2025 Board Candidate elections

139th Annual Meeting | June 25-26, 2025

Union Station Hotel, Saint Louis, Missouri

To help delegates make an informed decision when electing the leaders of the Association, candidates have provided information on their experiences and perspectives on the dairy industry and Holstein Association USA, Inc.

Delegates will elect Holstein Association USA, Directors in Regions 5, 8, 9 and one At-large Director. For more information, visit www.holsteinusa.com.

Get to know your board candidates

All board candidates have been asked to reply to the questions stated below. Their responses appear after their biography.

Question One

Are you currently dairying? If yes, describe your operation, including how many head you milk, what percent are Registered Holsteins and which of the Association’s programs you are currently using.

Question Two

What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the Holstein Association USA today, and specifically, how do you think they should be addressed most effectively?

Question Three

Personally, what do you do to help increase the value of Registered Holsteins?

Question Four

What are some ideas for the Holstein Association USA to increase membership and to increase participation of members?

region 5 director Candidates

Craig Carncross

Lodi, WI

608.592.2560

Craig Carncross is a dairy farmer from Lodi, Wisconsin. Craig and his wife, Jen, and their two sons, Gavin (16) and Nolan (13), milk 400 Registered Holsteins under the prefix Wargo Acres. The herd continually ranks in the top 10 for BAA in the large herd division; has garnered numerous GMD, DOM, and Elite Performer awards; and has been consistently awarded the Progressive Breeders’ Registry and Progressive Genetics Herd awards over the last 30 years.

The name Wargo was created from combining the names of Craig’s grandfather and father (Warren and Gordon respectfully). Craig joined the family corporation in 1999 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Craig and his family enjoy participating in local, state, and national Holstein shows, and he has been very involved in the Wisconsin Holstein Association’s many activities. Craig served two terms as a board member for the Wisconsin Holstein Association and was president from 2018-2020.

Craig also enjoys cheering his on boys in their many school activities, is an active member of Concordia United Methodist Church, and currently an officer of his local Watershed group. He would be honored to represent the members of Holstein Association USA as a board member and would greatly appreciate your support.

Question Responses

  1. I am currently dairy farming. The farm consists of 500 cows and 400 head of young stock that are all registered. The herd is milked three times per day in freestall and parlor set-up. The programing that we currently use from Holstein USA includes the items packaged together in Holstein COMPLETE. We are a Tri-Star herd that uses EASY for registrations, regularly classifies, and uses ear tags from the Holstein Association USA for identification.

  2. There are a number of challenges that face the dairy industry and specifically Holstein Association USA. The declining number of dairy farms in general, but specifically those that breed and milk Registered Holsteins, is of great concern. Declining membership creates a real challenge for Holstein Association USA. While this will undoubtedly create financial challenges, there are opportunities as the U.S. dairy herd remains much more stable than the number of people actually dairy farming. As I answer these questions, the latest proof run and base change has been completed, and it is astounding how much progress the Holstein cow continues to make and how rapidly these improvements are happening compared to 20 or 30 years ago. These improvements are something that Holstein USA has helped create, and this is the narrative that can help keep the association strong.

  3. Wargo Acres sells around 100 head of Registered Holsteins every year for dairy. Many of these cows go to commercial operations that do not have registered cattle, but we still always encourage their new owners to take the registration papers and use that identification information to move forward with their new herd mates. At Wargo Acres, we try to breed and sell high quality cattle that do well for their new owners and show that Registered Holsteins are more profitable. More importantly, we try to breed good cows that can represent honesty and fair raising of cattle, realizing it is not just our reputation at stake but the reputation of our whole industry.

  4.  Increasing membership for the association will continue to be a challenge. I do not think there is an individual state that is not struggling with this issue and that means the same will go for things at the national level. There continues to be a great story that can be shared with today’s Holstein genetics. I actually think the story of higher quality milk with much higher components from much better udders is one that resonates across all kinds of breeders and participants in this industry better than any of the other fractions that exist. There are a lot of niche markets which is great, but we need to do a better job of starting with the final product, milk, to get the story and sales pitch for Registered Holsteins right. The niche sections of the Holstein world can be fun and exciting, but they can also seem scary and uninviting if you are on the outside looking in. Changing this mindset is the only way to go forward in my opinion.

