The annual Leading a Legacy fundraiser will be held October 13 in Dunlap, Iowa. All proceeds benefit the National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference.
View the catalog now!
The annual Leading a Legacy fundraiser will be held October 13 in Dunlap, Iowa. All proceeds benefit the National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference.
View the catalog now!
Today marks the last day of our internship here in Kansas City. It’s been a whirlwind of a time learning about the association, working with junior members and planning Junior Nationals and the IGS Summit. These summer months have flown by and we are going to miss all of the staff members in the office, but we are leaving with some great memories and experiences. Working in a breed association has been the perfect opportunity to help us grow in our professional skills and give us a look into career possibilities. Everyone in the office has been so welcoming and helpful, and we are grateful for the friendly atmosphere we were able to work in.
For our last day, we decided to throw a potluck brunch. This year, for the Beef Cook-Off contest at Junior Nationals, the key ingredient was steak. We decided to center our dish around this cut of beef and thought breakfast burritos would be the perfect way to start our last day. After searing the steak on the stove, we added some scrambled eggs and bundled the mix up in individual flour tortillas. Shelby brought potatoes as her side dish, which made for a great addition to the burritos. After a healthy dose of some salsa and cheese, the perfect burrito was born and the fiesta began!
Once everyone had eaten their body weight in burritos and side dishes, it was time for Anna and Emily Dyes to return to college for their final year of school, and Emily Meinhardt for her junior year. Our time here may have seemed short, but we will remember our experiences for a long time to come.
My first trip to the historic “Cow Town” was definitely a memorable one. Summit offered so many great opportunities to grow your industry knowledge, experience the Stockyards and see breeders’ operations. For me, getting to know people and making connections always ends up being my favorite part. I loved getting to meet kids my age across the different breeds, along with learning about their breeds by attending the ranch tours. I am not much of a history geek, but I found the Stockyard history very interesting to learn with the impact Fort Worth had on the cattle industry. This is a great opportunity that I believe every junior should take advantage of.
Anna Miller
I was excited to attend Summit this year because it was held in the historic Stockyards of Fort Worth, Texas. The Stockyards has such a fun atmosphere, and there is so much western expansion history in the area that it makes for an interesting visit. My favorite part of Summit was being able to interact with the juniors on a more personal level compared to junior nationals. In Madison, I mostly dealt with the junior members on paper and didn’t have many opportunities to get to know them. However, at Summit I was in charge of icebreakers and group activities. This gave me more of a chance to interact with members from across the three different associations. My family raises Red Angus cattle, so it was interesting for me to tour ranches from three different breeds that I am not as familiar with. Overall, Summit was a blast and felt more like a vacation than a weekend of work!
Emily Dyes
For me, one of the highlights of our trip to Fort Worth was the quick tour we had of the Stockyards. I grew up in Texas and have been to the Stockyards numerous times, but I still found it interesting to learn about the role that Fort Worth played in shaping the cattle industry and learned a lot of facts I didn’t previously know. A fact I learned was that cattle were only worth four dollars in San Antonio area and worth $40 in Kansas City — it definitely makes sense why everyone was moving cattle up the Chisholm Trail! Also, Bonnie and Clyde stayed at the Stockyards Hotel, so it was pretty cool to be in a building they once were in.
Now that we are all settled back in from the NJSS we want to share with you what us interns enjoyed about the week in Madison.
Emily Meinhardt
Growing up attending Hereford Junior Nationals, being part of NJSS was a different experience for me. I have enjoyed seeing all the little and big details that go into planning a national event. Attending Junior Nationals has always been the highlight of my summer, so I enjoyed attending another one and getting to know exhibitors and breeders within the Shorthorn breed. I spent a large majority of my time capturing those precious moments through a lens at NJSS. Getting to photograph each exhibitor showcasing their projects and watching their passion shine was definitely the highlight of my experience. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the week “Under the Big Top.”
Emily Dyes
My favorite part of Junior Nationals was getting to see all of the time and hard work put into each participant’s projects. Whether it was in the show ring or contests, kids from across the country took pride in what they brought to Madison. Being the Registrations intern, I felt like I knew every kid’s name by heart and talked to many parents on the phone, so finally putting faces to all the names was awesome. Thanks for a great NJSS this year, good luck to everyone next year!
