ARBA #	BAYLRI00
Email	risab33@gmail.com

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Candidate Petition

My journey with this breed—and with this club—has shaped me in ways I never expected when I brought home my first pair of Silver Foxes. What began as curiosity quickly became a deep respect for a heritage breed with history, heart, and a fiercely dedicated community behind it.

Serving as Secretary has allowed me to see the club from the inside: the questions from new breeders, the excitement of youth exhibitors, the careful work of our committees, and the steady commitment of long-time members who have carried this breed through decades of change.

I am running for President because I care deeply about the future of the Silver Fox and the people who steward it. My priorities include strengthening member communication, improving administrative clarity, and supporting projects that help breeders—new and experienced—feel connected, informed, and valued.

I want our processes to be transparent, our expectations clear, and our members confident that their voices matter. Stewardship is personal to me. I want to help preserve the integrity of this uniquely American breed while encouraging thoughtful growth and participation.

In five years, I hope to see a club that is even more welcoming, more organized, and more unified in its vision for the Silver Fox.

Thank you for considering my petition. It would be an honor to continue serving this membership and to help guide the NSFRC into its next chapter.

Sincerely, Risa Bayliff

ARBA #	PETEMI07
Email	Mptrsen@ymail.com

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Candidate Petition

Dear Election Committee,

Please accept this letter as my formal nomination for President of the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club. My biography is included below, and I am available to provide any additional information you may require.

Thank you, Michael Petersen

Over the past six years, I have seen our club make significant progress, and I am committed to advancing that momentum. I am prepared to lead the organization with clarity, consistency, and purpose.

My background includes twenty-two years of service in the United States Navy, where I held senior leadership responsibilities for more than 3,500 sailors through seven supervisory leaders and their teams.

I have also served as Treasurer, Secretary, and President within a historical reenactment organization.

Within the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club I have served as Sweeps Chair, Marketing Chair, Constitution & Bylaws Chair, and currently serve on the Walter Garland Award Committee.

I also serve as President of the Southeastern Silver Fox Rabbit Breeder Club, which has successfully hosted National Shows and continues to promote organized, well-attended events.

I am fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of President and support the continued success of the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club.

Michael A. Petersen

ARBA #	GRANAS01
Email	Rawhideranchrex@gmail.com
Rabbitry	Rawhide Ranch & Rabbitry

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Candidate Petition

Hi Foxy Fam!

I would like to respectfully submit my petition to run for a Director position with the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club.

Silver Fox rabbits have been my heart breed for several years, but this past year has brought a whole new level of involvement for me. As I continue expanding and refining my herd, my focus has been on improving the quality of the animals I produce and being able to share purposeful Silver Fox with others. Through my involvement with the West Coast Silver Fox Club and the breeders, exhibitors, and youth I have met along the way, supporting this breed has truly become one of my biggest passions.

My biggest dream for the breed is to one day see a Silver Fox win Best of Breed at ARBA Convention, and when that day comes, I plan to be the loudest one in the cheering section!

Youth involvement is especially important to me. I have been grateful for opportunities to support youth breeders by placing promising animals, sponsoring show sanctions and awards, and offering to fund NSFRC and local club memberships for youth or new breeders who show genuine interest in the breed. I believe one of the best things we can do for the future of Silver Fox is help new breeders feel encouraged, supported, and connected from the beginning. Having a big win is great to get someone hooked, but having a sense of community and purpose is what keeps people involved.

I believe our breed is strongest when we work together. Sharing animals, mentoring new breeders, cheering each other on, and helping new and youth breeders fall in love with Silver Fox are all part of what keeps this breed moving forward. I would love to help support a club culture where members feel welcomed, respected, informed, and heard, and where kindness and good sportsmanship matter just as much as the wins.

The Silver Fox breed has come such a long way, and we have a real opportunity to keep that momentum going. I would be honored to serve the NSFRC as Director and help support the future of the breed and the people who love it.

