Leadership Team
Youth Officers and Advisors
The youth officer team consists of three regional directors, secretary, vice president, president and past president (who is not elected). Up to four youth coordinators are appointed by state leaders from their state's delegates attending the convention. Youth coordinators act as the communications link between delegates and the national officer team and assist their state leader. Youth officers are elected at the NJHA annual convention from delegates and serve through the following convention.
Matthew Bond - NJHA President
New York
plantcrazy007@gmail.com
Hello My name is Matthew Bond, and I live in the tiny town of Ogdensburg,
New York. I am honored to be your 2011-2012 President. I am currently
a sophomore biology major at SUNY Potsdam. My county has more cows than
people and is very agricultural, so it comes as no surprise that I was
introduced to NJHA through 4-H. During the summer, I work at a florist
shop as a designer and also help out an 83 year old man in his gardens.
I have been a member of my local youth garden club for 9 years now,
and serve as a garden coordinator. Although my main love is plants,
I also enjoy spending time with my camera, downhill skiing and hiking.
I have been a member of NJHA for 5 years. I served as Western Director
for the past two years, and have competed in many of our contests, including
the ID, demonstrations, extemporaneous speaking, and essay contests,
as well as horticulture connections, environmental awareness project,
the Y/C program, and achievement and leadership scholarship.
During my year as President, my goals include revising NJHA contests
and projects to be more up to date, encouraging the revitalization of
the Y/C program, and contacting inactive states to encourage their participation.
I encourage all of you to help us keep NJHA Going and Growing, coordinating
with organizations such as the Grange, FFA, 4-H and local youth garden
clubs. I know that this year's convention in the Wisconsin Dells will
be one to remember, and look forward to seeing all of you there!
Erica Sprout - NJHA Vice President
Maryland
buster3902@aim.com
I am Erica Sprout serving as Vice President in the National Junior Horticulture
Association for 2012. No you are not having déjà vu I was VP last year too. The past
two years I have been serving as Vice President and I absolutely love this position. I’m
19 years old and I live in Rising Sun, Maryland. Currently I attend Cecil College as
sophomore majoring in Social Work. I am on track to transfer from Cecil in June 2013,
with my associate’s degree: to Salisbury University for my Bachelors in Social Work; it’s
my goal to graduate in June 2015. I want to become a grief, marriage, or teen
pregnancy counselor.
I am grateful to have another year as your VP, allowing me another 12 months
to revitalize the Youth Coordinator-YC Program with NJHA. I think youth should get
more involved in extra circular activities. I know that 4H and NJHA have truly helped
keep me out of trouble and they can help other youth too. I have a lot of ideas about
ways to improve NJHA, especially within the YC program; I love being able to really
make a difference in this organization by getting more youth involved and stay involved.
My plans to reactivate, reinvent, and revitalize this important youth resource network
include a quarterly YC news letter. Compiling and maintaining an accurate list of state-
by-state contacts. I will attempt to find and engage interested youth, for nationwide
input into our program. Use electronic resources to research new areas of interest
and potentially attract new “blood”. You should read the YC handbook and Going –n-
Growing articles to find out more.
Increased state participation is my goal, with more representation at State
contests, National contest and annual convention. I have attended five NJHA
conventions, competed in Horticulture judging on the Maryland State team and as an
open participant. Then in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania I competed in the demonstration
contest for flower arranging. This is my third year as being an NJHA officer, my first
year I was Eastern Director. New officers are elected every year; consider what you
could bring to NJHA as an officer. Our 2012 convention at the Dell’s in Wisconsin will be
M00-velous (get it Wisconsin cows, moo). Ok you can decide for yourself but I am
psyched to go, but don’t wait until convention to receive information contact me or any
of the other officers. I was just like you three years ago and now I am planning and
making a difference. Our 2013 convention will be in Williamsburg, Virginia. Suggestions
for future convention sites need local contacts to assist us. I would love to
go to Florida for a convention. Atlanta Georgia would be another great convention site I
recently traveled there and I have of ideas for hotel, tours and other activities. So to
recap, contact us get involved, stay involved, make a difference in NJHA.
Lexi Gegare – NJHA Secretary
Wisconsin
the_fooster@yahoo.com
Megan Buland - NJHA Past President
Kentucky
mabula2@uky.edu
Pat Ransom - NJHA Central Director
Maryland
ransomjustin77@aol.com
Hi, my name is Patrick Ransom, and I am your 2011- 2012 NJHA Central Director. I am
the youngest of my siblings, with one older sister. The convention held in Wisconsin will be my
fifth convention that I have attended, and my second as an officer. Currently I am studying Crop
Science/Environmental Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. I grew up on a farm raising
sheep, and now I have found interest in the study of crops. My other pastimes include working
on my 1965 Mustang and paintballing.
