2025 NATIONAL SILVER FOX RABBIT CLUB ELECTIONS

Dear NSFRC Voting Members,

We are pleased to announce that the official ballot for the upcoming election is ready. This ballot includes several proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws (C&BL) as well as seven petitions submitted by members seeking to serve on the Board of Directors.

The Election Committee has worked closely with the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to prepare these proposals following Robert’s Rules of Order and our club’s governing documents.

To help facilitate an open and informative discussion, the Election Committee is creating a dedicated Comments and Q&A section on both the NSFRC Facebook page and the NSFRC website. All questions and comments regarding the ballot items should be directed to me, as NSFRC Election Chair, at election@nsfrc.com.

We encourage thoughtful, constructive dialogue focused on ideas rather than individuals. Please remember:

We appreciate your engagement and commitment to the governance of the NSFRC. Your thoughtful consideration and active participation help strengthen our club and its future.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you, and happy voting!
Best regards,
Suzel A. Bozada-Deas
NSFRC Election Chair
election@nsfrc.com

Vice President Candidacy

In the recent club election, Nancy Wollam ran unopposed for the position of Vice President. This means that she faced no challengers during the election process, allowing her to secure the role without contest. The unopposed nature of her candidacy highlights strong support within the club regarding her leadership.

View Nancy's petition for Vice President

Treasurer Candidacy

In the recent club election, Roxanna Dabney ran unopposed for the position of Treasurer. This election outcome indicates a strong level of support and confidence from the club members in her abilities to manage the club's finances effectively. As Treasurer, Roxanna will be responsible for overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and ensuring transparency in the club's financial dealings.

View Roxanna's petition for Treasurer

BOD of Director Candidates

Emily Kuhn Ashley Carrube Hailey Kuhn Kristin Kugel
Jon Marc Truesdale Clyde Green Misty Polasik
Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted May 31, 2025
Emily Kuhn, ARBA #: KUHNEM00
(570) 541-9905
emilygracekuhn@gmail.com
Facebook: Emily Kuhn

To the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club,

My name is Emily Kuhn, and I am writing to formally declare my intent to run for a position on the Board of the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club (NSFRC). As a passionate breeder, youth advocate, and lifelong supporter of the Silver Fox rabbit, I am excited for the opportunity to help guide the future of this incredible breed and the club that supports it.

My rabbit journey began in 2015 when I joined the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) and started raising French Lops. While searching for a suitable meat pen breed, I initially tried Champagne D'Argents, but they didn’t quite match the vision I had for my program. That changed when I discovered Silver Foxes—thanks to Lauren Wilson, a cousin of the breeder I bought my Champagnes from. I immediately fell in love with the breed's type, temperament, and utility. In 2016, I purchased my first Silver Fox breeding pair from Lauren, and from the very beginning, her mentorship and quality stock gave me a solid start.

When Lauren stepped away from raising rabbits, I continued to grow with the invaluable guidance of Jo Mladjenovich and Margaret Funk. As a youth, their mentorship deeply influenced my understanding of structure, type, and color. I’ll never forget helping Jo at the PaSRBA show and admiring one of her impressive senior bucks. When she told me to take him home as a gift, I was shocked and honored. That single moment—and that buck—changed my breeding program. Many of my best animals today trace back to him.

Margaret’s influence also left a lasting impression. She had a quiet way of teaching, and although she didn’t initially critique my overly silvered rabbits directly, I could sense her high standards. I worked tirelessly to improve my animals, and when she eventually complimented my progress, it meant the world to me. Those kinds of mentors shaped who I am—and they’re why I am so devoted to paying it forward.

Today, my parents and I operate Dressler Ridge Rabbitry, a small, family-run operation in central Pennsylvania. Together with my parents, Chris and Teresa Kuhn, who officially became ARBA members in 2020, we focus on raising show-quality Silver Fox and French Lop rabbits. While I lead the breeding program, this is truly a family endeavor, and their unwavering support has been a cornerstone of my success. What began as a personal project has grown into a mission-driven rabbitry committed to breed preservation, youth education, and community support.

In addition to my dedication to youth and outreach, I am deeply driven by a commitment to preserving the heritage and historical integrity of the Silver Fox breed. This breed is not just a rabbit—it is a living piece of American agricultural history. I believe that we, as stewards of the Silver Fox, must work tirelessly to protect its purity, uphold its breed standards, and strive for excellence in type, coat, and character. While innovation has its place in many aspects of rabbit breeding, I believe the Silver Fox’s strength lies in honoring the original vision set forth by Walter Garland. By remaining true to the traits that define the breed, we can continue to improve and promote the Silver Fox in a way that respects its unique legacy and secures its future for generations to come.

