Six individuals have been nominated to serve in leadership positions of the national Jersey organizations, five for the American Jersey Cattle Association and one for the National All-Jersey Inc. Board of Directors. Results of the elections will be announced during the meetings of the organizations the last weekend of June.
All active members shown on the membership books of the Association on the date 50 days prior to the Annual Meeting (May 3, 2024) are eligible to vote for AJCA President and Directors. Persons eligible to vote for NAJ Directors (by district) are producer members, those who pay fees as established by the Board of Directors, and honorary members shown on the membership records of the corporation 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting (April 23, 2024).
The notice of the annual meeting and the official ballot and proxy will be mailed to all members eligible to vote not less than 30 days before the meetings.
AJCA President
Alan Chittenden
Alan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., has been nominated for President of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA). He is currently serving his second term as President. Prior to this, he served two terms as Director of the Second District.
Chittenden operates Dutch Hollow Farm LLC with his family. Dutch Hollow now includes three generations of partners managing 1,000 cows, 700 replacements and 2,000 acres of cropland.
Dutch Hollow Farm has been enrolled on REAP since 1997 and contributed to Project Equity since 1977. The 2023 lactation average of the 806-cow herd is 19,380 lbs. milk, 1,099 lbs. fat and 756 lbs. protein (m.e.). Dutch Hollow Farm ranks among the top 100 REAP herds in the nation for genetic merit with a herd average Jersey Performance Index of +58 (April 2024) on 953 cows.
An active flushing program at Dutch Hollow Farm has allowed the Chittendens to multiply the best cow families and create marketing opportunities for the farm’s genetics. More than 90 bulls bred by Dutch Hollow Farm have been sampled through A.I. organizations, including Dutch Hollow Berretta Choice-P and Dutch Hollow Oliver-P.
Dutch Hollow Farm regularly consigns animals to The All American Jersey Sale, the National Heifer Sale, and the Pot O’Gold Sale and supports several regional Jersey sales with consignments.
Dutch Hollow Farm uses JerseyTags to permanently identify the herd, has been a contract advertiser in the Jersey Journal since 1980 and hosts a website on JerseySites.com. Dutch Hollow Farm sponsors the Best Bred and Owned awards at the All American Junior Jersey Show each year.
The dairy is a member of Agri-Mark, which owns the “Cabot” and “McCadam” brand names. Milk from Dutch Hollow Farm is also used by fellow Jersey breeders High Lawn Farm, Lenox, Mass. and Mapleline Farm, Hadley, Mass., to supplement their Queen of Quality® bottling programs. Milk is also sold to Four Fat Fowl, Stephentown, N.Y. Dutch Hollow Farm joined with 11 other dairy farms in the Hudson Valley to market milk under the “Hudson Valley Fresh” label as well.
Alan graduated from Cornell University in 1990 with a degree in dairy science. He was a member of the dairy judging team and was seventh-high individual overall in the contest held during World Dairy Expo in 1988. He won the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest in 1988. He and his wife, Donna, received the AJCA Young Jersey Breeder Award in 2000. Dutch Hollow Farm LLC received the AJCA Master Breeder Award in 2012.
Chittenden currently is a director for the New England Jersey Breeders Association and has also served the organization as president. He chaired and was a member of the AJCA Type Advisory Committee and is a former director for New England Jersey Sires Inc. Chittenden has been a 4-H leader and county dairy judging coach for more than two decades.
Alan and Donna have three children, Emily (Kirk), Maxwell and Lydia, who have been active in Jersey youth programs. Their son-in-law, Quade Kirk, and grandson, Jackson, are proud breeders of Registered Jerseys as well.
AJCA Director Nominee – First District
Jason Johnson
Jason Johnson, Northwood, N.H., has been nominated to serve as Director from the First District of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA). He is serving his first term having been elected to the position in 2021. He is serving on the Development and Information Technology and Identification Committees and sits on the All American Open Show Committee as well.
A fourth-generation dairy farmer, he grew up in New Hampshire and earned a dairy management degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1996. He has managed dairies with diverse management styles in two countries and four states, including his home dairy and Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock, Vt.
Jason is currently the associate director of the organic farm program at Lactalis U.S. Yogurt. In this capacity, he is responsible for direct supply milk procurement, animal welfare, milk quality, and sustainability programs for the northeast milk supply. He works with several well-known Jersey establishments in New England.
He and his wife, Heather, and children, Regan, Ryleigh and Asher, raise a few milk cows and bred heifers and care for a small flock of chickens at the home farm in Northwood. They breed Registered Jerseys with a focus on style and balance and use his family’s childhood prefix, Johnsonacres.
At the Northeast All Breeds Spring Show in April, the family showed three top-10 placings. At the All American Junior Jersey Show, Regan exhibited the Reserve Junior All American Winter Yearling, SBF Jeronimo Andi, in 2022 and a pair of top-10 placings at the show in 2023.