Respectfully,
Ashley Carrube
Rawhide Ranch & Rabbitry

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ARBA #	KUHNEM00
Email	emilygracekuhn@gmail.com
Rabbitry	Dressler Ridge Rabbitry

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Candidate Petition

To the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club,

My name is Emily Kuhn, and I am excited to submit my petition for Director on the Board of the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club. The Silver Fox breed has been a major part of my life for nearly a decade, and I am passionate about giving back to the community that has given me so much.

I began raising rabbits in 2015 and quickly found my home in the Silver Fox breed in 2016. With the guidance of incredible mentors like Lauren Wilson, Jo Mladjenovich, and Margaret Funk, I built a strong foundation focused on quality, integrity, and respect for the breed. Those early experiences not only shaped my breeding program, but also inspired my commitment to helping others grow.

Today, my family and I run Dressler Ridge Rabbitry in Pennsylvania, where we raise Silver Fox and French Lops with an emphasis on preservation and education. Beyond my rabbitry, I am honored to serve as Co-Chair of the NSFRC Youth Committee, where I actively work to support and encourage young breeders. I am also proud to have founded and chartered the Mid-Atlantic Silver Fox Rabbit Club in March 2026, where I serve as President. Through this club, we host specialties and create opportunities to connect and support Silver Fox breeders across our region.

One of my greatest passions is mentorship. I love helping new exhibitors get started, whether that means providing rabbits, answering questions, or simply being someone they can rely on.

With my background in communications and my dedication to this breed, I hope to continue strengthening our club, supporting our members, and promoting the Silver Fox for generations to come.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Emily Kuhn
Dressler Ridge Rabbitry

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ARBA #	BROCBIOO
Email	caneycreekcwc@gmail.com
Rabbitry	Misty Ridge Rabbitry

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Candidate Petition

Hello Silver Fox Family,

My Name is Bill Brockman. My wife Ayn and I own Misty Ridge Rabbitry in Kingston TN. We only raise Silver Fox and truly believe they are the best all around breed. We work closely with the local 4H and farmers Co-operative teaching on the benefits of raising Silver Fox. We strive to raise the best rabbits possible and work closely with other breeders to improve the breed. I have served on the National Silver Fox rabbit club Board of Directors for the last 4 years, and I am currently Vice President of the Southeast Silver Fox Rabbit breeders since its beginning.

So, once again I am asking for your support as I am running for a director's position this year.

I feel it is important for this group to stand united as we move forward. With President Hannah Ramirez stepping back to take care of her beautiful baby girl, the transition into our new president will be smooth with a unified group of experienced Directors. There is a lot of work to get done as we prepare for the next couple of years. We are planning another stand-alone Silver Fox Nationals. We look forward to seeing the blues get their COD and hope the lilacs are soon to follow.

I truly have enjoyed my time working with this group and I hope you will consider allowing me to continue to work hard for the breed we all love.

Sincerely
Bill Brockman
Misty Ridge Rabbitry

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ARBA #	MCGOSU01
Email	mcgsfarm@gmail.com

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Candidate Statement

Hello, Team Silver Fox !

This is my formal petition to announce I am running for reelection of my seat on the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club Board of Directors.

As a member for almost 10 years, I’ve seen many changes and many accomplishments within the club as we strive to perfect and move this beloved breed of ours into the spotlight for folks desiring to raise quality meat rabbits for homesteaders and such, and dual purpose rabbits for showing, breeding, meat pens, and incredible pets.

I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing the blue variety back into our beloved breed. I’ve been breeding them for years, hoping once we do get them re-recognized, I can hit the ground running at the show tables with them.

I’ve tried to share the genetics I’ve carefully built, and hope to help others in the future once we do accomplish reinstatement. And since chocolates are now a recognized variety within our breed, I will also undertake working towards getting lilacs recognized as well.

I’ve also served on the Board of Directors for the Florida White National Club, and feel I made significant contributions within that club. I have and continue to work consistently and extensively with our Youth, mentoring them, judging County Fair shows and Showmanship competitions, and supplying rabbits for other contests such as breed ID and “you be the judge” competitions.

