connect me to other professionals and give me resources for my future career. Networking will be crucial for a career in Livestock Extension because the industry is always searching for new material and research. Having these connections with help me in my personal career as well as support the relationship between the research in the dairy industry and the teaching of Extension agents to the public. Even more, being an officer will strengthen the soft skills I’ve begun to develop as an officer for the NC State Dairy Science Club. As the previous treasurer, I have experience in all of the inner workings of the clubs. I was part of almost every event as the card holder and budgeting person. This taught me responsibility, accountability, and management skills. Being an officer at the national level will be a great chance to develop those skills and others further. I look forward becoming more involved in the dairy industry through ADSA-SAD!

Brief Bio: As the fourth generation on my family' dairy farm, located in central Pennsylvania, I feel as though I have a variety of experiences and qualifications that will allow me to be successful in an ADSA-SAD officer position. Growing up on a dairy farm allowed me to discover my true love and passion for the dairy industry at a young age. Along with working on my family’s 400-cow commercial operation, I have also been heavily involved in a variety of show herds across the northeast. Working with herds such as Heart & Soul Holsteins has given me an opportunity to see a different side of the industry than what I was raised on. This herd also gave me the opportunity to travel to shows all across the country. Along with being active on a variety of on farm activities, I have also been heavily involved in the Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Association, the nation’s largest junior breed association, and have served as President and Vice-President of this group. I have also been honored in recent years to be recognized as a Holstein Distinguished Junior Member Finalist as well as being awarded the Judi Collinsworth award at the Premier National Junior Show. Finally, being involved in the Penn State Dairy Science Club has taught me many great skills such as the importance of teamwork and communications. I am the sale chair for the 2020 Nittany Lion Fall Classic sale and have held other leadership roles. These positions have allowed me to work with a wide variety of students with different backgrounds and personalities to achieve common goals. I have also attended our regional ADSA student meetings for the past couple of years and greatly enjoyed visiting and interacting with students from other universities.

Why serve: If I were to be fortunate enough to serve as an officer for the Student Affiliate Division of ADSA, I would be absolutely thrilled and honored. My love for the dairy industry has always been strong, but in recent years, I felt the passion that I have for the industry growing exponentially. As I have become older, I have had the opportunity to meet many new people who share the same interests as myself, all looking to support and promote nature’s most perfect product. Making more connections with people directly involved in the dairy industry is something that I am always searching for, and this would give me an incredible opportunity to connect with students from across the nation who are young dairy enthusiasts sharing the same goals, motivations, and passions as I have. Throughout my life, I have found that connections made through the industry are so much stronger; the dairy industry truly brings people together and I feel as though one of these positions would give me an incredible opportunity to form new relationships with students from across the nation. An officer position would give me a chance to work with and learn from some of the best students and industry leaders in the business to enhance the Student Affiliate Division. We could do this by continuing currently successful programs while incorporating new ideas and improvements. In closing, I would be thrilled if I were to be elected to an officer position and would give it my absolute best effort and attention.