Feature compiled by Melinda Hart and Sally Wingler
Each summer, the national junior breed associations host junior national cattle shows that provide young cattlemen and women a platform to showcase their cattle projects. These week-long events boast leadership and educational competitions and plenty of fun for the entire family. You can ask junior exhibitors of any breed and they’ll quickly tell you that “Junior Nationals” is the best week of the year.
This year, Tennessee was represented at 11 national junior cattle shows nationwide. Tennessee juniors traveled to junior nationals from Timonium, MD to Belton, TX, and everywhere in between. The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association commends our Tennessee youth for their hard work to succeed and excel at this level of competition. Please enjoy this spotlight on Tennessee juniors’ success at the 2024 national junior cattle shows. The following photos and recaps were submitted by junior breed association state advisors, or selected parents and juniors.
Angus
Twenty-two Tennessee Junior Angus members hauled 43 heifers and bulls to Madison, Wisconsin to participate in the Showdown in Madtown. The Tennessee cowboys and gangsters had a true shoot out, water gun style, to start the week but that didn’t deter the cooperative spirit and friendship that exists amongst the Tennessee juniors as they made it through an unseasonably cool and rainy National Junior Angus Show.
It was a busy week filled with all kinds of competition. Tennessee juniors were recognized in many different areas. Spenser Wright, in his first Junior Nationals, talked his way to a first-place prizein the junior Extemporaneous Speaking Contest. Richard Crowell represented the senior division well in extemporaneous speaking. Tennessee had four teams take the quiz bowl written test with the senior quiz bowl team making it to the buzzer round of competition. Lona Sims participated in the Beef Science Poster contest and received high marks on her “Lice, Camera, Action” presentation. McKinley Tarpy received first in the junior Landscape Photo contest, third in the junior Cattle Photo contest, and received third overall in the Photography Contest. Allison Davis was first in the senior Landscape Photo contest. Tennessee was well represented in the Team Fitting contest on an early, rainy Tuesday morning. Tennessee juniors collaborated and signed up a junior, intermediate, and senior team for the Team Sales contest. Allison Davis and Alexandra Duckworth were recognized for achieving the Gold Award and pin. Allison Davis brought home $4,500 in scholarships from the 2012 NJAS “In a League of their Own”, Certified Angus Beef, and Cory Watt Memorial. Alli Perry was awarded the $5,000 Angus/Talon Youth Educational Learning Program undergraduate scholarship for the second year. And, arguably the most important success of the week, The Tennessee Fireballs, the junior dodgeball team, brought home Reserve Champion honors. The adult dodgeball team, The Dodge Squad, zigged when they should have zagged. For the second year in a row, Tennessee collected the most weight in the can tabs (182 pounds) for the Angus Impact program to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Everyone was treated to pizza on Friday night courtesy of the American Angus Association. Robby and Jerri Lynn Sims serve as the advisors of the Tennessee Junior Angus Association. They were recognized as the 2024 Advisors of the Year during the NJAS. All these accomplishments were achieved before the Tennessee juniors even hit the show ring. In the show ring, Allison Davis finished in the top 15 of the showmanship contests and was the Division Champion in the Mature Cow/Calf Pair Show. Alexandra Duckworth was a Bred & Owned Division Champion in the Phenotype and Genotype Show (PGS). Alli Perry captured the PGS Grand Champion Owned heifer title and Reserve Division Bred & Owned Early Junior Yearling and Reserve Division Owned heifer calf. Her success in the ring earned her the Silver Pitcher for points based on her animal’s placings in the show ring.
The Tennessee Angus Association is always generous in supporting the feeding of the Tennessee families that attend NJAS, and JP and Jackie Perry made sure no one went to bed hungry! Thanks to everyone who helped prepare meals, get heifers or kids to the show ring and make the trip to Madison so enjoyable. Join the fun next year as the Angus juniors are Moovin’ Down Route 66 to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2025!
Limousin
The National Junior Limousin Show and Congress was held from June 29th through July 4th on Historic Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tennessee was represented by Jake and Josie Ozburn, Aleah and Abbigail Byers, and Molly Wyatt. The young team of siblings participated in the sales talk, livestock judging, showmanship, team fitting, photography, and magazine ad contests, while Molly Wyatt enjoyed being part of the new “Limi Little’s” program. As always, the juniors enjoyed meeting new friends and catching up with old friends. The Limousin juniors are headed to Perry, Georgia, June 20-26, 2025, for the Limi Luau.
