Meet AAMP’s 2024 Youth Ambassador Participants

• By: admin
• On: 06/05/2024 08:55:21
• In: Member News

The American Association of Meat Processors launched its Youth Ambassador program in 2023 as a way for AAMP's younger convention attendees to further their knowledge of the meat industry. This year's convention in Omaha will feature two excellent Ambassador participants.

“We are excited to bring back the Youth Ambassador Program for round two in 2024!” says Lisa Cowles-Filbrandt, the program coordinator. “Last year, our four participants had a week full of learning, fun, and insight into the industry. This year, in Omaha, participants can look forward to a bus tour, helping with the cured meat show, being involved in speaker sessions, an evening event at Durham Museum, and so much more.

“Participants will have name badges with ribbons and be wearing polo shirts throughout the convention. Make sure to keep an eye out for them and help us make them feel welcome,” she adds.

The two participants at this year's convention are:
 
Gwen Kayser
Gwen Kayser is a 16-year-old Ukrainian-American from North Carolina. Born in Ukraine and adopted at the age of seven, she moved to America in early 2016 from the city to a farm. Living on a 60-acre farm, Gwen and her family raise lamb, beef, pork, and chickens that are butchered and sold at their plant, D6 Provisions. Gwen says, “I believe I would be a good youth ambassador because I am a natural leader, but I know I need to grow in leadership skills. This seems like an amazing opportunity to grow and learn. I am a very outgoing and friendly person who is eager and excited to learn. I would be honored to be an AAMP youth ambassador.”

From Gwen: “I'm Gwen Kayser, a 16-year-old girl who works in my family's butcher shop and lives on a farm in North Carolina. Due to working in my family's butcher shop, I am very outgoing and enjoy meeting new people. However, my story does not begin in North Carolina. I was adopted at the age of eight from Ukraine and moved to North Carolina. I enjoy playing soccer and growing plants. I like to read the Bible after work and listen to audiobooks and podcasts while working on the farm. I'm committed, a diligent worker, and I enjoy taking on challenges and learning new things.”

 
Kyler Nida
Kyler is a 16-year-old from Perry, Oklahoma. Passionate about her hometown where her grandad grew up, Kyler fell in love with hunting, fishing, and processing wild game. Even as a little girl, she was fascinated by the anatomy and processing of wild game. When designing and building a meat processing plant, her father took time to answer all of Kyler's "what's this" and "why" questions. Kyler quickly came to have a passion for the meat industry and a desire to make Noble County Meats a multi-generational business. In Kyler's words, she would be the best youth ambassador because “I want to learn, meet people, and spread the word about the meat processing industry where I plan to spend my future.”

From Kyler: “I am currently a sophomore at Perry High School in Oklahoma, where I am involved in the Perry FFA Chapter. I currently hold the office of secretary for the 2023-2024 year. I am a member of multiple judging teams, with meat evaluation being my favorite. The last two years I have shown a market steer as well as a breeding ewe. I plan to continue to show sheep through the Perry FFA Chapter. I have enjoyed being able to use my education at our custom exempt butcher shop. Our family is starting a new retail meat shop that I am looking forward to working at. I am glad to see how my education gives me a better understanding of meats, so that I may directly use this in the workplace.”