May 1, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Clint Mefford, director of communications
816-383-5143
LEAD Conference: Under the Big Sky in Montana
Early registration deadline for junior members is June 15.
The Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference is set to take place August 2-5 in Billings, Montana. The 2018 event theme is “Angus Under the Big Sky” and is designed for National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members age 14 to 21. LEAD Conference is funded by the Angus Foundation and the Thomas and Catherine Chambers Estate Endowment Fund.
Junior Angus members will travel across the nation to experience local agriculture and will partake in leadership workshops put on by the National Junior Angus Board (NJAB). According to NJAB Leadership Director Jordyn Wagner, LEAD gives participants a chance to leave the cattle at home, grow as a leader and build relationships with peers.
“LEAD is an opportunity that comes around once a year where our juniors can leave their cattle at home and spend a long weekend making friends, going out of their comfort zones and learning more about the industry,” Wagner said. “As a breed, we are not only focused on building up cattlemen and women but we want to help guide these juniors to be leaders, listeners and advocates of the agriculture industry.”
Angus juniors will have the opportunity to hear from Darryl Stevenson on Angus diversity, Angus Ambassador Sydni Lienemann and American humorist Jane Herlong.
Tour stops include: Genex Bull Stud, a trusted provider of world-class animal genetics; Midland Bull Test, one of the top performance tests in the Northwest; Billings Livestock Commission, one of the oldest, continuous livestock auctions in America; ORIgen Beef, one of the most innovative and independent bull studs in the nation and Vermilion Ranch, home of award winning Angus cattle.
In addition, junior members will participate in numerous breakout sessions and a float trip down a nearby river.
“Junior Angus members will have the chance to explore what Montana has to offer. I am blessed to have the opportunity to watch these young leaders from all over the United States grow as individuals, connect with the beef industry and network with their Angus family.” Wagner said.
Conference space is limited and the early registration deadline is June 15. The early registration fee for NJAA members is $250. After June 15, registration will be $275 and accepted based on space availability. Sign up online at www.angus.org/njaa.
LEAD Scholarship Opportunities
First or second-time LEAD attendees may consider applying for the Gary M. Stoller Jump Start Your LEADership Award, which helps provide financial assistance with LEAD travel expenses. Interested applicants must submit a one-page typed essay expressing why the LEAD conference is important, what they hope to gain by participating, and the extent of their financial needs. For more information, visit www.angusfoundation.org.
In honor of his dedication to the Angus breed, the family of the late Stan Prox, Macomb, Ill., created the Stan Prox Memorial LEADers Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Award. Contributions from friends and family in his honor will award one NJAA member with funds necessary to cover LEAD registration costs.
The recipient will be selected by random drawing from those Illinois youth who registered for the LEAD conference by the early registration deadline. If an individual is already receiving funding through the Angus Foundation for this purpose, another name will be drawn.
Angus youth from Idaho, Oregon and Washington can apply for two-$500 Chambers LEAD awards by submitting a one-page essay with their LEAD application to the NJAA by the early registration deadline of June 15. Awards will be used toward LEAD registration costs and travel. For more information, visit www.angusfoundation.org.
For more information, contact the events and education department at 816-383-5100. A tentative schedule follows.
About the NJAA
The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle, while also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for nearly 7,000 active members nationwide. For more information about the NJAA, look online or call the Association at 816-383-5100.
— Written by Amber Wahlgren, Angus Communications
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States and Canada. It provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on the power of Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.
For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association’s programs and services, visit www.angus.org.
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LEAD Conference | “Angus Under the Big Sky”
Aug. 2-5, 2018 | Billings, Mont.
Tentative Schedule
Thursday, August 2
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Registration
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Ice Breakers
5:00 p.m. Welcome & Introductions – Jordyn Wagner
5:15 p.m. Welcome to Montana – Kurt Kangas
6:30 p.m. Angus Ambassador – Sydni Lienemann
6:45 p.m. Angus Diversity – Darryl Stevenson
7:45 p.m. Retiring Thoughts – Michaela Clowser
8:00 p.m. Speaker – Jane Herlong
9:00 p.m. Retiring Thoughts – Catie Hope
9:15 p.m. Team Building Activity- New 6 NJAA Officers
9:45 p.m. NJAA Board Skit
11:00 p.m. In Room Curfew
Friday, August 3
7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. Breakfast – Doubletree
7:30 a.m. Depart for Genex Bull Stud
7:45 a.m. Arrive at Genex
Station Tours:
1) Tank room/lab 4) South Barn Collection
2) International Collection 5) Walking Tour S (bulls/housing)
3) Careers in Ag/Genex 6) Walking Tour N (nutrition)
10:15 a.m. Depart for Midland Bull Test
11:30 a.m. Arrive at Midland Bull Test
Stations:
1) Lunch 3) Feed Efficiency Scenario
2) Tour
1:30 p.m. Depart for floating the river
Early PM TBD
Retiring Thoughts – Corbin Cowles
Saturday, August 4
7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Breakfast – Doubletree
8:30a.m. Agricultural Breakouts – Part 1
9:15 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m. Agricultural Breakouts – Part 2
10:15 a.m. Depart for Billings Livestock Commission
10:30 a.m. Arrive at Billings Livestock Commission
11:45 a.m. Depart for ORIgen Genetics
12 p.m. Arrive at ORIgen
Stations:
1) Q&A 3) Distribution/Health Testing
2) Lab 4) Embryo/IVF
Lunch
Bulls – Hayride
2:30 p.m. Depart for Little Big Horn Battlefield
3:00 p.m. Arrive at LBHBf
4:30 p.m. Depart for Vermilion Ranch
5:30 p.m. Arrive at Vermilion Ranch
Tour
Dinner
Retiring Thoughts – Jordyn Wagner
Dance, Outdoor Games
10:00/30 p.m. Depart for Hotel
11:30 p.m. In Room Curfew
Sunday, August 5
7:00 a.m. Breakfast – Doubletree
8:00 a.m. Devotional
8:15 a.m. Retiring Thoughts – Will Pohlman
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Workshops (Character Development)
10:15 a.m. Speaker – Rhett Laubach
11:15 a.m. Retiring Thoughts – Maddi Butler
11:30 a.m. Wrap Up and Depart