Anna Miller
The National Junior Shorthorn Show was one of the first times I have experienced a Junior Nationals. It was a huge learning experience for me, and I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes aspect of helping to organize the event. As the Youth Activities intern, I enjoyed organizing contests and meeting contest judges, putting together scripts and presentations, and helping with the odd tasks that needed to be done. It was exciting to arrive at the NJSS and finally be able to put a face to all the names I learned in preparation for Junior Nationals. Overall, the show was an incredible opportunity and I have so many fun memories!
Only 6 more days until we are all “Under the Big Top” in Madison, Wisconsin! Here in the office we are packing things up and figured we would remind you all about the essentials you need to survive the week.
As you pack your trailer to head to Junior Nationals here is a tune (and show packing list) for you to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS8nU9qxVTk.
ESSENTIALS:
WATER
HYDRATE. HYDRATE. HYDRATE. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Days in the barn can get long and will be even longer if you’re not properly hydrated.
SNACKS
Busy days at Junior Nationals can cause kids to get “Hangry.” Be sure to pack all your favorite snacks. Here is a list of our favorite snacks at cattle shows:
Emily M.: Grapes, Chex Mix, Pringles
Anna: Pita Chips, Hummus, Salami
Emily D.: Cheese sticks, Cheez-Its, Cinnamon Rolls
COMFORTABLE SHOES
Standing on cement all day can be hard on the feet. Be sure to pack a variety of shoes to switch out from day to day. You will appreciate this decision later in the week.
HAIR
Your cattle’s hair typically always comes first, so remember Revive and brushes to make sure their hair is on point for the show ring. Next, your hair. Rain is in the forecast!! Hats are a lifesaver on rainy days, or even days you just want to sleep in an extra 10 minutes.
REGISTRATION PAPERS
Don’t get to check-in and end up getting the “YOU HAD ONE JOB” look. Make sure those registration papers and health papers are in a safe spot to bring to check-in.
PROJECTS
Don’t forget to pack those projects you have spent countless hours on! Make sure to bring extra supplies, just in case something gets messed up on the drive!
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
The most important thing to pack along: a positive attitude. Cattle shows call for early mornings and late evenings, but a positive attitude always makes it more enjoyable. This week is about making memories that you’ll cherish for a life time, while making new friends along the way.
Hope we could help with your preparation for Junior Nationals! Safe travels as you make your way to Madison!
A desire to advocate for agriculture led Emily Meinhardt to Kansas State University to pursue a degree in Agricultural Communications & Journalism with minors in Animal Sciences & Industry and Leadership Studies. As a sophomore at K-State, Emily enjoys being involved in campus clubs and her sorority because they allow her to meet a diverse group of people. Emily grew up in Marysville, Kansas where she was involved in 4-H and showing Hereford cattle. These experiences sparked her interest in the agricultural industry. With a passion for working with youth and a desire to promote the livestock industry, Emily looks forward to working for the Shorthorn Association as the communications intern.
We would like to welcome Emily Dyes of Holliday, Texas to the American Shorthorn Association Team as the registrations intern. Emily grew up in vastly different counties across Texas including Nacogdoches, Bosque, Bandera, and Archer where she raised and exhibited Shorthorn cattle from the 3 rd to 12th grade. Emily is currently attending Texas Tech University and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Agriculture in May 2019. Emily believes this internship will be a great opportunity to learn more about how a breed association functions from day to day and is looking forward to gaining more knowledge about the beef industry through this experience. Emily is most excited to be working with professionals that share a common passion for the beef cattle industry and how the shorthorn breed will impact the future of the industry.
Anna Miller is a junior at Oklahoma State University where she is studying agricultural communications and animal science. She grew up in the small town of Linden, California, raising purebred Red Angus cattle with her family. Anna has always had a passion for the agricultural industries, and an interest in international culture has motivated her to study animal science abroad in Dublin, Ireland, for a semester. She is active throughout the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at OSU. Anna is an officer for the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen club and the FARM Theory club, as well as a member of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club. After graduation, she hopes to stay involved in the beef industry and work in the communications field. Anna is excited to serve as the Youth Activities intern for the AJSA, and looks forward to learning more about the association and its members!
It’s official, only 17 more Days until Junior Nationals….Whoa, where has the time gone?! Most of you are busy getting ready, so we put together all the different ways to “Stand Out” during the Junior National contests. Plus, lots of little tips and reminders to keep in mind!
