Aug. 14, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Jena McRell, digital editor, at 816-383-5100 or jmcrell@angusjournal.com
PHOTOS: Available upon request at prphotos@angus.org or 816-383-5155
Angus Juniors in Philadelphia, 2014 LEAD Conference
NJAA members travel to Pennsylvania to experience agriculture in the northeast
The Leaders Engaged in Angus Development conference, commonly known as LEAD, is a four-day event that brings together National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members from across the nation to learn about leadership development, teamwork and what life is like in other parts of the country. This year, more than 130 NJAA members traveled to Philadelphia, Pa., July 31 – Aug. 3 to take part in the annual event sponsored by the Angus Foundation.
“What makes LEAD special is that the cattle are left at home,” said Jacy Alsup, Gravette, Ark., retired chair of the National Junior Angus Board (NJAB). “When you're at a show, you are there to work, and so it's good to be here and to be able to make those friendships. They can hang out with each other all week and be focused on learning, exploring and making those experiences with their friends.”
The LEAD conference is hosted for youth ages 14-21 years old, and this year’s theme was “Forefathers & Farmers: Cultivating Angus Youth.” While in Pennsylvania, participants spent a day focused on agriculture, visiting Herr Angus Farm and Cherry Knoll Farm, as well as a mushroom farm. They spent another day exploring downtown Philadelphia, and historical landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
“This is my first year at the LEAD conference, so I’m kind of a rookie,” said Madelyn Gerken, Cashion, Okla. “I really have enjoyed all of it – from getting to go to the different farms to seeing the historical sites. Many opportunities have been opened up to me throughout this conference. You learn so much.”
A day on the farm
Pennsylvania’s Herr family has established a self-sustaining agribusiness, just 70 miles southwest of Philadelphia. In 1946, James Stauffer Herr bought a small potato chip company for $1,750. Today throughout the East coast, it’s easy to spot a variety of snacks branded with the Herr’s family name. Angus juniors participating in the LEAD conference were able to tour the factory, where they process nearly 500,000 pounds of potatoes each day.
A few miles down the road from the factory is Herr Angus Farm. Manager Dennis Byrne spoke to the group about their production goals, gave tours around the pasture, and explained how the farm uses byproducts from the factory to fuel their agriculture production. A special mix of leftover popcorn, chips and cheese snacks are used in the farm’s feedlot. They call it “steer party mix,” and use it in part of a carefully managed nutritional diet for the cattle.
Because of their proximity to the Port of Wilmington in Delaware – a popular springboard for livestock export – Herr Angus Farm often serves as quarantine for cattle heading overseas. LEAD participants were able to see a group of dairy cattle headed for Turkey.
“This group of young people have great minds, and they have a lot of great questions,” Byrne said. “They really want to do something with this world, and I think it's important that as adults, we let them know that they can do that, that they have the minds and the capability to take us to another level.”
The LEAD conference is coordinated by the NJAB, who lead team-building activities, leadership workshops and encouraged participants to step outside their comfort zones and meet new friends. Attendees also attended seminars on careers in agriculture, presented by industry professionals in meat science, nutrition, genetics and marketing.
Juniors enjoyed a presentation by Jim “Basketball” Jones, an entertainer and motivational speaker, who stressed the importance of valuing personal strengths and reaching goals. In similar fashion, speaker Laymon Hicks spoke about appreciating relationships and the positive impact juniors can make on the world around them.
“The LEAD conference is important because juniors need to know that they're making a difference with what they do,” said Kyle Bratton, Caldwell, Idaho. “In all actuality, we are the future. We're the ones who are going to make a difference in the Angus breed.”
For more information on the LEAD conference, visit www.ANGUS.org. A complete list of participants follows.
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. Explore how the Angus breed impacts every sector of the cattle business – from the feedlot to the meatcase – during the 2014 Angus Means Business National Convention and Trade Show. Hosted by the American Angus Association, the event takes place Nov. 4-6 at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Participants will hear from top-flight speakers, conduct Association business, visit the trade show featuring allied industry partners and have the opportunity to attend the Angus University.
The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. For more information about Angus cattle and the 2014 convention, visit www.ANGUS.org.
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2014 LEAD Participants
Arkansas
Katlyn Tunstill, Fayetteville, Ark.
Will Pohlmann, Prairie Grove, Ark.
Emma Jumper, Paragould, Ark.
Jacy Alsup, Gravette, Ark.
California
Tyler Coleman, Modesto, Calif.
Sydney Schnoor, Chowchilla, Calif.
Mikenzi Meyers, Madera, Calif.
Rex Roseman, Loomis, Calif.
Shayne Myers, Colusa, Calif.
Tyler Tasker, Martinez, Calif.
Macy Perry, Prather, Calif.
Emily Piland, Rescue, Calif.
Florida
Josie Chandler, Polk City, Fla.
Destiny McCauley, Bowling Green, Fla.
Iowa
Baxter Knapp, Bloomfield, Iowa
Courtney Younge, Ventura, Iowa
Katelyn Holmes, Benton, Iowa
Nicholas Prevo, Pulaski, Iowa
Olivia Johnson, Prole, Iowa
Katie Friederichs, Walcott, Iowa
Idaho
Lauren Casdorph, Twin Falls, Idaho
Kyle Bratton, Caldwell, Idaho
Matthew Malson, Parma, Idaho
Shane Kerner, Weiser, Idaho
Illinois
Andrew Livingston, Nokomis, Ill.
