American Goat Federation names 3 new directors

The American Goat Federation added three new directors at the Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., on January 26. They are:

Matthew Hayes, who is from a livestock background and works as a livestock buyer of specialty products at Superior Farms. As a member of the judging team at San Joaquin Delta College, he was awarded the National Champion High Individual and he and his teammates were named the 2004 National Champion Judging Team. He and his wife, Emmalee, operate M&E Livestock where they run a small flock of registered Southdown ewes as well as a small herd of Boer does.

Elizabeth Henning of Springfield Oaks Saanens in Arizona began raising dairy goats in 1979 and has also raised percentage Boers. The dairy herd has been classified/appraised every year since 1986, and has produced many animals excelling in both production and type. Betty is a life member of the American Dairy Goat Association, has been a licensed ADGA judge since 1991 and a linear appraiser since 1993. She is an ADGA director and has been an active member of many ADGA committees over the past 30+ years. She currently chairs the Genetic Advancement and History committees and serves as a member of the ADGA Executive Committee. She also has been a member of and judge for the United States Boer Goat Association.

Lary Duncan managed Able Acres Boer Goats for several years. He is the CEO of the American Boer Goat Association, which he represents on the AGF board. He also is on the board of the Boer Goat Youth Foundation of America. Lary is a licensed judge for ABGA and has a degree in Supervision from Purdue University.

Returning directors are Tom Boyer from Boyer Land and Livestock in Utah; Dr. An Peischel, who is the Small Ruminant Extension Specialist for Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee; Sam Abney from Alabama, who raises Boer goats and is a member of several goat groups including the Alabama Meat Goat and Sheep Committee; Dr. Kenneth Andries, who is an animal geneticist working as Assistant Professor and Animal Sciences Specialist at Kentucky State University; David Martin from Georgia, who is the president and CEO of Gotcha Goat, LLC; Rebecca Sauder from Texas, who covers the market reports for the sheep and goat sale in San Angelo for the USDA Livestock Market News Service; Linda Campbell from Virginia, who owns and operates Khimaira Farm, an organic farming operation and agri-tourism business. She has been a member of the American Dairy Goat Association Board of Directors since 1982, and represents ADGA on the AGF Board; Bob Buchholz from Texas represents the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association where he has been a director for a number of years.

The American Goat Federation was organized in 2010 to promote and facilitate the development of all segments of the goat industry including dairy, meat and fiber, by encouraging sound public policy, enhancing production and marketing of goat products and promoting research beneficial to our member organizations and all producers. More information about the American Goat Federation, Board of Directors and activities and services AGF provides is available on the website, www.AmericanGoatFederation.org.