2025 Board of Director Election
Members of the American Aberdeen Association, you should have received this information in the mail. If you did not receive it, please contact the office. You will be voting to fill three positions for the AAA Board of Directors.
All ballots must be postmarked by December 1, 2025 in order to be counted.
Results will be announced a the AAA Annual Meeting in January 2026 in Denver, Colorado.
See the candidates below:
Colton Tom – Findlay, OH – Eastern Region
Administration from the University of Findlay and an Associate of Applied Science from
Zane State Community College.
Findlay’s Animal Science Facilities, where he manages a herd of Fullblood American
Aberdeen cattle. Under his leadership, the program has successfully raised and
developed approximately 80 calves annually, with a strong emphasis on sound genetics, reproductive efficiency,
and hands-on student involvement. He also oversees daily herd care, vaccination programs, AI and embryo
transfer work, and supports undergraduate research projects related to beef production and management.
Colton also manages the University’s Beef Cattle Show Team, mentoring roughly 90 students each year.
His passion for education and practical training has made him a respected leader in both academic and
agricultural communities.
Prior to his role at Findlay, Colton worked extensively with The Ohio State University’s Beef and Sheep
Facilities, gaining experience in large-scale herd operations, reproductive physiology trials, and forage
production. He also completed a meat science internship at the Ohio State Meat Lab, where he worked in
harvest, fabrication, and processed product development.
With a deep commitment to the future of the beef industry and the American Aberdeen breed, Colton is
eager to bring his practical expertise, leadership experience, and educational perspective to the American
Aberdeen Association Board.
Darwin Engelkes – Wellsburg, IA – Midwest Region
My name is Darwin Engelkes, and I am from Pine Hurst Farm in central Iowa. I have
served on your board of directors in the past and appreciate the opportunity to serve you
again. My wife Melanie and I operate both a full-blood and moderator herd of cattle along
with our children and grandchildren.
My previous tenure on the board saw a lot of changes, from the name change to the recent
change in the office. I feel I was instrumental in the office change and the recent reciprocal
agreements with both ALCA and the Canadian Lowline Association. I was also an advisor
to our junior board for 5 years. I believe that to have a strong Association the youth need to
be a top priority. As those of you that know me personally, know that I am a stickler for
following our rules and bylaws.
I feel there is still a lot to do for the American Aberdeen Association. I have always felt and
still do today, that maintaining the integrity of our fullblood cattle is priority number one. I know that the
experience I would bring back to your board of directors would be very beneficial to bring the breed forward.
Being transparent and working together is also very important to me.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve on your board of directors and I would appreciate your vote
in the upcoming election.
Ellen Archer – Priest River, ID – Western Region
My name is Ellen Archer, and I operate Archer Valley Ranch, where I have been proudly breeding American
Aberdeen cattle since 2015. Over the past decade, I have
developed a deep commitment to this exceptional breed and the values that the
American Aberdeen Association represents.
My involvement spans across multiple facets of the industry, from exhibiting cattle
to engaging in the commercial beef sector. I believe in the versatility and strength of the
American Aberdeen breed, and I’m passionate about promoting its advantages to both
existing breeders and new markets.
As a board member, my goal is to be a strong, active voice for our membership. I
am committed to advancing the interests of breeders of all sizes, supporting educational
outreach, and helping guide the Association’s growth with integrity and transparency. I
value collaboration and believe that together we can expand awareness, strengthen programs, and ensure the
long-term success of the breed.
I would be honored to earn your vote and represent your interests on the Board. You can count on my
dedication, experience, and enthusiasm to serve the American Aberdeen Association with purpose and
professionalism.
Glen Card – Billerica, MA – Eastern Region
I was born and raised in Billerica, Massachusetts, on a farm where my
parents operated a commercial honeybee business. Growing up on the farm fostered
my passion for agriculture and sustainable farming practices. After high school, I
attended the University of Vermont, studying Agriculture Resource Entrepreneurship.
I graduated in 2006 with a BS degree and met my wife, Adrienne, during my time at
UVM.
After college, I joined my family’s bee farm with my brother. Together, we
expanded the operation to over 35,000 hives across multiple states, gaining valuable
experience in managing large-scale agriculture. In 2010, I began exploring cattle
farming by purchasing shares in Lowline Angus embryo stock. By 2013, our first
embryo was born, and we added a few Red Heifers, initially focusing on breeding for
the red gene. Over the years, we continued to grow our herd by acquiring quality heifers whenever possible.
In 2019, we purchased a large red herd and secured a farm in Vermont, establishing a dedicated home
base for our operation. By 2020, we had developed a herd of about 100 Aberdeen cattle. In early 2022, we
downsized to around 50 cattle to better align with our goals. Currently, we maintain about 50 to 70 head
depending on the season. Although we’ve bred exclusively fullblood Aberdeen Angus, in 2025, we began
exploring percentage breeding, enhancing the genetic diversity of our herd.
