2004 National Junior Angus Show Creative Writing Winners

Junior Division-Sadie Kinnie || Intermediate Division-Julie Thelen || Senior Division-Tammy Ettredge

Junior Division:
Topic: Who sparked your interest in the NJAA?
She Completed the Picture
By Sadie Kinne, Eagleville, Mo.
Blue skies, green grass and black Angus cattle. That’s what makes me happy! I have been in this good moooo-d for four years. This is how it all began.
In 1996 my family bought a farm when I was almost 4 years old. We raised sheep and commercial cattle at first. By the time I was 8 years old, I had come to love living on the farm, playing in the green grass and looking up at all the blue sky above it. However, by this time my family and I realized that something was missing. We were soon to figure out what it was — black Angus cattle.
This is how I got into the Angus business and how I got involved with the National Junior Angus Association. My mom said she always loved Angus cattle and thought we should check into buying some Angus heifers. We had a friend and neighbor who had helped teach my brothers how to clip their calves. Her name was Teela Sadowsky. Teela and her husband owned Osage Grass and Livestock and raised registered Angus cattle. One day we went to look at their cattle and liked them. So Teela helped us get started. We were looking for heifers to show. I asked her if she had a heifer to sell me that I could show. She did. So I bought one. Teela taught me a "ton" of things about Angus cattle. She is still teaching me about them today.
When my brothers and I bought our heifers from Teela, she told us how to join the National Junior Angus Association. She even paid our dues. She also told us about the Missouri Junior Angus Association and how to get involved in it. She told me that it was a lot of fun and that they did a lot of neat stuff besides showing cattle.
My family and I went to our first National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in 2001. It was in Denver, Colo. Wow! That seemed like a long way to haul cattle to show. We took three heifers.
Since my first NJAS, I have gone to every one since. I have competed in many of the contests every year. Being involved with the NJAS contests and activities is fun, competitive, entertaining and challenging. I think it is good to be involved in a variety of the activities — which of course goes along with raising and showing good Angus cattle.
If I were asked to name a person who sparked my interest in Angus cattle and to become active in the NJAA, I most definitely would say Teela Sadowsky.
I love being able to look out my bedroom window every morning when I wake up and see my Angus cattle — it completes the picture: Blue skies, green grass and Angus cattle. It makes me happy!

Intermediate Division:
Topic: Create and explain how you would implement a new NJAA event.
Let’s Start a Judging Contest
by Julie Thelen, Saline, Mich.
The National Junior Angus Show is packed full of excitement each and every year. Members, parents and advisors travel from all over the United States to show cattle, compete in contests and mingle with people from other states. In an effort to include more members in contests, the creation of a beef judging contest would be new and different for members to enjoy.
Creating another opportunity for those members coming from states with smaller delegations, yet allowing larger delegations to have as many members as they want to enter, allows for more members to participate. Individuals, as well as state teams, could participate in this contest.
Having been an active participant in livestock judging contests at the local, state and national levels, I know firsthand how beneficial judging is for young people. Evaluating beef animals by visual appraisal, as well as having performance information, teaches you to prioritize your preferences and make decisions. Judging also forces you to learn more about beef animals — from structure to muscling to ideal condition. These evaluation skills are important for anyone serious about raising cattle. Judging contests can also be a lot of fun. The challenge of trying to get the class correct and match the official’s placing always keeps you on your toes.
In many of the members’ own states, they have livestock judging contests where the Angus members often compete against each other because they are not all from the same 4-H club, FFA chapter or county. There are very few national judging contests where members can compete with other juniors from across the country.
In this contest, members from each state would be able to judge individually, and their individual scores would be added up for a team placing also. The team placing in each of the three age divisions would be calculated into the overall sweepstakes contest. I suggest that the top three individuals and the top three teams in each age division (junior, intermediate and senior) be recognized and receive awards.
Realizing that the week of the National Junior Angus Show is already very busy, I would suggest that the contest be coordinated and officiated by the local and/or state Extension staff or possibly by the local and/or state FFA program. In most states they are already sponsoring or working with contests for young people, and they have the equipment and knowledge to utilize technology to score the contest and compile the results quite rapidly. The cooperation between the local staff and youth Angus exhibitors would also provide for a more diversified week at nationals.
This contest would also lend itself to being a late afternoon or evening activity for those who choose to participate. Thursday evening of show week would be a possible time for the contest to be scheduled.
The contest would consist of three classes and one question class. At least one of the classes would have a scenario with performance data that would be used in evaluating and placing the class. I would suggest one class of bulls, one of heifers and one of steers. One of the classes would also have 10 questions that would each be worth five points. These would be asked at the conclusion of the contest. The beef cattle to be judged could come from university farms or local breeders, or they could be animals that are being exhibited at the National Junior Angus Show, if the exhibitor agrees to let the committee use his or her animal. If the animals being evaluated are ones being exhibited, junior Angus members, parents or advisors would also be needed as holders for the animals. The contest at our state fair is run this way, and it works very well.
Creating the beef judging contest at the National Junior Angus Show would enable more junior members to participate in a national contest. Members would be able to showcase their evaluation skills while learning from the officials when they discuss the class and give the official placing. A beef judging contest would provide a new, fun and educational experience for junior Angus members.

