LETTER from the editor

LETTER

from the editor

I remember the exhilaration when my kindergarten class went to the county fair. When my classmates loaded back on the bus, I stayed behind because I was showing my first heifer that day. That blue ribbon (I was the only one in the class) was the start of a trek of personal growth, new skills and an ignited passion for the beef industry.

At most shows, I stood pretty close to the bottom of the class, but that perspective might have taught more life lessons. Today, I’ve got a good grasp on the fact that life’s not fair, how to handle disappointment and how to be a good loser. On the flip side, I developed a resiliency and toughness to prevail in hard times and an appreciation for later times when I stood toward the top of the class. Despite the fact that I might have walked out of the ring toward the last, I learned that judges still notice your hard work and determination. One of those judges ended up being my cow-calf professor in college and tracked me down in the hallway to get me to apply for what turned out to be my first job. No matter where you place in the ring, the pathway is the lesson.

If you are a youth member, I want to stress how much getting involved in the junior program will mean to you down the road. It’s where I learned to develop communication skills and leadership tips that I’m passing on later in this issue. Serving on my state and national board of directors provided me opportunities to travel the country, tour top cattle ranches and to develop lifelong friendships and cherished memories. Being on a national junior board has been one of my best life experiences, and I highly encourage any junior to strive for that. The connections you make along the way will serve you the rest of your life.

I’m excited to bring the Buckle & Banner to you. Join me on this journey as we discuss the youth program, showing cattle, the Red Angus breed and the best industry in the world!

Live your best life,

“Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” — Drake