Arts & Crafts, Photography, Promotional Poster and Graphic Design
Beef Cook-Off
Quiz Bowl
Showmanship
Reminders:
Team Salesmanship and Speech
Reminders:
Fitting
Reminders:
Judging
Not signed up as an exhibitor for Junior Nationals? But you are a member of the American Junior Shorthorn Association? You can still compete in the contests! Just pay the exhibitor fee and sign up at Junior Nationals!
Or for the kids that are 5 years of age or under there’s still lots of fun activities to participate in! Email emily@shorthorn.org to sign up for Shorthorn Sidekicks!
Hope we could help with the preparation for this year’s Junior National contests. If you have any more questions regarding any of the contests or need tips and advice feel free to contact us here at the office!
College is fun! This week we’re sharing all the reasons why we love our Universities and what makes them special. Get the inside scoop on Kansas State University, University of Minnesota and Oklahoma State University.
Leah- Kansas State University
Key Points
Hey That’s Pretty Cool!
Things I love about K-State
Things I love about my college/department
My current involvement:
Things I love about Manhattan
Here are my go-to places:
Emma- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Mascot: “Goldy” the Gopher
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Big-Ten School
Education:
Involvement:
School Activities:
Interesting Facts:
Emily- Oklahoma State University
The basics
Just some quick fun facts
Why I Love My School
Why I love my College/Department
The College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
CASNR’s motto, “Expanding Minds. Inspiring Purpose.”
The Insides of Stillwater
Here’s where to get some of my favorites:
I can’t believe three years have gone by at this amazing school and I will be graduating in May. Stillwater will always be in my heart! And always remember #GoPokes!
Only 33 more days until Junior Nationals! Whoa… we know, it’s coming up fast and there’s so much to do! To help out a little bit we put together a “Stockshow Essentials List” All three of us grew up traveling to stockshows so we compiled a list of 10 things that everyone should have before takeoff to Tulsa.
Here are our go-to jam songs
Our favorites
Some different options
Hope we could help with the planning process for Junior Nationals. Now it’s time to start your “to-do” list and attempt to get everything finalized and ready. Comment below some of your stockshow essentials! #NJSS17 #SoaringWithShorthorns
Our names are Leah, Emily and Emma and we will be your flight attendants (interns) for this summer. We are busy preparing for this year’s Junior Nationals, who’s ready to TAKE FLIGHT WITH RED, ROAN AND WHITE?! Our entertainment for this flight will be Top Gun, featuring the hunky Tom Cruise. The flight attendants and the rest of the flight crew here at ASA have been busy preparing for this coming journey to NJSS, prepare for take-off!
Flight attendant Leah:
This first week has ‘flown’ by and I have been loving working with Emily, Emma and everyone else in the office, it is a really fun work environment and I am so glad to be a part of it. I have been busy working on the exhibitor folder for this year’s junior nationals and also working with the Associations social media pages (Go give them a like!) So far, we haven’t explored Kansas City a lot but I am excited to play tourist this weekend and try some KC Barbecue. I can’t wait to ‘take-off’ for Tulsa and help make it a fun-filled experience for everyone attending, with us hard at work there should be no expected turbulence!
Flight Attendant Emily:
This week has gone by with little to no turbulence. I have been busy planning activities and getting contest stuff ready for the juniors to participate in at NJSS. It’s going to be a packed full trip and I can’t wait to be along for the journey with the rest of you. Along with planning fun filed activities, I have been working hard to make sure all the scholarship applications were perfect before being sent out to be judged. This was really easy with the help from the amazing staff here at the ASA. I have had many different tasks to work on so far and hope to make this year’s NJSS one of the best yet. I am also excited about getting to be tourist this weekend and get to go visit the rest of KC with my awesome flight attendants (interns). Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.
Flight Attendant Emma:
Hey Everyone, I hope your booking process (Entries) has been stress free and you are ready for a fun filled week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have been busy this week sorting through exhibitors and cattle to make sure everyone is accommodated properly. I have spent four days staring at Excel sheets, by now I feel like I can personally tell you every single person aboard our flight (Attending Junior Nationals). Be on the look-out for a confirmation email for me in the next week confirming your trip (Entries). We have a great staff onboard here at ASA; Shelby, Montie, and everyone else are very welcoming. The tickets have been booked; we have a full flight headed to Tulsa and the pilot just turned the seat belt sign on so buckle up and prepare for take-off!
Our final destination is Tulsa, Oklahoma. The duration of this flight will be 45 days until NJSS. Remember to pack your aviators and flight suits for this adventure, we hope you enjoy your flight with us!