JRANews Red Angus Association Collegiate Scholarship Winners Named Red Angus Essential to Scholarship Winners’ Futures The RAAA junior activities committee is pleased to name each of the following five JRA members as a recipient of the Red Angus Association of America’s $1,000 college scholarship. Each applicant is asked to describe the key challenges facing the beef industry in the next five years, the role of Red Angus in addressing those challenges and how those challenges impact their career path. You can read each recipient’s response in the following pages.
Natalie Evans — Jacksonville, Illinois Natalie Evans is the daughter of Sean and Amy Evans. She and her family run a commercial and registered cattle operation called Coal Creek Cattle Co. A recent graudate of Routt Catholic High School, she was a part of sideline cheerleading, the varsity track team, student council, NEHS, NHS, service club and ambassador club. Outside of school, she was involved in 4-H where she has held the positions of president, vice president and secretary of her club. Being involved in the Red Angus breed and the beef industry has encouraged her to pursue a degree in pre-veterinary medicine with the intention of going on to veterinary school. She also has the strong ambition to continue her family’s operation, alongside her two siblings. 20
The biggest challenge facing the beef industry in the coming years lies in social media and fighting against the deception that is continuously spreading across the world about the beef industry. The internet and social media can be your best friend, but it also can be your biggest nightmare. A lot of misinformation triggers fear and anger inside the average consumer. It’s the mission of upcoming generations to use technology and power to properly educate our consumers. Another challenge the beef industry faces is the unproper labeling food companies place on their products for marketing. For example, when a company labels beef products as “antibiotic- or hormone-free,” we producers know that all meat going into the grocery is antibiotic- and hormone-free. Yet, the average consumer does not know any different because they fall into the trap of illusive marketing. Red Angus, as a breed, has done a great job reaching producers through social media and other marketing
BUCKLE & BANNER | SUMMER 2022
tactics such the Red Angus Magazine. While these efforts are important to the producer, the breed also needs to make moves to educate our consumers. To reach them, the association itself can advocate for the industry through social media, but the biggest impact is going to be made at the producer level. In a producer’s hometown, there are several ways to advocate for our breed and the industry. Placing articles in local school bulletins or newspapers, if allowed, can help reach the public and inform consumers. Producers can also post on social media or on blogs and spread the word about the misconceptions of the beef industry. Finally, as a future veterinarian focusing on the beef industry, the one thing I will need is feedlots, operations and cattle to work with. If the demand for beef becomes less significant due to misconceptions, a need for people like me won’t be valued or required. Also, with a promising future for my own operation, I will need beef-consuming customers myself.