With NJHA, I have learned the responsibility that it takes to be an officer of a national
organization. I have been attending convention for four years, and have been an officer for
two years. I have been the eastern director and am now the central director. Outside of NJHA,
I have been the secretary of my 4-H club and my FFA Chapter as well as the vice president
and treasurer of my FFA Chapter. I have been the chair of many fundraisers including a beef
jerky fundraiser and a citrus fundraiser. I have also been the assistant coach of my 4-H county
horticulture judging team for the past 2 years, and spreading my knowledge as I go along.
The future of NJHA is always going and growing up and out. I personally see the future
of NJHA branching out to the FFA and Grange organizations. To make this happen, I have been
supporting and pushing the connection between my High School’s FFA chapter and NJHA. I
have undertaken the responsibility of being the coach of the Vegetable Judging team for my high
school’s FFA chapter, and have brought up the competition at many chapter activity planning
meetings.
Katlyn Beebe - NJHA Eastern Director
Justin Simmons - NJHA Western Director
North Carolina
farmerboyj@yahoo.com
Greetings NJHAer’s, my name is Justin Simmons. I’m 20 years old and
I’m from Supply, NC. This is my 3rd year being an NJHA officer and I’m
presently your NJHA Western Director. I’m currently working but I plan
to attend NC State University to major in Agriculture and Environmental
technology with a specialty in machinery technology. I love farming
and it is something I hope to do for my career along with working in
the trucking industry.
I am the current North Carolina 4-H Vice President with my term set
to be done in July. I’ve been involved with 4-H and 4-H related activities
for the last 14 years. I am also an NC Grange member of which I have
been a member for the past 3 years. I am currently a youth general board
member.
I have been doing state NJHA activities for the past 10 years with my
first national convention being 2008 in Spartanburg, SC. I’ve competed
in the horticulture judging contest 3 times placing 5th in 4-H team
in 2008, 1st open team in 2009, and 1st individual in 2009. I have also
been serving as a national officer since the 2009 convention and I served
as Central Director from 2009- 2011.
I would like to try to get our absent states at least informed this
year during my time in office. I would like to see the majority of the
states in the western region attend convention in 2012 or if unable
to attend, at least be made known that convention is going on. NJHA
is one of the best organizations I’ve had the privilege of being a part
of and I’d like the organization to have a good presence in every state
in the union if possible, at least be made known of if nothing else
and what NJHA as an organization has to offer.
Mike Ensor - Advisor
Maryland
mensor@umd.edu
Hello everyone, I am Mike Ensor from Maryland and the Officer Team Advisor.
I enjoy hobbies such as gardening and landscaping even though I am a
Horticulturalist by career. I also enjoy the beach in the summer and
skiing on the mountains in the winter during time off. Other organizations
that I am a member of are the American Horticultural Society, American
Rhododendron Society, Maryland Association of County Agricultural Agents
and the National Association of County Agricultural Association. I have
worked for the University of Maryland Extension for 25 plus years. For
the past 8 years, I have served as Anne Arundel County Extension Educator
and Master Gardener Coordinator.
Upon graduating from High School, I entered the University of Maryland
undergraduate program and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture.
Upon graduation I started my career with the University of Maryland
Extension. At this time, I began my graduate studies receiving a Master
of Science Degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Education.
Other activities and being an Irish Catholic, I serve the Church by
being a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and serve on the Liturgy Committee.
Most recently I have joined the Church Choir and now realize that I
have another talent but didn’t quite realize this during High School
days when my chorus teacher had asked me to be “Oliver” in the musical.
I have served NJHA in many capacities over the years. I am the State
Leader and Coach for the state of Maryland. I have served on the NJHA
Contest Committee for the past 25 years being responsible for the ornamental
part of the contest. Also, I have served as Project Chairs for the Young
America Contests and the Essay Contest for a number of years. Now and
over the past 8 years I have served as one of the NJHA Officer Team
Advisors. NJHA to me has brought many memories: seeing how horticulture
brings life to everyone, particularly a better quality of life and how
each youth and person changes. Also, I have seen how NJHA has broken
down walls, reaches the larger community and builds bonds and only hope
that NJHA continues to “Go and Grow” in the Future.
Debbie Gegare – NJHA Advisor
Wisconsin
debgegare@yahoo.com