Show ring experiences like these are one of the joys of dairying for cattle breeders like Jason. He fondly remembers his first show calf, “Rosie,” who took him to the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., for the first time as a youth. She and Jason paraded show rings in the same era as her world-famous paternal sister, two-time National Grand Champion, Billings Top Rosanne. In an act of serendipity, Jason was presented with opportunity to build on “Rosanne’s” genetics nearly three decades later as herd manager at Billings Farm.
While at Billings, Jason helped to revive the breeding and show programs, with several cows standing in the same spotlight as the former Billings Farm resident. Among them were Billings Remake Bounty, Excellent-93%, Overall Premier Performance Winner of the 2008 All American Jersey Show, RJF Jamaica Rockstar, Excellent-95%, Reserve Grand Champion of the 2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and Billings Legion Mini Mi, Excellent-95%, Total Performance Winner of the 2013 Eastern States Exposition. Jason also developed the “B” cow family and revived the merchandising program at the farm.
Jason is currently a director for the National Dairy Shrine and vice president of the New England Jersey Breeders Association. He has served as a director of the Vermont Jersey Breeders Association for six years and was elected president and vice president as well. He has chaired the sale committee for the Northeast Jersey Breeders Classic and sat on the All American Sale Committee.
While in college, he helped to revive the university dairy club and was a member of the dairy judging team that competed nationally.
Among his proudest moments was receiving the A.C. “Whitie” Thompson Memorial Award at World Dairy Expo in 2015. The award is presented annually to honor a herdsman or showman who exhibits exemplary leadership and sportsmanship throughout Expo.
AJCA Director Nominee – Third District
Joe Vanderfeltz
Joe Vanderfeltz, Lawton, Pa., has been nominated to serve as Director from the Third District of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA). He is serving his first term having been elected to the position in 2021. He is serving on the Finance and Breed Improvement Committees. He also sits on the All American Sale Committee and chairs the planning committee for the 2025 annual meetings of the AJCA and National All-Jersey Inc.
Vanderfeltz and his wife, Melinda, and sons, Kyle and Corey, milk 250 Jersey and 200 Holstein cows at VanFel-JM Dairy. VanFel Jerseys is enrolled on REAP and a contract advertiser with the Jersey Journal. The herd has a 2023 lactation average (m.e.) of 19,911 lbs. milk, 944 lbs. fat and 759 lbs. protein on 153 lactations. With the most recent appraisal, the herd includes 34 Excellent and 176 Very Good cows and has an average final score of 85%. The Holsteins average 27,500 lbs. milk, with component tests of 3.9% fat and 3.2% protein. Milk is marketed to Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative in Herndon, Va.
The youngest of eight children, Joe grew up on a registered Holstein farm in Missouri. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1991 with a degree in dairy science. He had a seven-year career in A.I. with the former Sire Power of Tunkhannock, Pa. (now Select Sires). While with Sire Power, he worked with the organization’s mating program and the public relations department.
His love for Jerseys deepened when he married Melinda in 1995 and joined her parents, David and Marilyn Quick, in the operation of their Registered Jersey herd. They partnered with the Quicks until 2001, when Joe and Melinda assumed sole ownership at the passing of Melinda’s father. Joe also worked part-time as an appraiser with the AJCA. Joe and Melinda received the AJCA Young Jersey Breeder Award in 2003.
Since purchasing the farm, they have made numerous additions and improvements to the facilities. Today cows are milked in a double-six step-up parlor. Milking cows, dry cows and close-up cows are housed in a freestall barn that was initially constructed with two rows of freestalls in 2002 and then expanded to six rows in 2017. They also added equipment to separate manure solids for bedding with the expansion. Calves are raised on the farm from birth through weaning in hutches. In 2023, new heifer facilities were built to enable all heifers to be raised on the farm. The family farms about 1,100 acres of corn and grass hay as well, growing most of the forage needs for the herd.
Joe is a member of Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Montrose, Pa.
Both Kyle and Corey were active in agriculture programs for youth. They especially enjoy showing and judging cattle. Since he graduated from college, Kyle has returned to the farm to partner with his parents in the operation of the farm. Corey has completed his first year at Pennsylvania Technical College in Williamsport, Pa., where he is majoring in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
AJCA Director Nominee – Fifth District
Kevin Lutz
Kevin Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C., has been nominated to serve as Director from the Fifth District of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA).
Lutz operates Treasure Chest Jerseys with his family in Lincolnton. The herd of Registered Jerseys is enrolled on REAP and has a 2023 lactation average (m.e.) of 17,411 lbs. milk, 811 lbs. fat and 632 lbs. protein on 110 lactations. With the November 2023 herd appraisal, the farm is home to 36 Excellent and 68 Very Good cows and the herd has an average final score of 85.6%. For the past 15 years, milk has been sold to Piedmont Milk Sales.