One of my greatest passions is mentoring youth. Having struggled to find guidance early on, I now make it a personal goal to be that support system for others. Whether it’s providing free or discounted rabbits, helping youth find starter stock, assisting with breeding, or simply offering advice—I believe in lowering the barriers to entry for the next generation. Many of the youth I’ve supported have gone on to build impressive herds of their own and are actively showing and improving the breed. This hands-on work directly supports the club’s mission and helps grow the Silver Fox community from the ground up.

If elected to the Board, I would bring both personal passion and professional experience. I hold a dual Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Graphic Design and currently work as an Administration and Communications Manager. This background gives me the tools to elevate our club’s outreach through modern communication strategies, educational materials, and meaningful engagement.

During my term, I would focus on the following initiatives:

The Silver Fox breed has given me purpose, community, and lifelong friendships. Serving on the NSFRC Board would be an honor and a chance to ensure that others have the same opportunities I did. I am ready to serve with dedication, humility, and a true desire to see our breed—and our club—thrive.

If you have any questions, I welcome you to contact me at (570) 541-9905, emilygracekuhn@gmail.com, or through Facebook.

With appreciation,
Emily Kuhn
Dressler Ridge Rabbitry

List of Petitions

Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted June 17, 2025
Jon Marc Truesdale, ARBA # TRUEMA00
(571) 405-4242
jonmarc@thetruecrew.com

Hi, my name is Jon Marc Truesdale. This is my letter of intent to run for one of the BOD positions available. A little about myself. I am the middle child of 11. I grew up in northern Virginia and have lived in Ohio for the past 3 years. I was in 4-H for 7 years, but never showed rabbits in 4- H though. I got my first rabbit around my 15th birthday, a Silver Fox of course! At first my goal was just to raise meat mutts, but in late 2020/early 2021 I came across Tiffany Taylor on Youtube. Her videos inspired me to go back to pure Silver Fox and start showing. I have been breeding and showing for about 4 years now. It feels like much longer considering all the memories I have packed into those years. Besides Silver Fox I also breed Rex, New Zealands, and Californians.

I am excited to run for this position this year to be even more involved than I already am! As many of you can attest I am always happy to help out where I can! I love to help with set up and clean up at nationals and convention as well as help with running, writing, and however else I can help the shows move along smoothly. This past year I organized the Youth Herd Development Program and I hope to continue this program in future years. The goal was to get higher quality animals in the hands of youth breeders and help increase the caliber of Silver Fox in their barns and on the youth show tables. We were able to give rabbits to 16 kids. The participants had to send in essays about their herd goals in order to qualify. You can read these essays in the newsletter that came out recently.

I look forward to continuing the YHDP and finding new ways to grow the membership. Both in numbers and knowledge, by sharing what I have learned through my experience. For those that don’t know, I am a people person. I love to help people make connections and hope to use that “ability” any way I can as a director. See ya’ll at convention in November!

List of Petitions

Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted June 26, 2025
Ashley Carrube, ARBA# GRANAS01
(309) 808-9862
rawhideranchrex@gmail.com

Dear Silver Fox Family,

I am honored to submit my name for your consideration for a position on the Board of Directors of the NSFRC. My love for the Silver Fox breed, combined with a deep passion for fostering the growth of the breed and the next generation of breeders, has inspired me to seek a role where I can contribute more directly to our fabulous, foxy family!

Throughout my years as a Silver Fox breeder, I have gained valuable experience and insights that I am eager to use to benefit the Club. I firmly believe that youth are the future of this hobby, and have prioritized donating high-quality animals to serious youth breeders in the interest of promoting their growth and enjoyment of this hobby, while ensuring the long term sustainability of the breed. Today, I only raise Silver Fox in my barn, and firmly believe they are the best well-rounded rabbits for meat, fur, and youth projects due to their docile and friendly natures.

Locally, I have worked to build a strong and inclusive Silver Fox community by participating in collaborative breedings to help improve the quality and consistency of our lines. I’ve sponsored awards and promoted local specialty shows, and have travelled near and far to boost Silver Fox entry numbers on the West Coast. Helping to expand and support the breed on the West Coast has been a rewarding part of my journey, and I’m excited about the opportunity to do even more on a national level.

