CHAROLAIS SPOTLIGHT

How long have you been in the Charolais breed and how did you get involved?

Jenna – I am late to the game, so I didn’t attend my first Charolais Junior National until 2019 when it was held in Fort Worth. It wasn’t always planned that I would show a Charolais, let alone more than one. Since 2019, I have had at least one Charolais in the barn each year. I have kept enough Charolais cows to run a whole pasture of white cows now.

I became heavily involved in the Charolais breed by running and being elected for the Junior Board. This provided plenty of opportunities to promote the Charolais breed, and to meet a lot of new people. While I’m not currently serving on the Junior Board anymore, I plan to stay involved in the Charolais breed and continue to advocate for the breed, both in the show ring and in a seedstock setting.

What other activities do you participate in?

Jenna– Outside of showing livestock, I enjoy being outside, spending extra time during the summer at the lake and being with friends and family. I have also found many clubs and organizations to be involved in while at Iowa State. When I’m not busy at school, you can find me managing various business Facebook pages and finding part-time jobs to keep me busy.

What is your favorite memory that you have made through Charolais cattle?

Jenna– Finding success in the show ring is always special, especially doing so alongside my family. In 2019, my heifer, CC BS Call Me Maybe 8906 ET, or as we call her, Phyllis, was named the 2019 Grand Champion Owned Female at Showdown in Cowtown in Ft. Worth, Texas. Phyllis and I found success throughout the course of her whole show season. She was also 5th Overall at the Iowa State Fair, and was a triple crown winner at all of the fall majors (American Royal, NAILE, National Western). Phyllis also found success at various jackpots throughout the year. Since then, Phyllis has found her home in the front pasture donor pen as one of City View Farms top donors. Phyllis’ genetics are starting to find success of their own. There were five Phyllis daughters in attendance at the 2023 CharSpangled Banner, four of which won their class, and one won her division. It’s a whole different level when you can watch the animals you raise find success in the show ring.

Most recently, my heifer, WEIS Calli 12K, or, Claire, was named the 2023 Grand Champion Owned Female at The Char-Spangled Banner in St. Paul, Minnesota. I hope that her genetics will someday find the success that Phyllis’ have.

What is your cattle operation based on?

Jenna– My family and I operate City View Farms, located in Prole, Iowa. We work towards our goal of showing elite heifers that make cows capable of producing offspring that can compete at any level. In addition to Charolais, we also have shown and bred Angus, Hereford, Maine-Anjou and Simmental. These cows have also raised offspring that have found success both in the show ring and in other breeding programs. We use a lot of breeding technologies, such as artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer. This allows my family the opportunity to market our genetics on the local and national level.

Who has been your role model in the Charolais breed?

Jenna– I traveled with the Coudron/Schwecke families to the 2019 Charolais Junior Nationals. Zach, Kim and Haley were so welcoming that year and helped to introduce me to many people within the breed. Because of this, I have developed a love for the Charolais breed and they were definitely influential in running for the junior board. The Boyert-Core crew also played a large role in helping me find early involvement within the Charolais breed.

What are your future goals?

Jenna– I am currently a junior at Iowa State University where I am majoring in Agricultural Education/Communications. Post graduation, I hope to find a job in an agriculture classroom or within an ag firm in the marketing/communications department. I hope to be working within the agriculture industry and starting a family of my own. I look forward to staying involved in the show cattle industry while continuing to raise show heifers and bulls to sell.

*Interviewed by AIJCA Board