Kevin grew up on Piedmont Jersey Farm, a Registered Jersey farm operated by his parents, Charles and Ethel Lutz, and siblings, Brenda and Corey (Piedmont Jerseys and Riverbend Creamery) and the late Wayne Lutz (Deerview Jerseys). Active in FFA and 4-H, he was a member of the team that topped the national 4-H dairy judging contest at World Dairy Expo in 1979 and was second-high individual overall. Kevin earned a dairy science degree from North Carolina State University in 1984 and returned home to work with his family at Piedmont Jerseys.
He set out on his own in 1990, purchasing a farm in Lincolnton and establishing Treasure Chest Jerseys. Cows are milked in a double-six herringbone parlor and housed in a freestall barn. All heifers are raised on the farm. Lutz uses sexed semen for about 25% of the matings but plans to grow that to 75%. The bottom 10% of the herd is bred to Red Wagyu beef bulls. The Red Wagyu x Jersey herd now includes 15 brood females and 15 steers which will be raised to slaughter and sold locally as beef. The Lutzes farm 160 acres of owned and 300 acres of rented land, growing corn for silage and alfalfa and grass for hay. Cows are also rotationally grazed.
The most significant cow family at Treasure Chest traces to Advancer Sleeping Bessie J, a purchase Kevin made from the Newberry Foundation Sale when he was just 11. Appraised Excellent-90%, she calved 10 times, and he registered eight daughters and a son. Among her descendants are TC 1960 Bess Katy, Excellent-93%, a matriarch in the herd today, and two former show standouts: TC Vindication 1251 Becky, the 2010 Junior All American Senior Two-Year-Old, and TC Sultan Bessie, Premier Performance Winner of the 2010 National Jersey Jug Futurity.
More recently, the Lutzes showed the Grand Champion of the 2019 North Carolina State Fair and took home the banners for Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor. At the 2023 North Carolina Spring Show, they showed the Reserve Grand Champion, TC 2577 Craze Patty.
The Lutzes merchandise about half of the heifer crop as private treaty sales. Kevin also coordinates cattle sales for other dairy producers in the region. With fellow Carolina Jersey breeder Bush River Jerseys, the Lutzes hosted the Bush River and Treasure Chest Combination sale at Bush River in Newberry, S.C., often in conjunction with the Dixie Invitational and Southeast Heifer Growers North Sale. The popular sale also featured guest consignments. Held annually from 1999-2012, nearly 1,500 lots were struck off for more than $3 million over the series.
Treasure Chest has also regularly consigned to sales managed by Jersey Marketing Service, including the All American Jersey Sale, the National Heifer Sale and regional sales in the southeast. Cattle have been exported to Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Puerto Rico.
Lutz, a member of the AJCA Type Advisory Committee, hosted the most recent type appraiser conference at the farm in February.
A widely requested official for the All American, Lutz judged the open show in 2003 and 2012 and was the consultant in 2008. He was the official for the junior show in 1998 and 2017 and the National Jersey Jug Futurity in 1999 and 2018. He has officiated several state fairs, the Western National Jersey Show and national Jersey shows in Australia, Argentina, Ecuador and Peru.
He is a director for the North Carolina Jersey Cattle Association and previously served on boards of Southern States Cooperative and the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District. He is a member of New Jerusalem Lutheran Church.
Lutz is father to Krista and Cameron Lutz and has three grandchildren: Jacob, Molly and Ryder.
AJCA Director Nominee – Ninth District
Ralph Frerichs
Ralph Frerichs, LaGrange, Texas, has been nominated for Director of the Ninth District of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA). He is completing his second term as director of this district after having been elected to the position in 2021. He serves on the Finance and Development Committees and is a member of the Jersey Jug Committee as well.
He served as Director of the Eighth District for two terms from 2009-2015. He was vice president from 2013-2015 and chaired the Development Committee. He also served on the organization’s Executive, Finance, Breed Improvement, Information Technology and Identification and Registration Committees.
Frerichs operates Frerichs Dairy Inc. with his wife, Faith, and his brother, Robert, and his son, Neal. His parents, Marian and the late Edgar Frerichs, got into the Jersey business in 1948 with a handful of Jersey cows, the first one a wedding gift for the couple.
The herd was enrolled in the Genetic Recovery program in the 1970s and today is a fully-registered herd of 120 milking cows. Frerichs Dairy has been enrolled on REAP since its inception, contributed to Project Equity since 1988 and donated to the AJCC Research Foundation.
