Following are Candidate Biographies for the upcoming 2013 ARBA Board Election:

2013 Candidates for President

Ron Andress
My name is Ron Andress and I would like to continue as your ARBA President. My wife Sue and I have been raising Romney sheep for 20 years. We live in southeastern Pennsylvania. When our three sons were young, I volunteered as a 4-H leader for many years. I worked as a coach for our county livestock judging team. I am president of the Bucks-Montgomery Wool Pool Co-op. This pool serves eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

During the past seven years I have had the pleasure to serve on the ARBA Board of Directors. I have served as a chairman for the Youth, By-laws, National Sale, and many nominating committees. As President, during the last two years I have tried to work as consensus builder. The result has been that the Board is working well in a business-like manner.

The ARBA Board works for you, the membership. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact myself or your Regional Director. I encourage all of you to be active in ARBA and please take the time to vote.

Allison Seyfert
My name is Allison Seyfert and I live on a farmette in Maryland where we raise pigs, market lambs, and purebred Romneys, both white and natural colored. It all began back in the spring of 1995 when my mother got my sister and me a crossbred bottle lamb in memory of my father who passed away the previous summer. He was a veterinarian and it was always his dream to have a farm with animals and be involved with 4-H youth and the community.

In 1999, I bought my first Romney to show in the 4-H fairs. I chose the Romney breed for their quiet temperament, resistance to foot rot, high quality carcasses, and lustrous fleece. Having aged out of 4-H, I still exhibit in open shows, but I find the most joy in teaching others and leasing my Romneys to youth. Now, my main focus is the future of the Romney breed and encouraging new breeders, especially today’s youth.

While studying Animal Science at the University of Delaware, I kept only a small flock, but now I am growing my flock and ready to get more involved in shows, the Association, and the future of our breed. Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the ARBA President.

2013 Candidates for Vice President

Charlene Carlisle
My name is Charlene Carlisle and have been serving as Vice President of ARBA for the past two years. As the incumbant, I would like to continue to represent the membership in this capacity. I live in NJ with my husband, where we operate Little Hooves Romneys. We have raised Romneys for 20 years and have been farmers for 30+ years. We usually lamb out 90 to 100 ewes and grow crops on about 350 acres. Currently we sell breeding livestock, fine table cuisine to local restaurants, specialty stores and farmers’ market, as well as, wool products and pelts.

As in the past, I continue to recognize the importance of our youth and the part they play in our Association. I have been active in fund raising by donating a ewe lamb and a quilt for raffle with 100% of the funds going to the All American Jr. Show and NAILE Jr. Show. I feel strongly that these youth shows are important to promote our breed and keep us in the public eye.

Marketing is very important, it is what changes the dynamics, regardless if it’s a hobby or a business. Romneys with all of their attributes should be promoted in order to maximize their potential. Niche markets are easily attainable and can flourish when properly managed.

As an active ARBA member for many years, I would like to continue to promote Romneys by serving as VP. If you have similar goals, please show your support by casting your vote.

Carol Pasheilich
I am running for Vice President and I am asking for your vote. As Director-at-Large since 2007, my main focus has been to promote the Romney breed as the dual purpose sheep. As Chair of the Promotions Committee I have successfully facilitated the placement of ads in festival directories, full color ads in national sheep publications and provided ARBA banners for shows. Your vote will allow me to continue that focus.

My positions as Director-at-Large and Chair of the Promotions Committee has provided me another important interest: guaranteeing a voice for and a recognition of the small breeder. Most of ARBA’s membership have many accomplishments with their flocks and their farm’s endeavors. These accomplishments need public recognition and sharing with other members. Remember “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

I believe those elected to office have a responsibility to the membership: to make the organization the best it can be for each member and for our sheep. Start the process. Please vote for me!

