14 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN June/July 2024 PERSPECTIVES Junior Nationals – G I TAWNIE DEJONG | MEMBER & JUNIOR ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR, AMERICAN GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION The weather is getting warmer which means summer is just around the corner and junior nationals will be here before you know it! For all junior cattle breed associations, junior nationals are the main event – the Super Bowl – and are what juniors across the nation work towards all year long. Though these events center around cattle shows, there is so much more that youth can get involved in. Everything from active, on-site individual contests like Sales Talk and Judging to team events like Quiz Bowl and Team Fitting and even digital contests like Creative Writing and Photography provide juniors opportunities to learn from more than just the show ring. Following are 10 reasons to get involved in these awesome junior events this year and beyond! 1. Family Time Sure, those long road trips to the event and the days showing when you get there give plenty of family bonding time, but that time starts way before show day! Preparation for livestock shows and events starts weeks and months before the actual event, and all those long hours feeding, practicing showmanship, writing speeches, working hair and mucking stalls become cherished family memories years later. If you’re lucky enough to have siblings working projects with you, then you know they make the best teammates (and competition!). 2. Networking Junior nationals give participants opportunities to interact with many industry professionals, often in one-on-one settings. Juniors get to show under renowned livestock judges from all over the country, present speeches to industry professionals and interact with well-known breeders in attendance. 3. Friends Junior nationals are a great way to make friends with other juniors from all over the United States – people that just “get it.” Your junior national friends definitely won’t ask you why you want to go work in the barn instead of going to the basketball game or watching TV. 4. Learning New Skills At junior nationals there are tons of options for contests and everyone has a first time trying a new one. Juniors are constantly encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and try a new event. Everything from creating your first graphic in the Graphic Design contest to giving your first public speech is up for grabs. Who knows – you might even be great at it! 5. Competition Competition is a part of life and at junior nationals, everyone is competing for the same jobs, same awards and same Photos courtesy of Malerie Markley with the American Gelbvieh Association. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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