RENO, Nev. — The American Angus Auxiliary elected new officers and directors at the 2019 Angus Convention in Reno, Nevada, during the annual meeting. Gina Hope, Berryville, Virginia, takes the helm as president with Pam Velisek, Fairplay, Maryland, the president-elect, Deanna Hofing, Westville, Indiana, as secretary/treasurer, and Cindy Ahearn, Wills Point, Texas, as advisor.
“I hope to bring more members into the Auxiliary to achieve our mission of supporting youth and promoting the breed,” Hope said. “We want to strengthen the committee members with former NJAA members, and we have a few chairing committees this year. The fresh ideas will be much appreciated.”
Hope grew up in Vienna, Virginia, just 10 miles outside of Washington D.C., and after graduating high school, she moved to Clarke County, Virginia, where she currently resides. After her daughter, Catie, started showing Angus in 4-H and FFA, Hope joined her on junior activities trips and supported her when she competed for Miss American Angus. She started as a regional director before being elected president-elect in 2018.
New American Angus Auxiliary directors were also elected. The newly elected regional directors are: Julie Thelen Conover, Holden, Missouri, Region 4; Valerie Trowbridge, Meshoppen, Pennsylvania, Region 6; and Rebecca Knott, Laotto, Indiana, Region 5. They join Cindy Worthington, Waterford, California, Region 1; Vivian Wolf, Windhorst, Texas, Region 2; and Marya Haverkamp, Bern, Kansas, Region 3, who were elected last year. The regional directors serve two-year terms.
“I’m excited about working with the team we have for another year of having fun and getting our work done,” Hope said.
The Auxiliary also awarded Nancy Thelen the 2019 Distinguished Woman Award during the annual Auxiliary Breakfast. Throughout her life, she has been focused on youth within the agricultural community, stressing youth development.
“It’s been said she is the only one in her state to have served as president of the National Junior Angus Association, president of the state Angus Auxiliary, and the state Angus Association,” said Leslie Mindemann, Distinguished Woman committee chair, during the breakfast. “And [she is] the only woman to have presided over the adult organization.”
Thelen has led numerous committees; served as secretary/treasurer, president-elect, president and advisor; as the Auxiliary go-to historian; and has served the past ten years as finance chairman. Thelen also was Miss American Angus in 1970-71.
The award is given to an American Angus Auxiliary member who has served in various capacities to further the goals of the Auxiliary. Recipients have proven to be long-time champions of the organization. They have devoted time as officers, committee members and many other roles all for the betterment of the Auxiliary. Since 1960, 27 have received this award.
The American Angus Auxiliary works with the American Angus Associationâ and the National Junior Angus Association to promote youth, education and the Angus breed.
American Angus Auxiliary
For over sixty years, the American Angus Auxiliary has been working with the American Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association to promote youth and the Angus breed. The American Angus Auxiliary has worked to develop a number of educational and promotional programs to benefit everyone involved in the Angus industry. The American Angus Auxiliary presents more than $10,000 in scholarships, each year, to ten young men and women involved in the Angus industry. As a member of the American Angus Auxiliary, you can play an important role by working to promote our youth and the Angus industry, meet the challenges of today’s society and work toward developing our Angus youth into tomorrow’s leaders. The American Angus Auxiliary offers individuals interested in the welfare of the Angus breed the opportunity to work together to provide educational, promotional and social programs and activities.
–Written by Rachel Robinson, Angus Communications
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