Black Hereford
The 8th annual American Black Hereford Association Junior National event was held June 12-15 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Tennessee was represented by four juniors: Landon Hartsfield, Caroline Garrell, and Mary and Emma Barrett. In the contests, Landon Hartsfield placed first in the Cattlemen’s Quiz. In the ring, Landon Hartsfield earned Reserve Beginner Showmanship honors and exhibited the Reserve Purebred Black Hereford Calf, Champion Percentage Black Hereford Bull Calf, and Reserve Percentage Black Hereford Bull. Caroline Garrell exhibited the Reserve Black Hereford Cow/Calf Pair. Mary and Emma Barrett had class-winning bulls.
Shorthorn
Tennessee Junior Shorthorn Association members traveled to Timonium, Maryland, June 15-22, 2024, to Sail Away with Shorthorn at the National Junior Shorthorn Show and Youth Conference. The TJSA was represented by Haylee Ferguson, Caroline Hueubner, Jackson Overbay, Emma Teeple, and Sam Teeple. The group enjoyed the contests, the beautiful countryside, and great seafood along with exhibiting Shorthorn cattle. At the awards banquet, TJSA received the State Herdsman Award and recognition for participating in the state tailgate and sock drive service project. In the show ring, Haylee Ferguson exhibited the Division II Champion Shorthorn Plus Bred and Owned Bull and the Division II Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Shorthorn Plus Heifer. Caroline Huebner advanced to finals in Prospector Showmanship and showed the Division VI Third Overall Owned Shorthorn Heifer. Sam Teeple had the Division VII Third Overall Bred & Owned Heifer in the Shorthorn Plus show. Lastly, Haylee Ferguson was elected President of the American Junior Shorthorn Association. Make plans to join the Shorthorn crew next year as they get Groovy in Grand Island June 21-28, 2025.
Gelbvieh
The 2024 American Gelbvieh Junior Association’s (AGJA) Way Out West Classic national junior show was held in Woodward, Oklahoma, from June30 – July 5. There were 174 exhibitors from 19 states and 138 head ofcattle at the event. Tennessee was represented by Roland Springer and Henley and Emery Butler. Roland Springer exhibited the Reserve Champion Purebred Heifer and 4th Overall Purebred Female. Henley Butler competed in PeeWee Showmanship. The Gelbvieh juniors are looking forward to a GRANDole Gelbvieh Junior Classic in Lebanon, Tennessee, June 23-27, 2025.
Simmental
The 2024 American Junior Simmental Association National Classic was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The weather was manageable, the contests were hot, and the quality was unmatched. Abigail Henry, Andrew Meier, Eli Mundy, Ethan Bartee, Grace Williams, Kendyll Smallen, Walker Housley, and Annie Meier represented Tennessee at this year’s National Classic.
The week started and ended on a high note! During opening ceremonies, Ethan Bartee and Riley Smallen received their Bronze Merit. The highest tier of this scholarship program is the Gold Merit. Walker Housley was one of five juniors to receive the $5,000 Gold Merit scholarship. At the Simmental Junior Nationals, exhibitors must compete in three out of five contests to participate in the show. Contest highlights include Walker Housley earning second overall in the senior division and Andrew Meier finishing 17th overall. Ethan Bartee placed 17th in the junior division Sales Talk. The Tennessee juniors wrapped up the week with many accomplishments in the show ring. Annie Meier exhibited the 3rd Overall Owned Percentage Heifer, Andrew Meier exhibited the Champion Purebred Bred & Owned Bull, and Walker Housley had the 4th Overall Bred and Owned Purebred Bull. Andrew Meier was Reserve Senior Showman, and Abigail Henry, Grace Williams, and Ethan Bartee were all called back to the semifinals in their respective divisions. There are two other youth who deserve a shoutout for their unmatched work holding the aisle together - Lexi Housley and Sean Schmidt. Congratulations to each TENN junior who stood at the backdrop and to those who made victories outside the ring!
Charolais
The 2024 American International Junior Charolais Association’s junior national show, Party like a RockChar, was held June 23rd-28th in Belton,Texas. Tennessee was represented by two juniors, Kara Brooks and Alyssa Meier. Tennessee won the State Herdsman Award for 10 head and under. Additionally, Alyssa exhibited the Grand Champion Bred and Owned Bull, Reserve Division 1 Bred and Owned Heifer, Division 1 Champion Percentage Heifer, and 4th Overall Owned Female. Kara earned Grand Champion Junior Showman honors, was a member of the Grand Champion Junior Fitting Team, and placed first in class 30 of the Owned Female Show.
Red Angus Youth Expo
In June, Andrew and Annie Meier, Max and Van Richardson, Reagan Bostick, and Lila and Lona Sims and their families headed west for Reds on Route 66 in Chickasha, Oklahoma as the Red Angus Association of America hosted its first youth expo. There were just over 150 youth exhibitors from 19 states and Canada that brought 300 head of cattle to the inaugural event.