As a potential Board member, I am dedicated to:

I am hopeful for the opportunity to work with the NSFRC and the larger Silver Fox community to build upon our successes and chart an ambitious path forward. Thank you sincerely for considering my petition for a position on the Board of Directors.

With gratitude and best regards,
Ashley Carrube

List of Petitions
Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted June 28, 2025
Clyde Green, ARBA #GREECL01
989-254-8531
timberroserabbitry71@yahoo.com

Hello Silver Fox Family,

My name is Clyde Green, and this is my letter of intent to run for NSFRC Director.

Many of you know my wife, Sandi and I, but for those of you that don't, let me introduce myself and share my experience with Silver Fox and rabbits in general.

I was raised on a dairy farm in the 70s and 80s... Being a member of 4-H and FFA, Showing many species of livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry/waterfowl, horses and of course Rabbits.

All while working to support my hobbies, by milking cows for a neighbor from the time I was 13... I later branched out to training and exercising Thoroughbred race horses.

I started out showing Flemish Giants in the early 80s, under the tutelage of longtime breeders Bob & Lynn Bolyard and Judge Keith Forebush, I have raised, worked with, and shown 43 different breeds of rabbits.

I have worked and learned from numerous breeders and judges, like Oren Reynolds and other greats in our hobby.

I have studied and witnessed many changes in our breed, type has changed from mandolin to commercial, from Steel colored to a Silvered breed. We have also witnessed a big change in fur, something we have worked to keep from the early days.

We have gone through great years with the club and not so good years, but I do have to say..... The NSFRC is the strongest its ever been.

Through the years my wife and I have also studied old Standard of Perfections, not only unraveling the history of the Silver Fox, but also the likely Genetic History.

If I am chosen and a director, I would like to help set up judges’ conferences across the country. One of our biggest hurdles is getting judges that really know Silver Fox. I believe many judges know what our Fox are showing much better type, however, they are starting to ignore the importance of our fur.... Ideal 1.5” and I have had judges tell me some of our fur is too long... when its 1.5” long.... we need to correct this before we lose this beautiful fur.

I would like to work to add better descriptions in the standard of perfection when it comes to silvering, color, under coat/wool.... etc

I have a belief that nothing is ever as good as it could be, our knowledge, our friendship, our Silver Fox and even our club.... Always strive to be better.

I hope you will consider me for one of your NSFRC directors.

Thank you,
Clyde Green

List of Petitions
Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted June 30, 2025
Hailey Kuhn, ARBA #: CANFHA00
(509) 591-5582
Rosenoakranch@yahoo.com

To whom it may concern,

My name is Hailey Kuhn and I am delighted to share my interest in running for a Board of Director Position for the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club.

A little about me is that I live on my 11-acre farm with my wonderful husband, Xavier, our dogs; Venom, Valor, and Viggo, our various breeds of Rabbits, Icelandic Sheep, Dairy Goats, a small herd of Cattle, and our horse; Raven. Outside of farming I spend my time reading, baking, riding horses, and look forward to reviving my love for sewing this year and beginning to making my own clothes as well as making quilts.

I first began in Silver Foxes with the goal of raising a sustainable meat source while living on less than a quarter of an acre in the middle of a very busy town. Since then, I have focused on improving my herd to follow the breed standard and to be competitive on show tables all over the country. During this time, I have gained so much knowledge about our amazing breed and look forward to witnessing the growth and improvement of all our herds across the country. I especially look forward to the moment our breed is removed from the Livestock Conservancy’s ‘Rare Breed’ list. WE have saved the Silver Fox breed. Our entire membership has been working diligently for a long time to make this happen and every single one of you should be proud of yourselves.

I have been involved with NSFRC for several years on your Social Media Committee and have the immense honor of putting together your 2027 Silver Fox Breed Nationals that will be taking place in Ridgefield, Washington. My wonderful team and I look forward to showing the membership the beauty that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Outside of the Silver Fox Club, I also hold the position of President of the Western Havana Owners.

My favorite part of the American Rabbit Breeders Association is the camaraderie. Over the years I have been blessed to make so many connections with people from all over. From making friends at local shows and conventions (friends who quickly become family) to learning so much about all the different breeds ARBA has to offer by writing for judges. If you are seeing this and are somehow not part of ARBA or the NSFRC, please consider joining these amazing communities and opening the door to the countless opportunities that are available.

