Back-to-Back NAJRAE Champion Senior Showman Paige Van Dyke

by Megan Underwood, RAAA communications intern

Being selected as the Champion Senior Showman at the North American Junior Red Angus Event is a goal set by many exhibitors. Achieving this goal, takes hard work, dedication and a strong work ethic. For Paige Van Dyke, Louisville, Illinois, she not only has achieved this goal twice, but she has also achieved it back-to-back. Paige was selected as the 2021 NAJRAE Champion Senior Showman in Lebanon, Tennessee, and as the 2022 NAJRAE Champion Senior Showman in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

“After my first NAJRAE in 2014, I set my first goal when I left the fairgrounds. I was going to work my hardest and win showmanship at least once before I aged out. I was honored to be selected as the grand champion senior showman in Tennessee and Oklahoma,” said Van Dyke.

Paige has grown up in the livestock industry and began her show career showing sheep. Her family raises 20 head of ewes and 150 head of purebred Angus cattle, and Paige has started her own Red Angus herd.

“I fell in love with an Angus heifer, Ellie, when I was 12 and decided I wanted to show cattle. After that it took off and the following year, we purchased my first Red Angus female from the Tiedemans. Her name was Annie. She had a very sweet, carefree attitude that was perfect for my first year in the Red Angus breed,” explained Van Dyke.

Paige attended her first NAJRAE in 2014. The trip started out a little rocky, when she and her uncle, Kevin, broke down more than 10 times on the side of the interstate. Luckily, the Meier family of Tennessee, was right behind them and hauled them the rest of the way to Grand Island, Nebraska. At the time, Paige was a shy, quiet and nervous girl who didn’t know anyone in the breed, but everyone took her in and made her feel right at home.

“Although the trip started out a little rocky, I can say it helped mold me into the person and showman I am today. It taught me to get outside of my comfort zone, get involved, try new things and meet new people,” said Van Dyke.

For Paige, the work starts at home with a lot of stick work and getting her heifer used to standing for a long period of time. The day of, Paige enjoys listening to some upbeat music and drinking a much needed Dr. Pepper.

“I tend to get in a zone, it’s just me and my heifer working together to reach our goal set from the first day we started working,” Van Dyke explained.

“Never give up and continue to worker harder each day.” — Paige Van Dyke

Paige will be attending Oklahoma State University to major in agricultural communications with a minor in special education and plans to stay active in the Red Angus breed after she’s done showing.

“I hope to continue to grow my herd and help youth exhibitors get involved and reach their goals,” Van Dyke said.

Paige has met many wonderful individuals who have made an impact on her. She hopes to be this person for other juniors and leaves them with this advice:

“Never give up and continue to worker harder each day. Watch the showmanship classes before you, find a mentor to help with pointers, and most importantly, have fun. Each show is a new opportunity. Don’t let past classes distract you, walk with confidence and believe in yourself and the bond created between you and your heifer, steer, bull or whatever showmanship animal you choose,” exclaimed Van Dyke. B&B