Lauren Siemers

Oshkosh, WI

920.946.5422

Lauren Siemers, originally from Newton, Wisconsin, holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. After graduation, she worked as a Dairy Sales Specialist at Schippers USA, where she supported dairy producers across the country with biosecurity concerns. Recently, Lauren transitioned into a role as the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Kinnard Farms in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

Growing up on her family’s six-generation Registered Holstein and crop farm, Siemers Holsteins, Lauren gained hands-on experience in breeding, developing, and showcasing elite Registered Holsteins. Under the “Siemers” prefix passed down through generations, Lauren also grew her own herd of Registered Holsteins.

An active member of the Holstein Association USA, Lauren has been involved in local, state, and national organizations throughout her Junior membership. Her involvement culminated in being named a National Distinguished Junior Member Finalist in Lexington, Kentucky. She continues to stay engaged in the Registered Holstein industry today by mentoring youth across Wisconsin.

Lauren and her fiancé, Reese, currently reside in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Question Responses

  1. I grew up on a Registered Holstein operation and felt it important to expand my horizons by gaining experience outside the family business. Currently, I work at Kinnard Farms, which milks 8,000 Grade Holsteins and farms 13,000 acres of owned and rented land. In my role, I focus on building a strong, recognizable brand centered on food safety and quality, while also exploring opportunities for business growth through vertical integration.

    While I am not actively dairying, I do own several Registered Holsteins that are housed at my family’s farm. I plan to build a small, high-quality herd in the future, with the goal of marketing these animals across the country.

    Additionally, I am involved in the local, state, and national Holstein Associations to support the growth and improvement of my herd. I enjoy attending shows, sales, and other industry events to network with like-minded individuals.

  2. A significant challenge facing Holstein Association USA today is maintaining young adult involvement after they graduate from the Junior Association. This issue should be addressed at both the local and state levels, where young adults can be encouraged to apply their skills and contribute to the association earlier. The days of the “good old boys club” should be behind us. It’s difficult to keep young adults engaged in the Registered Holstein industry if they’re not included in key decision-making processes. When they take the initiative to make changes, their efforts should be embraced.

    At the national level, we could attract younger adults who may not have children competing at the annual convention by hosting a networking event specifically for members aged 22-30. I propose a panel featuring industry leaders who can discuss how Holstein programming benefits their operations, followed by a social hour to foster new connections and exchange ideas.

  3. Registered Holsteins add significant value to farms, and in turn, people play a key role in enhancing the value of these animals. I believe it’s essential to introduce young people to the association as early as possible and reward their efforts, regardless of the quality of animals they own.

    For the past eight years, I’ve focused on developing youth across Wisconsin, particularly by working with children who have grade Holsteins. I invite them to our family farm to help them develop an animal suitable for exhibition at county and state fairs, all at no cost to them. A key requirement for participation in this program is that the youth must also be active members of our county Junior Holstein Association. My goal in offering this opportunity is to contribute to a stronger local association and, as these young individuals grow, to encourage their involvement at the state and national levels.

  4. Attending the National Holstein Convention or other national shows must be a valuable experience. Many young producers can’t leave the farm often, so when they do, they need to bring back actionable ideas. It’s about more than just show cows; it’s about building a network of innovative professionals who can support each other.

    At the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I was impressed by the seventy-eight breakout sessions spread over two days. Producers carefully planned their schedules to gain insights for their dairies. Incorporating even a handful of similar sessions at national events could attract current members and boost participation, with the goal of coming away from these events with new knowledge as well as new connections.

rEgion 8 director Candidate

R. Joshua Wright

Jerome, ID

801.404.1627

R. Joshua Wright is the current U.S. Western Sales Manager at ST Genetics, a role he has been in for about six months. Prior to this he was at Double A dairy in Jerome, Idaho for 11 years. Out of college, he and his father were partners at DoubleTree Dairy in McCornick, Utah. He grew up on B-Bar-Dairy owned by his dad, grandfather, and uncle. After college the facility was relocated to McCornick where they milked 600 cows with an emphasis on type and mobility.

Having a love for shows and appreciating the value of a good cow they exhibited at state and local shows with exhibiting World Dairy Expo several times. During that time, Josh also traveled as a fitter having the opportunity to work with great cows and people on the national and international level.

