9 minute read
A Junior's Point of View – Samantha & Jocelyn Kennedy
WRITTEN BY Tessa Verbeek
A JUNIOR'S POINT OF VIEW SAMANTHA & JOCELYN KENNEDY
Advertisement
Within Kawartha Lakes, Ont. between the cities of Peterborough and Lindsay, the community of Omemee is home to Crown Hill Acres. Craig and Michelle Kennedy’s two daughters, 21-year-old Samantha and 15-year-old Jocelyn have been taking the lead, both figuratively and literally, when it comes to showing their families purebred Limousin herd.
Growing up, the girls did not always know they wanted to be involved in agriculture. Samantha went to high school in the city and was contemplating architecture as a career path. It was her involvement in 4-H, initially with a small flock of Suffolk sheep, that sparked her interest. She soon began to show cattle and her interest in animals blossomed from there. Younger sister, Jocelyn, found herself tagging along to the 4-H shows and fairs and by 7 years of age she was also showing cattle alongside her sister.
The Crown Hill Acres’ cattle operation was founded in 1978, when Craig’s father, Murray Kennedy, purchased five Charolais, Hereford, and Simmental cows. A Limousin bull was chosen to breed the cows and the superior natural muscling ability and carcass characteristics of the Limousin breed quickly made Limousin the basis of the herd.
Samantha and Jocelyn’s father, Craig, took over the herd of 25 commercial Limousin females and began purchasing purebred Limousin heifers to add to the program and Samantha began showing them. She soon attended her first
Image Supplied
CJLA Impact Show and the family started registering their purebred cattle with the Canadian Limousin Association. In 2015, the first Limousin calf with the CHA prefix was born. Their herd has now progressed to around 30 head of registered red and black Limousin cows. Primarily utilizing artificial insemination, the Kennedy’s calve two groups, one in January and one in April. The focus of their breeding program is around consistency and breeding cattle that are sound and functional while also being competitive in the show ring.
Image by Jill Renton of CattleVids
“It is important that every calf we raise is good quality and has great performance from birth, whether we sell them as stockers or breeding stock,” Samantha says, “Limousin cattle were the answer for farmers looking for carcass quality when our Grandpa bought a bull 40 years ago, and they still are. The quality of our calves has increased immensely.”
Jocelyn goes on to say, “The purebred Limousin and LimFlex calves we raise are structurally sound, have great natural muscle, and the females are outstanding mothers. Besides good conformation, we are able to breed the perfect balance of performance and style with calving ease, milking ability and docility.” The Kennedy sisters spend a great deal of time making their breeding decisions for each cow and watching Limousin sales across the country for new females to introduce to their program.
Image by ShowChampions
They are excited about the future of the breed as the junior program and membership continue to grow, as does the quality of the cattle and their commercial use. The work that Canadian Limousin breeders have done to breed for docility, style, soundness and mothering ability, without giving up the characteristics that make Limousin functional and profitable has made the breed a valuable cross over almost any type of cow herd. Limousin has also provided Samantha and Jocelyn with many opportunities to prove themselves in the show ring. By the second time she attended the Canadian Junior Limousin Association (CJLA) Impact Show in 2015, Samantha was hooked. She joined the CJLA Board of Directors and in her last year as a CJLA member, she was elected President of the CJLA.
“I really enjoyed working with my fellow board members and juniors across the country,” Samantha speaks to her time on the CJLA Board of Directors, “During my time as a junior I have attended five Impact Shows and have had the opportunity to travel all over Canada to show and connect with Limousin breeders and other juniors. I am so thankful for the opportunities the CJLA has given me and being involved in the Association has shaped me into the person I am today.”
“Every Impact Show I have attended I have made so many memories with other juniors from across the country,” she goes on to add, “The moments I remember the most are not the prizes or classes I won, it’s the other juniors and the fun we had doing the competitions and social activities at the show. Showing cattle has provided me with so many skills that are applicable to all aspects of my life. Learning how to judge and speak on a microphone in front of a crowd of people is a skill I am grateful to have learned by attending the Impact Shows. Marketing skills and learning important aspects to selling cattle and how to understand pedigrees are all things I have learned from showing cattle that will benefit me forever. Most of all, hard work and determination are the biggest skills I will take with me wherever I go.”