If elected, I hope to assist the Silver Fox breed to new heights by encouraging further development of our Youth and Mentorship programs, as well as keeping harmony within the club so we can continue to grow and thrive.

I thank you all for this opportunity to be considered,

Hailey Kuhn

List of Petitions
Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted June 30, 2025
Misty Polasik , ARBA #Polami00
(530) 391-5141
mistylea7@yahoo.com

It would be an honor to serve on the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club board of directors. My name is Misty Polasik, NSFRC member and breeder of blue fox. I’ve only been raising this breed a few years and look forward to many years with this long fur heritage breed! Over the past several years I have had the opportunity to meet many of the fox family across the nation, and I especially love the unity and camaraderie at convention each year. Shout out to the club members that make the fox booth a creative vision and THE place to take photos!

I am from California (born and raised), my husband Tim is from Minnesota, and we have three amazing daughters. We are Christians, and spend a lot time in fellowship at Calvary Chapel or other non-denominational outreach and events. Our youngest Alexandra just graduated high school and is playing ice hockey in Massachusetts for a women’s national league. Her goal is to land a full-ride scholarship after the 2026 season and play collegiate hockey. Isabella is our middle daughter (now 20!) and is finishing her ASE certificate and AA degree in automotive services with a specialty in electrical components. Her goal is to pursue a technical specialty degree in clean energy engines and work in the hybrid / electrical car industry as a technician and eventually an engineer. Bella is also a talented artist and has made many convention, national specialty and all-breed show awards (she sketches and paints a marvelous fox!)

Abigail is our oldest daughter (22) and she is married to a paramedic and lives nearby in Folsom. She finished her AA degree and has a one-year –old son (the apple of my eye- William). Abby raises rabbits with me, and judges local county fairs, state fair, and hosts the showmanship and handling clinics with her momma. She plans to pursue a four-year degree in physics or chemistry (she is one of the math brilliant minds). My husband has a bachelor’s degree in human factors engineering and currently works for the State of California. I also work for the State of California and have a four-year degree in Animal Science and Environmental Policy, and a Juris Doctor in law.

In addition to blue Fox, I also raise Lilac and Rex. When not showing or judging my passion is leading youth groups, teaching animal projects, and raising Appaloosa horses. I am currently hosting showmanship clinics at my ranch, highlighting breed attributes of the lesser known breeds, promoting rare breeds, and connecting youth breeders of rabbits and cavies with established breed mentors in the area. As a director of the Silver Fox club, I would like to help build a framework for a mentorship program. The ARBA has a judge mentorship program that matches long- time judges to new judges for their first year. Meetings are held semi-monthly via Zoom, phone calls and/or shadowing at shows to allow one-on-one time for questions, tips, and general input on judging or the hobby in general. A similar model (but with more website resources and a learning platform for small group teaching clinics) would be effective and encourage new and existing breeders, provide a knowledge-transfer from long-time successful breeders and judges, and benefit the breed by promoting more consistency and quality through sharing of practical tips, resources, insight and experience. Shows used to provide a venue and time for this sort of information sharing and breeder gatherings (but they were single shows back in the day).

I would also love to see more educational discussions or presentations on meat type and consistency in all varieties. There are some regional differences in Fox herds across the U.S. and it is always my goal when judging to balance the constructive feedback with praise for noteworthy traits, and breeder encouragement in appreciation for the unique features of this breed. I value community and shared purpose, and think this is a great club to generate positive discussion, helpful ideas, and more support for herd development and knowledge through mentorship, youth programs, and national gatherings.

Regarding leadership, I value transparency and think a unified vision is paramount to instill trust and communicate fairly. The NSFRC should have a printed mission statement for the breed that defines its current purpose and activities, and a vision statement to outline future aspirations. These should be on the website and official social media page, and guidebook.

As a youth leader, past county-wide project leader, and ARBA committee member for standing committees and convention committees, I have considerable experience collaborating with diverse groups, communicating effectively, and building a team. It greatly contributes to solidarity of purpose when the mission and end-goals are clearly defined. The board of directors must be responsive to the membership, make decisions in the best interest of the breed and its members, and seek to work together for the shared vision (which must be stated with specificity) over individual preferences. I also have training and legal coursework in mediation, and although conflict is not what most people seek, sometimes it’s helpful to meet people where they are and foster cooperation leading to resolution (I mean, we must discuss bitters with a shared vision for the overall breed!). As a board member my goal is to encourage members, support youth breeders, promote the Silver Fox, champion transparency through open dialogue, honest and fair dealing, and bring fresh ideas to the table. This should be a club that people hear about, see working cooperatively and supportively, and having fun. That is the draw for me.