My career in land development has helped me with my abilities to lead and command situations with patience, tact, understanding, and fairness in situations, whether they be good or bad.

To club members, I wish to assure you that I am ever only a phone call, text or email away to discuss any club matters, or just talk about any topics or difficulties you are experiencing with your programs, or within the club. I look forward to being a strong presence on the Board, to continue to represent the membership, and would love to have your vote in the upcoming election.

Thank you.
Sue McGonegal

ARBA #	HEINLE01
Email	lrheinolydon@gmail.com

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Candidate Statement

My name is Leslie “Rebah” Heino, and I am running for an open Director position with the National Silver Fox Rabbit Club (NSFRC). As a 4th-generation family farmer, agriculture is a part of who I am, and I bring a lifetime of dedication to our livestock community. I bring:

• 20+ Years of Livestock Experience: Extensive hands-on knowledge raising dairy goats, dual-purpose sheep, and rabbits.
• Proven Breeding Excellence: Bred and exhibited multiple champion goats and successfully bred and selected multiple champion market rabbit pens.
• 18 Years of 4-H Leadership: Served 2 years as a 4-H County Ambassador, 4-H camp teen staff leadership team for 4 years, 12 years as a club leader and volunteer, and 4 years specifically as a rabbit project leader.
• Teach Clinics and Classes: Mentor and educate the next generation of farmers and homesteaders on a local level about the importance of starting with good stock, disease management, vet relationships, and first aid at home.
• Future Veterinarian: Currently returning to school to become a veterinarian specializing in rural and large animal medicine, with an emphasis on small ruminants and exotics, to directly solve the severe vet crisis in my local area.

My journey with the Silver Fox began in the spring of 2023, when my son and I officially joined the NSFRC during the ARBA Convention. While Fox is a more recent passion, my history with rabbits stretches back 15 years, starting in 4-H and continuing into adulthood. Now, I am raising my own 4-H kids who share this deep passion for our industry. Over the years, I have owned and raised 10 different rabbit breeds, but the Silver Fox is my absolute favorite large breed.

To me, the Standard of Perfection (SOP) is vital; regardless of color, the structure of the rabbit must remain consistent. I feel the same way about our club. The NSFRC is the backbone of our breed—it provides the structural framework and strength that allows the rest of us to grow.

The breeders—you, me, and our children—are the heart of this organization. We keep it moving, growing, and flourishing. From traditionalists raising blacks and chocolates to innovators experimenting with new varieties, every single one of us serves a crucial purpose in moving our breed forward. Whether you are on the East Coast or the West Coast, promoting this breed and supporting its recovery is paramount.

As a Director, I am eager to focus on the following initiatives:

• Mentoring Youth: I want to encourage more youth to choose the Silver Fox. This means getting more rabbits on the show tables and proactively placing more Foxes into commercial market pens.
• Promoting the Homestead Market: As a breeder, I see the immense potential the Silver Fox holds for the modern homesteading movement. I want to ensure that even rabbits raised primarily for homestead production align strictly with the SOP.
• Fostering Fair Competition: Our youth should feel empowered to breed their own projects and confidently take them to local fairs. We all know the Silver Fox is just as commercially viable as a New Zealand or a Californian—in fact, it is superior.
• Strengthen connections between East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast breeders to improve genetic diversity.Bridging Regional Gaps: I want to work with my fellow directors to connect East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast breeders. Promoting our rabbits nationwide will help diversify our gene pools and introduce excellent traits that might not be prominent in our local areas.

Sustainable and regenerative agriculture is my biggest passion. The building blocks we lay down today will shape the industry for years to come. The future of our breed and our organization will ultimately be handed down to the next generation. My dream is to bring our youth together every year to celebrate their achievements at a dedicated youth banquet. Having the honor to serve as an NSFRC Director will help bring that dream, and a stronger future for our breed, one step closer to reality.

I appreciate your support and humbly ask for your vote!