2015 was the first time Jocelyn had attended an Impact Show and she has since exhibited in three more. In 2019 she joined the CJLA Board of Directors and is currently the Press Reporter. “Over the last 5 years, I have had the opportunity to meet amazing people from all across the country. They have taught me a lot, not only about cattle, but also about myself. I have made many life-long friends and the memories we share are special to me,” Jocelyn says, “The dedication, perseverance, patience, and work ethic I have gained in the last few years will definitely be some things that I take away from showing.”
Samantha and Jocelyn set their sights high with each new animal each year. In 2019 Samantha set a goal with her heifer TMF Shameless that she would win showmanship at her 4-H achievement, 4-H regionals, the OJLA Provincial show, and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. She achieved all of those goals as well as winning Grand Champion Limousin Female at Lindsay Ex, and took her to Canadian Western Agribition to compete in the RBC Beef Supreme.
“That has been my greatest accomplishment of my show career and I am so proud of how far our breeding program has progressed over the past 5 years.”
Image by ShowChampions
Jocelyn’s proudest moment also came in 2019 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair when she was a junior showmanship finalist in the National Junior Beef Heifer Show.
“This was special because I was showing a heifer that I worked very hard on all year.”
Samantha has lived by the quotes, “No matter how bad the situation is, never let go of the rope,” and “You can’t control an outcome, but you can always control your attitude and effort,” both in and out of the showring.
She adds, “Never give up on your dreams, never have doubts and just work hard for it. If the going gets tough just hold on tighter and never let go of the things you are passionate about. Just like how you would never let go of the halter of a calf you’re training and let them get away. Persevere – if you want it, you can work for it, and achieve it. The work you put in and the traits you gain because of it will benefit you.”
Image by Jill Renton of CattleVids
“Even if you don’t win a show or make it to the champion drive, you should still have a good attitude and give your best effort,” Jocelyn remarks, “At the end of the day, you will find that you have gained many important characteristics because of the work you have done, which you will use in other aspects of your life. Finally, be proud of yourself. When you get something accomplished or you achieve a goal, be proud of yourself because isn’t easy.”
Samantha credits Brian and Holli Lee for exposing her to experiences and people that taught her about showmanship, clipping and the business aspects of the cattle industry, “They truly started my journey in the breed, and I am forever thankful for them.”
She goes on to thank Wayne and Anne Burgess as well as Laura Ecklund for their mentorship,
“Laura Ecklund has been a great mentor for me on the junior board,” Samantha says, “she is someone I have always looked up to and has given me the confidence to be a leader and take on challenges with optimism.”
Jocelyn credits her sister, Sam, as being the most influential in teaching her most of what she knows about showing cattle, “She has been my biggest rival in the show ring but also my teacher, and my teammate. Sam’s / FALL 2020 successes have motivated me as one day, I want to be as successful as she has been. She has always pushed me to be a better show person and has always supported me. For many years, I have admired her passion, work ethic, and determination as well as all her successes.” LIMOUSIN VOICE 27
Never hesitating to lend cattle for the Kennedy sisters to show, Terry, Lynette, Erin and Sara Hepper have been a source of advice and encouragement for Samantha and Jocelyn. Most of all, though, their late grandfather, Murray Kennedy, and their father, Craig Kennedy have had the largest influence on them,
“Both great cattleman who have taught me everything I need to know about raising cattle and the industry,” Samantha remarks.
Jocelyn goes on to say, “My dad has always been someone I look up to the most. He has taught me about agriculture and has gotten me involved in the farm. His work ethic, strength, and love are things about him that I admire the most. My grandfather, Murray Kennedy, has been a mentor and has had a large influence in my life. Without him, I would not be where I am today. I admired him very much, the work he did, and the knowledge he had.”
Samantha is in her final year of post-secondary education at the University of Guelph and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science with an Animal Science major. She intends to pursue a post graduate degree in animal reproduction and aspires to have a career in large animal embryology and reproductive health. Jocelyn is entering grade 10 this year and has a passion for math and science. Samantha’s stories of Guelph have sparked her curiosity and she wishes to go into agriculture science as well as thinking about a future career in kinesiology.
With a number of years as a CJLA member still ahead of her, Jocelyn plans to soon start her own herd of Limousin under her own prefix. Samantha won’t be far away, and looks forward to continuing to be involved as a volunteer helping with the Ontario Junior Limousin Association or helping organize the Impact Show. We will no doubt be seeing both of the Kennedy sisters down the road at junior Limousin events for many years to come.
Image by ShowChampions