My journey has been driven by a passion for sustainable farming and animal husbandry. Each step has
strengthened my skills in livestock management while fueling my dedication to agriculture. I look forward to
continuing this journey with American Aberdeens, expanding my knowledge, and contributing to the Breed.
John Tomlinson – Hayden, ID – Western Region
My passion for cattle ranching is so central to my character that it may as well be
genetic. My family’s ranching legacy began in Lincoln County, Wyoming, four
generations ago. After resettling in California, my family owned approximately 50 Angus
in North San Diego County for decades.
Cattle ranching was never far from my father, Frank Tomlinson’s, heart, and in 2008, he
purchased the ranch our family currently owns in Hayden, Idaho, before passing away in
2012. His passion for cattle, especially American Aberdeen, lives on in me, particularly
the belief that this breed holds unique opportunities for our industry. I have consistently
and will continue to advocate for increased education, awareness, and promotion of this
breed’s feed efficiency, fertility, calving ease, and carcass quality values.
Professionally, I have an extensive track record as a tenured leader and director, a
catalog of experience that qualifies me to lead this breed into the next level of
importance in the cattle industry. For example:
Director – Western Aberdeen Breeders Association
Former Mayor of Dana Point, CA
Scouting America Leader, Troop 757, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Director, President, and past Legislative Chair – Apartment Association of Orange County
Trustee – Northern California Scholarship Foundation – helping “worthy and ambitious public high
school graduating seniors in their quest to secure a higher education.”
Director – California Rental Housing Association, representing over 15,000 owners and 730,000
rental units throughout the State of California.
Foundation Director – Providence Mission Hospital (Regional Level 2 Trauma Center)
To steward this remarkable breed and lead those whose identity is, like mine, tied so deeply to it, towards
a bright and prosperous future, would be nothing short of an honor, as well as a pleasure.
Renae Stentz – Spangle, WA – Western Region
My husband Tom and I reside in Eastern Washington, Spangle area, where
livestock and agriculture have always been central to our lives.
I have proudly served as Treasurer for the Western Aberdeen Breeders
Association for the past five years, along with junior development. I have also
participated in various national AAA committees and ALCA.
My passion for livestock began early—through active involvement in 4-H and
FFA—and has continued as I have shared those experiences with our children. Over
the years, I have served on several local and county boards, including work with the
WSU Extension office and other agricultural associations. These roles have allowed
me to serve not only through bookkeeping, but also through program development,
most notably helping to establish achievement levels for youth in the Working Ranch
Horse project. This initiative emphasized field-to-fork education, animal science, practical ranch skills, while
creating valuable connections with ranches and professionals across the industry.
As our children approached adulthood, Tom and I returned to cattle ranching. Aberdeen cattle proved to
be the ideal fit for our operation, balancing our smaller home acreage with nearby leased pastureland. Our focus
is on providing high-quality, flavorful beef for smaller families, along with offering a select number of seedstock.
Professionally, I work as an Accounting Analyst on the Global Business Partners team at Engie. I’m
grateful for a flexible, remote work environment that allows me to dedicate more time to our ranch and its
continued growth.
I’m committed to lifelong learning and deeply value the relationships I’ve built with members across the
country and internationally—through discussion groups, collaborative projects, and shared conversations. I would
be honored to serve on the AAA board and contribute to its mission and future.
Wes Gunn – Kingsbury, TX – Southern Region
I’m Wes Gunn, a first-generation Aberdeen addict. My wife and I have raised Aberdeen on our
homestead in Texas since 2017. We raise and sell cattle, beef and genetics
domestically and internationally.
We’ve seen a growing trend toward smaller, self-reliant homesteads, and in
farmers/ranchers wanting to moderate the size of their cattle regardless of
overall herd size. I believe American Aberdeen cattle are ideally suited for this
movement and that they can significantly impact the cattle industry.
I’m passionate about helping others establish or improve their Aberdeen herds.
Our current board offers generations of invaluable knowledge (not due to the
age of the members, but their experience, length of time in the breed and
challenges they’ve met and overcome to grow their herds and businesses).
However, it’s clear our world is changing rapidly and those trying to enter the cattle or homestead industry face
new/different challenges. To ensure long-term relevance of the American Aberdeen Association and connect with
the new generations I’d like to see expansions in marketing, and outreach programs that target and engage
potential and existing members. I believe this would lead to growth and diversity in our membership, increasing
our profitability and sustainability in the cattle industry altogether.
My involvement with the AAA has been marked by a commitment to preserve genetics and expand the
breed’s impact and visibility. I serve on the Breeder Services Committee, and I contributed to development of the
International Reciprocal Agreement between the Australian Lowline Cattle Association and AAA. As a retired
firefighter and veteran, I’ve held both servant and leadership roles and faced and resolved complex and
challenging situations. Additionally, as a family man I want to leave a legacy and help others that wish do the
same. I am deeply honored to be considered for a board position.