Thank you for your consideration,
Misty Polasik

List of Petitions
Petition to Run for Board of Director,
Submitted July 1st, 2025
Kristin Kugel , ARBA #KUGEKR00
(715) 572-0462
kristin@whiskeytangofarms.net

Greetings Foxy Family!

My name is Kristin Kugel and I have been compelled to run for Director for the board of the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club!

For those that don’t know me, I live in Stevens Point, WI – right smack dab in the middle of the state – with my husband of nearly 14 years, Brandon, at Whiskey Tango Farms. We are blessed with 2 kiddos, Prestin (13) and Olivia “Liv” (11). We share our home with our corgi “project manager”. Her formal name is Pumpkin Spice Latte but often goes by Latte; although she believes her name to also be “Potato” and “I love you”. She patrols our house with the 2 cats, Moonshine and Starlight. Outside, we have hosted a menagerie of critters including ducks, chickens, quail, goats, and of course rabbits. Our first purebred rabbits joined us in 2020; a pair of Silver Fox that we simply wanted for meat. I was urged by a very good friend and mentor to “just try one rabbit show”, which VERY quickly had me hooked and turned into a favorite hobby of mine! We have since added Crème d’Argents to our herd and dabble with Czech Frosties. Our kiddos also enjoy the company of other breeds here and there. However, our staple breeds will always be our Fox and Crèmes, as they have our hearts!

Although I tend to be more reserved in crowds, it is not uncommon to see me running around to lend a helping hand and bonding with other Silver Fox breeders at various shows and events. The NSFRC has been a huge welcoming family where I find I can easily be comfortable around, which is a huge blessing! You may have seen me recording video, taking photos, and helping corral and run rabbits to/from the table. Behind the scenes, I have had the pleasure of serving on the NSFRC Website Committee, Marketing Committee, Sweepstakes Committee and recently also joined the Social Media Committee.

I also currently serve as Treasurer of the Great Lakes Silver Fox club, Director for the Crème d’Argent Rabbit Federation, and Secretary for the Central Wisconsin Rabbit Breeders Association. I have the pleasure of serving on several committees for the CDRF as well- including Chair of the Communications committee (Website, Newsletter & Social Media), as well as the Marketing Committee.

The 2025 Indianapolis Convention will also be my second opportunity to be the Show Superintendent for the CDRF, which is quite exciting! I learned a lot last year and can’t wait to continue to learn more during my amazing rabbit journey!

It is my hope and vision for NSFRC to be a voice for breeders, exhibitors and fanatics of all things Silver Fox! I want to ensure that folks feel welcome, heard and valued as a part of our wonderful community. One of the things I have often shared with others, is the immense sense of “family” that I feel with NSFRC.

It is my mission to not only make sure that we move forward as a breed club, continuing to strive for “perfection”- but that we sustain, foster and advance our community! Having over a decade of retail leadership experience and often aiding with various events in the farming community, I am no stranger to hearing the concerns or recommendations of individuals. I am well-versed in finding a way to make changes to address those matters in a constructive and progressive way, while preserving the mission and vision of an establishment. I believe in balance of interests and excel at problem solving. These are skills I believe will be beneficial to NSFRC as we continue to grow!

Additionally, as a life-long animal lover and steward, it is incredibly important to me to safeguard the progress that has been made for our breed, club and hobby. I understand that our historical achievements should be honored and respected while simultaneously celebrating progression and advancement. Preservation and Progression need to go hand-in-hand if we want to take over the world with our Silver Fox – I mean... show everyone how awesome Silver Fox are!

I would be simply honored to receive your vote for Director for the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club. If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, I invite you to reach out to me via Facebook Messenger or my email at kristin@whiskeytangofarms.net. Additionally, if I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person yet, I hope that you will come say hi and chat with me. I always have an ear to listen and even if I can be a little shy, nothing makes me start to open up like discussing rabbits does!

I thank you for your consideration and want you to always remember...
STAY FOXY!
Kristin Kugel

List of Petitions