The American Guernsey Association (AGA) is pleased to announce that a new team management concept will lead the Association and its subsidiaries into the future. At a recent board meeting, the AGA Board of Directors unanimously voted to accept a three person management team and new Executive Secretary with the resignation of Lewis R. Jones after 10 months with the organization.
Brian Schnebly has been promoted to the Executive Secretary position effective immediately. Brian will be responsible for the association programs including the young sire programs, records, youth programs and continue to manage the Guernsey Marketing Service.
Brian has been responsible for and served as an appraiser for both the AGA and joint appraisal program with the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association, the Ayrshire Breeders Association and the American Milking Shorthorn Society. As he transitions into this new Executive Secretary position, he will no longer be on the road appraising, but will still handle oversight of the Guernsey breed appraisal program. He has also assumed all management responsibilities of the Guernsey Marketing Service over the past two years, increasing embryo and live cattle sales both domestically and internationally during that time. He will continue to work with the records department, youth programs and other association programs as well as promotion of, and advancement of, the breed. Brian will divide his time between the Columbus headquarters and his Maryland home office.
"I can easily say that Guernseys are in my blood. They have been a part of my life since the day I was born. I love working with the Guernsey cow and consider it an honor and privilege to work for the American Guernsey Association," said Brian.
Brian grew up on Crown Stone Farm in Clear Spring, Maryland, as part of the eighth generation to be raised there. The farm is currently owned and operated by his uncle and two cousins. They currently milk 125 head of dairy cattle comprised of Holsteins, Guernseys and Brown Swiss. After graduation from the University of Maryland in 1999, he worked for the AGA as a programs coordinator until 2003. From 2003 until June 2005, he was herdsman for Shenandoah Jerseys in Boonsboro, Maryland. He returned to the AGA in July of 2005 as the program coordinator and has served the association in that capacity until he was named program manager in 2013. He and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters, Grace and Claire and reside in Hagerstown, Maryland, where he is an active member of their church and church choir.
The second member of the team is the new Office Manager, Deb Hoffman. Deb has been with the AGA since October of 2013 as bookkeeper. In July she assumed the responsibilities of the data entry and day-to-day operations of the records department. As Office Manager, Deb will be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day association operations and financial responsibilities of both the AGA and Purebred Publishing, Inc., a division of the AGA.
Raised on a registered Brown Swiss farm in western Ohio, Deb has worked as a clerk and on the sale crews for over 30 years for Modern Associates of St. Paris, Ohio. Deb is owner of Rolling Knolls Swiss along with her two children, Jason and Jenna in Mingo, Ohio. She is also secretary of the Ohio Brown Swiss Association.
The Managing Editor of Purebred Publishing is the third member of the new management team. Cheri Oechsle will continue to lead the team of Purebred Publishing as well as assume all other responsibilities for that division. Purebred Publishing Inc. produces the Ayrshire Digest, Brown Swiss Bulletin, Guernsey Breeders' Journal and the Milking Shorthorn Journal along with national directories and other dairy-related marketing tools for their partners and affiliates.
Cheri was raised on a registered Holstein farm in western Ohio and has held several dairy-related and non-dairy-related marketing and publishing positions over the years. She and her husband Jim reside in Van Wert, Ohio, where they continue to raise registered dairy cattle with their sons, Stephan and his wife Crystal, Harrison, Matt and Korey. She is actively involved in the boy's athletic activities and on various committees for the Ohio Holstein Association.
The American Guernsey Association is based in Columbus, Ohio, and is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of Guernsey dairy cows. The association claims over 700 active members nationwide. For more information regarding the AGA visit the website www.usguernsey.com. 3.3.2015