Wright served on the Utah Holstein Association Board from 2007-2013 and the Holstein Association USA Show committee for two years. He worked with the board to formulate the judges list and had the opportunity to approve the first group of judges. In 2014, he received the Al Hay award at the Western National Spring Show.

Josh and his wife Melanie have been married for 25 years and have four children, Porter, Halle, Stratton, and Hawkin. All the children have had the opportunity to participate in their local 4-H dairy club. Josh also contributes his time by hosting a prepping and fitting clinic each year for the youth in the community.

Question Responses

  1. No, I am not. My role at ST covers the western United States, and I work with the sales staff and their dairies. I am heavily involved in the dairy business, but currently, I do not milk cows. I own several “show animals” that I board at facilities across the United States.

  2. Staying relevant. The Holstein cow will always be a dominant breed in North America. As commercial operations grow to overtake a large portion of the market, we see less of a need to register, classify, and trace animal lineage. I see Holstein USA staying relevant by continuing to support these services, along with focusing a lot of time and energy on identification, breeding suggestions, on farm consulting with breeding and health, plus staying progressive with new ideas and opinions. The one size shoe fits all can be a detriment to any industry. In the west, we are losing or have lost most of the cows shows. Supporting and focusing on aiding communities to continue to support a show should also be a priority. I also believe that young daughter classification (SETs) is vital to continue to support genomics with checks and balances.

  3. Since the inception of genomic testing, I have been extremely involved in the genetic potential of the Holstein cow. From aspirations of 1000’s of donors to create bulls for stud and heifers for show or by talking to dairymen daily of the advantages of breeding for elite cows, I feel that supports the Holstein cow. I also get the pleasure of traveling and judging shows. Spending time talking to breeders in different parts of America. That has opened my eyes to the fact that all different types of struggles are real, and they are never all the same. Different locations and environments can cause different trials for different dairies. Focusing on breeding the right cow for the location, environment and facilities can increase the value of a Registered Holstein cow. 

  4. I like the idea of continual support of all the youth programs that Holstein Association USA has. Dairy bowl and Dairy Jeopardy, plus National Junior shows. The programs set are amazing and create a lifelong support and love of the Holstein cows. Relationships made at these events are long-lasting. My two younger boys this past summer did Dairy Bowl and had an absolute blast, and they look forward to making the team again this summer and attending convention in St. Louis. The education on dairy in general is what I feel will keep them both engaged and involved! The next generation of breeders will be asked to carry on the traditions of HAUSA. We need to invest in them now. Second to that is making sure we are educating dairymen on all the services HAUSA has to offer. There are many more than just registrations and classification. 

rEGION 9 dIRECTOR Candidates

Joey Airoso

Tipton, CA

559.967.5258

Joey Airoso is a fourth-generation dairy farmer whose great-grandfather and grandfather emigrated to the USA in 1912. They settled in California’s Central Valley near Lake Tulare. Following the early passing of Joey’s grandfather in 1963, his father took over the farm. When asked how long he has been involved in the dairy industry, Joey often points to July 10, 1960, the day he was born. From an early age, he observed his parents perform daily chores and remembers tagging his first calf in 1967. That year, his family purchased their first Registered Holsteins but had already been using registered bulls since 1938 from notable local breeders.

In 1969, Joey joined 4-H, beginning a lifelong passion for breeding and showing cattle. He attended Tulare Western High School, where he was part of the State Champion Dairy Judging Team. After graduating in 1978, he attended College of the Sequoias. In 1980, he married his wife, Laurie; they have two children and six grandchildren. In 2006, the farm expanded and currently milks 3,200 registered Holsteins and 250 registered Jerseys with a rolling herd average of 33,110 pounds of energy-corrected milk. 

Joey has been actively involved in promoting registered Holsteins through organizations like the South San Joaquin Holstein Club, Tulare Dairy Herd Improvement Association, California Holstein Association, Farm Credit, National Dairy Shrine and Holstein USA. He has served on boards, including as Board Chair at Farm Credit West and Board Member at AgWest, and completed governance training through the Premiere Governance Program and the NACD.

Question Responses

  1. Airoso Dairy – AIR-OSA Registered Holsteins, which my wife and I partner in, currently milks 3,200 cows that are 100% registered on the Holstein COMPLETE program. We registered every calf that’s born regardless of the genomic outcome. 