To start the week, Andrew Meier secured a first-place win in senior showmanship and Annie Meier finished fourth. Lona Sims outlasted 45 other junior exhibitors, to claim the champion title in her age division. Team and individual contests followed with Andrew Meier being on the winning fitting team, Max Richardson placing third in the senior Livestock Judging contest and Lona Sims placing fourth in the junior Livestock Judging contest. In the cattle competitions, Annie Meier claimed the titles of Senior Division Bred and Owned Bull Champion and went on to be selected as the Grand Champion Bred and Owned Bull. Van Richardson exhibited the Reserve Division Senior Intermediate Bred and Owned Heifer. Andrew Meier showed the Champion Senior Division Bred and Owned and was also selected as the Grand Champion Bred and Owned Female. On the last day of competition, Andrew had the Senior Division Owned Female Champion and went on to earn 4th Overall Female in the owned female show. It was a great week of fellowship, learning, and friendly competition. The Tennessee juniors and families are looking forward to Red Carpet Reds in Springfield, Missouri June 8-13, 2025!
Chi/Maine
The Chianina and Maine Anjou juniors were Keepin’ It Reel at the 2024 Maine Anjou and Chianina Junior Nationals, June 22-27, in Springfield, Missouri. Tennessee was represented by six juniors. Ethan Bartee, Michael and Luke Barnett, Cole Lehnert,Andrew and Annie Meier ALL came home with banners from the Chi-Maine junior national. Ethan Bartee’s heifer was reserve division champion and the 5th Overall ChiAngus female. Michael and Luke Barnett were both named division champions with their ChiAngus heifers. Cole Lehnert fulfilled his role as a American Junior Chianina Association board of director and came home with a banner for his Champion Bred & Owned Chi Maine Steer. Andrew Meier was named Champion Senior Maine Anjou Showman and exhibited the Reserve Bred and Owned Mainetainer female. Annie Meier placed ninth overall in the senior division of Maine Anjou showmanship. The Chi-Maine junior national will be held June 20-26, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hereford
The Junior National Herford Expo (JNHE) was held in Grand Island, Nebraska, July 6-12. This year’s theme was The Grand Daddy of ‘Em All commemorating the 25th Anniversary. The Tennessee juniors were among the 797 exhibitors, 41 states, and 2,161 entries represented at this year’s junior national event. Tennessee had an impressive group of juniors including Ella Callicott, Sarah Beth Callicott, Mason Collins, Landon Mansfield, Logan Mansfield, Tanner Mantooth, Jackson Massey, Makayla Massey, Morgan Riley, Avery Rowlett, Kelbie Rowlett, Mary Carter Shirley, Foster Wingler, and Lauren Wingler.
The 2024 JNHE really was The Grand Daddy of ‘Em All for Tennessee juniors. Sarah Beth Callicott was elected to the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) board of directors. Sarah Beth is one of eleven NJHA members who vied for the four open positions on the board. The Tennessee Junior Hereford Association is excited to watch Sarah Beth sport her maroon jacket as she serves the NJHA over the next three years. Mason Collins wrapped up his JNHE and NJHA career. Mason received one of the highest honors an NJHA member can receive by being nominated for the 2024 JNHE Herdsman of the Year. Mason was also awarded the Outstanding Junior Award for Tennessee. Avery Rowlett placed 3rd Overall in the Intermediate Showmanship Division. The JNHE showmanship competition is arguably the largest in the country. Avery competed against 240 other intermediate showmen to achieve this honor. Mary Carter Shirley had Reserve Champion Division 5 Bred and Owned Bull. The Tennessee juniors are excited to be heading back to Louisville for next year’s JNHE, July 12-18.
Junior Red Angus Event
A group of eight youth from Tennessee participated in the 19th Annual North American Junior Red Angus Event (NAJRAE) held at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, June 16-22. Highlights from the week include Ivy McGillis receiving second place inboth the Speech Contest and Sales Talk. Amelia Beaty placed first in photography andwas in the Top 10 for showmanship for her age division. Jase Beaty was 2nd in the Herdsman Quiz and 4th Overall in showmanship in the Novice division. Amelia, Jase, Ella Troglin, and Grant Giffey placed 3rd place Quiz Bowl. Gunnar and Gavin Giffey placed 3rd and 5th respectively in the Livestock Judging Contest in their age divisions. Grant Giffey placed 3rd in Herdsman Quiz. a very competitive show, Jase Beaty had a reserve division and Gage Giffey advanced out of his class of junior yearlings to compete in the division. There is a great diversity of projects and contests at NAJRAE for kids of all ages to work on and hone their skills as they grow to become leaders in the cattle and agricultural industry. The 20th Anniversary of will be held in Spencer, Iowa, June 15-21, 2025.
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