2013 Candidates for Director-at-Large

Scott Culver
Hello my name is Scott Culver and I am running for ARBA Director-at-Large. As many of you know I was raised with Romneys. My earliest memories are of napping on the hay bales in the sheep barn of our county fair as my Dad was busy getting sheep ready for the show ring. I have continued with the family sheep venture raising and showing both white and natural colored Romneys. When my daughter joined the association I decided to become more actively involved in ARBA and ORBA (Oregon Romney Breeders Association). I am the current Region 4 Director. During my term of office I have acted as Chairman of the Policies & Procedure Committee, Chairman of the By-Laws Committee, and a member of the Nominations Committee.

During my term of office as Region 4 Director I have acted as chairman of the ARBA Policy and Procedures Committee. This committee recently made necessary changes in the New Members Form. I am currently serving on the nomination committee, along with the Policy and Procedures committee we created guidelines for interested members wanting to volunteer for an ARBA position on the Board of Directors. I’ve also chaired the ARBA By-Laws Committee for the past two years. By-Laws review is a continuing process.

During 2012 I chaired the Region 4 ARBA Centennial Celebration held at the Oregon State Fair. Our Centennial Celebration included a very successful sheep and wool show. A successful Youth Show with around 40 Romneys being shown by 7 kids. We held our Meet & Greet, Banquet, and membership meeting at the old Mission Mill in Salem, Oregon, a woolen mill of the World War II era.

My Region 4 members know me as an avid promoter of both natural colored and white Romneys as the dual purpose breed I believe them to be, with emphases on their meat, wool, twins, and mothering instincts. I’m also an avid promoter of encouraging youth to raise Romneys. If elected as an ARBA Director-at-Large, I will continue to work for you in all of these areas.

Anne McIntyre-Lahner
I have been raising registered Romneys since 1999; like most members, I own a small flock.

As an ARBA member I ran the National Show opening reception (2005), the Wool Nook at Rhinebeck (2008); as District Director (2009-2011) ran a District Show and a National Show, served on the Nominating Committee, and served on the Bylaws Committee.

I don’t bring a family legacy or a lifetime of shepherding to the table; but I bring many years of organizational experience, including serving on numerous boards, strategic planning, coordinating volunteers, judging fiber departments, running sheep shows and fleece sales, 15 years as a 4-H leader, and helping to establish my state’s first agricultural commission.

I am extremely committed to promoting our breed standard and the dual purpose of Romneys; improving ARBA’s functioning; and understanding and meeting members’ needs.

I believe the Director-at-Large job description should include helping District Directors run shows, sub-committee work, and addressing organization-wide issues. If elected, I will work hard and be fair. I don’t “go along to get along”, or vote with my friends. I believe in saying what needs to be said in a respectful way that encourages discussion and problem-solving.

Thank you.

2013 Candidates for District 1 Director

Hilary Chapin
It is a pleasure to serve you as your District 1 Director to ARBA. I am truly proud to be amongst so many strong breeders in our district. The youth in our region always amaze me with their enthusiasm and hard work. Over the last two years I have been an active participant in the Advertising and Youth Committees and have recently started an education committee. The Education Committee will work to help new Romney breeders, youth, and judges broaden their knowledge of our dual purpose breed. I helped organize the ARBA centennial celebration in Oregon, it was great to travel and meet breeders from the West Coast. Locally, I help organize the NH Sheep and Wool Festival as the vendor co-chair. I still feel that focusing on the complete Romney is where our interests need to be. A complete Romney has the fleece, has the carcass, can compete in the show ring and raises twins on her own. The complete Romney makes us as breeders proud but also makes them desirable to new breeders. I would be honored to serve District 1 as your Director if I have earned your vote. Thank you, Hilary Chapin.

Melissa Cunningham
[bio not available]

2013 Candidates for District 3 Director

John Shelton
Hi, my name is John Shelton from Illinois. I have been involved in raising sheep since 1975. We have had several meat breeds over the years and now for the last 12 years we have raised Romneys. We strive to produce Romneys that are competitive in the show ring, produce high quality fleeces, and are profitable as a commercial meat breed. I have served two terms previously as a Regional Director for ARBA. If elected again, I will support any existing shows and events in my region as well as look for new venues to promote the Romney breed. I believe the job of a director is to help and support not only those that raise Romneys to show, but also anyone that is interested in our breed for the wool and fiber aspects, or any other reason as well. Since our breed is truly a dual purpose breed we need to look at as many ways to promote the breed as possible. I would appreciate your confidence in me as your region 3 director.

