At the 2026 National Turkey Federation (NTF) Annual Convention, held Feb. 18-21 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the federation’s board of directors elected Christy Puffenbarger as its chairwoman.
Puffenbarger, who currently serves as vice president of technical services at Aviagen Turkeys Inc., will become the first woman to hold the chair position under NTF in its 80-year-long history. She succeeds Jay Jandrain, president and chief executive officer of Butterball LLC, who served as chairman in 2025.
“Serving as chair of the National Turkey Federation is both an incredible responsibility and a milestone,” Puffenbarger said. “Being the first woman to hold this role reflects how our industry continues to evolve, but it also underscores the importance of strong leadership rooted in experience, science and collaboration. Read more