  2. The biggest challenge is staying relevant and convincing people that registering every calf is the first step in staying on the cutting edge of the technology that exists inside the cow. This can only be accomplished by adopting the best technology that will allow farmers to easily use the data that’s collected from us. This can only be accomplished by people who have the passion for the Registered Holstein cow and the farmers who care for them. So, the simple answer is believing through people and technology.

  3. The type data that Holstein USA has complied over the years is the most accurate data that’s been imputed into all the formulas, cattle that have good confirmation are the key to longevity and profitability. Also, doing more research and putting more emphasis into milk/lactation  persistency is a key to cow longevity.

  4. When people see the extra value in better cows, they will start believing. Creating programs that allow farmers to easily input type data / classification / pedigree into DC 305 or similar programs, measuring the things that farmers care about, not what the service industry’s want.

Elisabeth Regusci

Elizabeth Regusci was raised in Modesto, California on her family’s farm. She grew up showing registered Brown Swiss and Holsteins. Elizabeth has been involved in Holstein Association USA since she was 12 years old when she attended her first National Holstein Convention in 2009. She had the opportunity to compete in Dairy Bowl and Dairy Jeopardy for several years. Regusci continues to be involved with the Holstein Association and was a recent graduate of the Young Dairy Leaders Institute Class 13.

In 2019 Elizabeth graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science. At Cal Poly, she was on the dairy judging and dairy challenge teams. Elizabeth attended veterinary school at Cornell University and graduated in 2023. Throughout her summers, she had the opportunity to work on several outstanding dairies in New York and Wisconsin.

Regusci has worked at Lander Veterinary Clinic in Turlock, California as an associate veterinarian since 2023. She enjoy dairy production medicine, especially calf health and surgery. In her free time Elizabeth enjoys being outside, cooking, traveling, learning Spanish, spending time with family and friends, and staying connected to her Swiss heritage.

  1. I am not currently dairying. I work as a large animal veterinarian in the Central Valley of California.

  2. Holstein Association USA will need to embrace change while staying connected to its deep history and roots. Some of the challenges include having programs that are relevant to dairy producers as herds continue to get larger and embracing technology along the way. The Association needs to continue to show dairy farmers of all size operations the value of the programs provided relating to genetics and records. As the world’s leading dairy breed organization, Holstein Association USA has an opportunity to lead the dairy industry in the future with this mindset embraced.

  3. Several of the herds I work with as a veterinarian own Registered Holsteins. I promote Registered Holsteins through my conversations with dairy producers and others in the industry. Genetics, complete identification, and records are great attributes of Registered Holsteins and services the Association provides.

  4. Holstein Association USA’s future depends on today’s youth. I was fortunate to be involved in several of Holstein USA’s programs growing up. I primarily showed Brown Swiss, however the Holstein Association provided me many different opportunities and connections that would not have been possible. I believe that keeping young adults involved after they complete youth programs is one essential key to increasing membership. The Young Dairy Leaders Institute program has allowed me to continue to be involved in the Holstein Association. Continuing to increase the involvement of young adults through the YDLI program and creating new programs and committees is a great way to accomplish this.

    Hosting educational programs and seminars on topics that relate to the Association’s services such as genetics would be beneficial to increasing participation.

Question Responses

Modesto, CA 

209.531.7741

David Weststeyn

Linden, CA

209.470.1319

David Weststeyn is a third-generation dairy farmer from Linden, California. His family’s dairy was founded by his grandfather in 1976 after emigrating from Holland. David’s father and uncle operated the dairy until 2014. Since then, their daily operations have been led by David, his parents, and his siblings, executing everything from herd management to accounting and beyond. Personally, David and his wife, Natalie, have been married for 12 years and enjoy traveling in their free time.

Today, the Weststeyn family milks approximately 2,600 Holsteins, 40–50% registered, along with 80 Jerseys. They raise all of their heifers on-site. In addition to the dairy operation, they raise Angus-cross calves to 450–600 pounds and market them by the semi-truck load.

David’s educational background includes an Associate of Science degree in Dairy Science and Crop Science from Modesto Junior College. He then transferred to Cal Poly, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science with a minor in Crop Science. Throughout his college years, David remained actively involved in the family farm, returning to work full-time after graduation.