Senior Division:
Topic: Describe a career path you would choose within the American Angus Association and its entities.
The Path Less Traveled
by Tammy Ettredge, Pilot Point, Texas
"When I grow up, I want to be…" This common phrase was ever-changing when I was a child; however, today my career path is focused in one direction — to become a regional manager for the American Angus Association. Ordinary as it may sound, my career goal is not what it seems, since I would like to become the first female regional manager in the history of the Association. Although I haven’t always wanted to be a regional manager, I am confident that this position would combine all of my lifetime goals — to do something that I enjoy, to remain involved in the Angus breed and to make a difference.
In our high-paced society, almost anyone can have a job, but the difference lies between those who just do their jobs and those who truly love what they do. As a current animal industries major at college, becoming a regional manager unites the two aspects of working in the beef industry and working with the American Angus Association, both of which are important to me.
My extensive knowledge of the beef industry, with emphasis in Angus cattle, will aid in performing the tasks involved in this position; but, through work experience I plan to gain supplemental knowledge. With my strong passion for Angus cattle, this career will give me the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the breed across my region and any other location that I may travel. Not only will I be a representative of the Angus Association, but I will also aid in the guidance and knowledge of those who are currently involved and those who are newly expressing interest in the Angus breed.
Although, I will have to be forceful from time to time to uphold the rules and ethics. I see this as an aspect of the job that may not be enjoyable, but that is required when the need arises. Like any job, being a regional manager will not always be easy, but I know that the position’s significance will be reflected through my dedication.
Over the past six years I have been extensively involved in the Angus Association as a junior member and a breeder, but by becoming a regional manager, I will be able to continue my involvement through a different avenue. Although instead of showing heifers I will be checking tattoos, and instead of participating in state field days I will be giving presentations, it will allow me to remain active in the industry and knowledgeable of its changing trends. Being a regional manager comes with many responsibilities, which include attending many functions that will keep me in touch with current and future association members, so that I may update them on Angus Association activities, as well as developments in the beef industry. Not to mention that, as a regional manager for the Angus Association, I will be able to retain my current Angus herd without it conflicting with my career focus. Overall, this career path will allow me to enjoy my current activities in the future, but with a slight financial gain.
It is common for someone to say that one of his or her life goals is "to do something with my life" or "to make a difference," and I am no exception. As a regional manager, I know that I will be looked upon for knowledge, guidance, leadership and assistance from both adult Association members and junior breeders. This is understandable, since I view my current regional manager as a role model who maintains respect for our Association while promoting the Angus breed.
After I am an established regional manager, I hope that I will be able to give back the knowledge and guidance that I have received, so that not only the Angus Association, but also the Angus breed, will continue to expand and be successful in the future. I believe that becoming a regional manager will allow me to emphasize the integrity of the Angus breed and its Association members, which I will be proud to represent. I was once told that "it is not how big your role is, but that you played your role with all of your heart," which is a principle I plan to apply to my career as a regional manager. Although I may only have a small role in the Association, I hope that I will leave a positive lasting impression for those after me.
Over the years, I have learned that to achieve something I genuinely want, all I have to do is set my mind to it. When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to work in the beef industry; however, it was difficult for me to solidify a career goal. But as I near the end of both my National Junior Angus Association and college careers, I know that there is a definite direction for my career path — to become an American Angus Association regional manager. Although becoming the first female regional manager may be challenging, I look to the words of Robert Frost for encouragement when referring to my career path. "… I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."