Respectfully, John Shelton

Willis Plank
American Romney Breeders Members,

Hello, my name is Willis Plank and I reside in Hillsdale, Michigan with my wife Chris and our two children Ethan (13) and Caitlin (11).

I have been involved with the purebred sheep industry all my life. My parents Oscar and Paula Plank of Crystal, Michigan, have been raising purebred sheep since before I was born and continue to raise purebred sheep to this day. Growing up I was always involved in showing sheep. I have spent many years showing in 4-H and FFA at our county fair, other county fairs, as well as our state fair. When I was too old for 4-H and FFA I still continued to exhibit sheep at national shows including The North American International Livestock Exposition. I truly enjoy raising, breeding, shearing and feeding sheep.

I attended Michigan State University and received a degree in the two-year Ag Business program and also expanding my education by taking courses in the Animal Science program. While at MSU I was involved in the Block and Bridle Club and held several office positions for three years. I was also a live-in, student employee at the Purebred Sheep Barn on campus for three years.

I have been employed by a livestock marketing company, livestock feed company and a dairy cattle semen company all in Michigan, all in the sale area.

My family and I have two small flocks of purebred sheep that is slowly growing each year. In addition to the sheep we also raise show rabbits. Currently we have approx. 300 head. We show the rabbits all year long and try and attend the ARBA National Convention each year. With my involvement in the rabbits, I have held many positions with different clubs and organizations. I have served the Vice President of the Michigan State Rabbit Breeders Association for 3 years. I also sit on the Show Rules Committee within the American Rabbit Breeders Association. I have held an American Rabbit Breeders Assoc. rabbit registrar’s license for 10 years and an ARBA rabbit judge’s license for 6 years. In 2011 we started a rabbit supply and cage business to help serve the rabbit breeders need in Michigan.

When I was growing up, I never had the opportunity to exhibit sheep as much as today’s youth do. That is why I like to stay involved with the youth programs. We need to keep the youth involved and excited to keep the sheep business thriving.

If elected to the board, I feel I can bring fresh ideas to the association, while working for the membership to move the association forward. That is why I am asking you to vote for me for District Director. Thank you for taking the time to consider me to be a part of the Romney Board.

2013 Candidates for District 5 Director

Karen Leback
I am Karen Leback and I am running for the Director of District 5 (Pacific). This is my first time running for office, but I have owned Romney sheep since 1977. We started with just a few sheep and eventually got up to 45. We are now down to 15 white Romneys. My children were active in showing Romneys in 4-H until they graduated from school. Now my grandchildren are interested in the Romney sheep. I believe that only through supporting the younger generation do you keep the Romney sheep strong.

Al Schwider
Al Schwider would be honored to serve as a District 5 ARBA Representative. Al’s goals would be to encourage members in the production and improvement of purebred Romneys and to provide information and support in their endeavors.

Al and his wife Lin have been raising, showing and promoting Romneys for 34 years. Currently, they have a flock of about 45 White and NC Romney ewes. Al has had extensive experience in animal selection, feeding, breeding, shearing, health management, showing and marketing. They both have participated in seminars and workshops on these subjects. They sell feeder lambs, butcher lambs and breeding stock both locally and across the U.S. and Canada. They sell their wool to a wide market: the commercial market, dyed roving and batts to handspinners and wholesale buyers, and limited amounts of yarn.

Al also has extensive experience in participation and leadership in various sheep related organizations:

• Past ARBA Representative
• Past President, and currently, Treasurer of the Western Washington Sheep and Fleece Shows, Inc.
• Current District Representative of the Washington State Sheep Producers
• Current Board Member of the Puget Sound Purebred Sheep Producers
• Current Manger of both the Washington State FFA Spring Fair and Fall Exhibition.

Al has a BS degree from OSU in Zoology and has over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry in materials and processes engineering and management.

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