Initially, David’s primary function was working with the heifers from raising to breeding. When the dairy operation split in 2014, he became responsible for managing all aspects related to the cows such as milking, breeding, herd checks and managing the genetics program. He also oversees the calves, from weaning to calving. David is proud to be a seven-year winner of the Progressive Genetics Herd Award while still learning about Holstein Association USA.

Question Responses

  1. We are milking 2,600 Holsteins with around 40-50% of them being registered. We do classification three times per year. We have received the Progressive Genetics Herd Award for seven years.

  2. The biggest challenge that is facing the Holstein Association would be trying to stay ahead of all the new technology being applied at a rapid pace. Also, I think it’s important to consider how the Association can help the dairymen and women stay ahead of the changes and make the transitions into new technology smoother.

  3. I still have a lot to learn in the dairy industry, but I hope to bring my first-hand experience and a fresh, outside perspective that can be beneficial.

  4. The hardest thing for any association is to gain new members and to get current members involved. Marketing to the younger generation of dairy farmers is difficult because this generation is always working with their animals, which makes it hard to get involved with the association. We all know that cows never take days off.

At-Large director Candidate

Jeff King

Schuylerville, NY

518.791.2876

Jeff King of Schuylerville, New York has been involved in Kings-Ransom Farm for 29 years. Jeff received his bachelor’s degree in animal science and finance from Cornell University. His family has farmed for over 120 years, breeding Registered Holsteins since the late 60’s.

Today they milk 3,300 cows and raise 3,100 heifers on two sites under the Kings-Ransom prefix along with a few owned in various partnerships. The herd average runs over 33,000 pounds of milk and 1,400 fat.

Jeff has served as the local club director, former chair of the New York sale committee, Holstein Foundation Trustee, member of Holstein USA’s Genetic Advancement, Audit and Conformation committees, and co-chair for the 2016 National Holstein Convention in Saratoga Springs, New York alongside his wife. Jeff was also named the 2009 National Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder. Most recently, the Kings were recognized as the 2025 Active Master Breeder from the NY Holstein Association. Jeff has been a lifelong member of Bacon Hill Reformed Church, a member of the Town Planning Board for over twenty years, and a youth basketball and football coach.

Jeff has been married to his wife Rebecca for 28 years. They have three children: John, Adam, and Lauren.

Question Responses

  1. My brother Jan and I own and operate Kings-Ransom Farm where we milk 3,300 Registered Holsteins. We utilize many of Holstein’s programs including ID, Holstein COMPLETE, classification, and genomic testing. We run an active marketing program which includes sales of embryos, bulls, and females to domestic and international customers. We also show at local, state, and national shows.

    In addition to the farm, we have an on-farm processing plant that uses some of our milk to produce fluid milk, yogurt, and ice cream. Our products are sold under our brand “King Brothers Dairy” through home deliveries, local stores, and supermarkets and in our on-farm store.

  2. Change is constantly happening in the dairy industry, and consolidation has been ongoing ever since I started dairying. I really believe that this is one of the major challenges that our association faces today. As we face reduced numbers, we must challenge ourselves to serve the needs of the changing demographics of our membership. Serving our current membership while seeking out new business requires a delicate balance. In the end we must continue to demonstrate and prove the value of better genetics and how Holstein USA’s programs complement them.

  3. I’ve been a Holstein “junkie” since I was 9 or 10 years old. While my friends read Sports Illustrated, I’d be poring over bull stud sire catalogs, issues of Holstein World and the Red Book. Over time, I have been amazed with the process of breeding better cattle and how one can increase their value generation after generation. We support and increase the value of Registered Holsteins mainly by demonstrating their performance. One example, we sell around 300 head of young cows from our herd annually and many to repeat buyers. The reason they come back is simple, they are quite happy with the performance of the cows they buy. Higher milk and component production, better udders, lower SCS, better fertility, etc. all drive profit are a direct result of better genetics from Registered Holsteins.

  4. Membership is a very real challenge as we witness a steady decline in the number of dairy herds in the U.S. While these numbers are declining, we must remember that the remaining herds are on average larger and at times there are several staff members who are real cow people that I think could contribute to our association. I think that since they are not the herd owner our messaging may at times not reach them. A program of outreach to these “cow enthusiasts” could potentially add to our strong, traditional base membership.