The Frerichs family has been actively involved in educating the public about dairy farming through the Jersey Barnyard. The hands-on barnyard exhibit provides self-guided and guided tours to local residents, tourists, schools and groups, with opportunity to pet and feed a variety of farm animals, milk a cow by hand, venture through a hay maze and learn about other farm activities. They expanded their business to include Grade A raw milk, pastured eggs, grass fed beef, organic chicken and pastured pork. The farm store is packed with domestic and imported cheeses and local farm goods to support other farmers in their value-added endeavors. The Frerichs family is constantly evolving their farm business to provide food for local niche markets.
They also operate the Texas Jersey Cheese Company. For 10 years, Ralph and Faith made the all-natural Jersey cheese by hand. Today it is made by others so the couple can concentrate on other aspects of the farm. Their cheese is sold locally and online. It is their dream to bring tours to the cheese-making aspect of the business as well.
Frerichs Dairy is home to the well-known “Belle,” television star and “spokescow” for Blue Bell Creameries. “Belle” has appeared in many commercials and traveled extensively promoting Blue Bell ice cream. “Belle” and her herdmates have starred in 11 commercials for Blue Bell ice cream. The farm’s Jerseys have also appeared in commercials for Astro Yogurt and Promised Land Dairy.
Frerichs, a graduate of Texas A & M University with a bachelor’s degree in dairy science, has served as the Texas Jersey Cattle Club president, vice-president and director and sat on numerous committees. He was a co-chair of the 1994 National Heifer Sale and served on the All American Sale and Youth Committees.
He has participated in the Young Dairy Leader Institute and received the Texas DHIA Master Dairy Producer Award. Robert and Faith were recipients of the Young Jersey Breeder Award in 1988 and have participated in AMPI’s Young Cooperative Program.
Frerichs served on the Fayette County Dairy Committee and was a 10-year coach of the Fayette County 4-H dairy judging team, which placed in competitions at the state level.
He coached youth soccer, was a member of the Grange ISD Task Force Planning Committee and served St. Paul Lutheran Church as councilman. Frerichs is a past sponsor for the church high school youth program.
Ralph and Faith are parents to Neal and Allison Frerichs and the late Bradley Frerichs.
NAJ Director Nominee – District 5
Bradley Taylor
Bradley Taylor, Booneville, Miss., has been nominated to serve as District 5 Director for National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ).
Previously, he served two terms as Director from the Fifth District of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) beginning in 2018. He chaired the Finance Committee and was a member of the Breed Improvement, All American Sale and Investment Advisory Committees as well.
Taylor owns and operates Taylor Jersey Farm Inc. with his wife, Carla, sons, Lee, Carl and Holden, and parents, Royal and Marthell. The 150-cow Registered Jersey herd is enrolled on REAP, uses JerseyTags for permanent identification and is a contract advertiser with the Jersey Journal. Taylor Jersey Farm has an appraisal average of 85.9%, with 22 Excellent and 60 Very Good cows. Milk has been shipped to Lone Star Milk Producers since October 2020.
Taylor grew up on the family farm, which has been in operation since 1966, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 2000 with a degree in animal and dairy science.
For four years after graduation, he worked off the farm with Jersey Marketing Service as part of the crew for sales like the Deep South and Southeast Heifer Growers South Sale and the All American Jersey Sale, where he met Carla, an AJCA-NAJ Area Representative at the time. Taylor also donated his service for the 2005 National Heifer Sale in Washington, Pa., which generated funds for the AJCC Research Foundation.
Taylor Jersey Farm also regularly consigns to leading Jersey sales, including the National Heifer Sale, the All American and several regional sales. The Taylors also merchandise cattle privately, selling most bulls calves as herd sires for dairy farms across the southeast.
Taylor Jersey Farm has sent 13 bulls to A.I., including TJF Visionary Regency, the most heavily-used sire of sons in 2016. Several others trace to Vantage Lemvig Mamme, a cow owned in partnership with Lynn Lee, Smyrna, Tenn. The Excellent-90% “Mamme” has four records over 22,000 lbs. milk and a best record of 4-4 305 3x 27,440 4.8% 1,316 3.6% 996 84DCR. She has 79 registered progeny.
The Taylors also enjoy showing Registered Jerseys. Bradley has been an exhibitor at the Mississippi State Fair every year since 1980 and has shown in the Mississippi Jersey Futurity each year since 1984. The Taylors exhibit cattle at several county fairs each year and have also shown at The All American Jersey Show.
Bradley is a former chair of the AJCA Type Committee. He is also a past board member for Dixieland Jersey Sires and vice president of the Mississippi Jersey Cattle Club.
He served the Southeast Area Council of Dairy Farmers of America for 10 years, including the office of secretary. He sat on the board of the Mississippi American Dairy Association for seven years and currently serves on the Dairy Research Advisory Council for Mississippi State University.
He and Carla received the AJCA Young Jersey Breeder Award in 2013.
Electronic Voting
To vote electronically, you must have a unique email on file with the AJCA.