Brooke Haas, Downs, Ill.
Keegan Cassady, Normal, Ill.
Ashley McEwen, Bushnell, Ill.
Kalie Rumbold, Wyanet, Ill.
Laramie Chaffin, Roodhouse, Ill.
Chase Anderson, Chrisman, Ill.
Kansas
Sarah Pelton, Paradise, Kan.
Esther McCabe, Elk City, Kan.
Cale Hinrichsen, Westmoreland, Kan.
Megan Green, Leavenworth, Kan.
Evan Woodbury, Quenemo, Kan.
Kentucky
Kelby Burks, Park City, Ky.
Corbin Cowles, Rockfield, Ky.
Caroline Cowles, Rockfield, Ky.
Kendra Kostbade, Henderson, Ky.
Jesse Kostbade, Henderson, Ky.
Levi Stephenson, Carrollton, Ky.
Makayla Jeffries, Horse Cave, Ky.
Josh Jasper, Nicholasville, Ky.
Leslie Craig, Harrodsburg, Ky.
Jonathan McGinnis, Shelbyville, Ky.
Pamela Dockery, Shelbyville, Ky.
Bradshaw Smoot, Campbellsville, Ky.
Maggie Jasper, Versailles, Ky.
Louisiana
Cheyenne Jones, Franklinton, La.
Katelyn Corsentino, Denham Springs, La.
Lee Hymel, Vacherie, La.
Morgan Fruge, Jennings, La.
Lana Myers, Jennings, La.
Daniel McFarland, Keithville, La.
Maryland
Michael Cropp, Damascus, Md.
Michigan
Sterling Reichenbach, Bath, Mich.
Minnesota
Taylor Waugh, Goodhue, Minn.
Luke Nord, Wolverton, Minn.
Missouri
Carter Ward, Plattsburg, Mo.
Chris Kahlenbeck, Union, Mo.
Sydney Thummel, Sheridan, Mo.
Jacob Heimsoth, Cameron, Mo.
Jera Pipkin, Republic, Mo.
Cooper Sadowsky, Eagleville, Mo.
Elizabeth Otte, Saint Mary, Mo.
Carrie Otte, Saint Mary, Mo.
Brittany Eagleburger, Buffalo, Mo.
Joseph Hoak, Hamilton, Mo.
Paige Wallace, Stotts City, Mo.
Montana
Jordyn Wagner, Billings, Mont.
Jena Wagner, Billings, Mont.
North Carolina
Daniel Brown, Boone, N.C.
Nebraska
Michelle Keyes, Springfield, Neb.
Savannah Schafer, Nehawka, Neb.
Michaela Clowser, Milford, Neb.
Aliesha Dethlefs, North Platte, Neb.
Lane Egger, Columbus, Neb.
Ohio
Lydia Dance, Hillsboro, Ohio
Lauren Grimes, Hillsboro, Ohio
Cade Stertzbach, Louisville, Ohio
Oklahoma
Madelyn Gerken, Cashion, Okla.
Sydnee Gerken, Cashion, Okla.
Jaryn Frey, Kingfisher, Okla.
Braden Henricks, Anadarko, Okla.
Oregon
Nicholas Sheridan, Yamhill, Ore.
Mariam Horton, Christmas Valley, Ore.
Pennsylvania
Caleb Schmuck, Masontown, Pa.
Claudia Hissong, Greencastle, Pa.
Daniel Rohrbaugh, Seven Valleys, Pa.
Eric Shoop, Dalmatia, Pa.
Kayce Myers, Wellsville, Pa.
Shelby Dean, New Castle, Pa.
Bryce Fitzgerald, West Grove, Pa.
Brody Fitzgerald, West Grove, Pa.
Madison Weaver, Ephrata, Pa.
Andrea Foore, Seven Valleys, Pa.
Alexis Cash, York, Pa.
Alysha Sweitzer, Wellsville, Pa.
Haley Sweitzer, Wellsville, Pa.
Alana Eisenhour, Wellsville, Pa.
Bailey Druck, York, Pa.
Grant Cash, York, Pa.
Dakota Mayle, Dover, Pa.
Nathan Briggs, New Bloomfield, Pa.
Lindsey Upperman, Chambersburg, Pa.
South Dakota
Tyler Bush, Britton, S.D.
Royce Erdmann, Leola, S.D.
Alex Rogen, Brandon, S.D.
Texas
Lexi Stevenson, Bedford, Texas
Emily Stovall, Coriscana, Texas
Dylan Denny, Lubbock, Texas
Robert Dolson, Hico, Texas
Derek Wolf, Windhorst, Texas
Kaydee Free, Salado, Texas
Julie Williams, Idalou, Texas
Tylee Williams, Rio Vista, Texas
Virginia
Catie Hope, Berryville, Va.
Hunter Wimmer, Moneta, Va.
Lauren Beasley, Bluemont, Va.
Callie Eastin, Gretna, Va.
Helena St.Clair, Berryville, Va.
Morgan Alexander, Berryville, Va.
Mark Alexander, Berryville, Va.
Connor Orrock, Woodford, Va.
Will Fiske, Greenville, Va.
Washington
Cassandra Garcia, Renton, Wash.
Tarisa Toth, Anacortes, Wash.
Wisconsin
Paige Gaffney, Barneveld, Wisc.
Claire Hawthorne, Westby, Wisc.
Evan Henning, Janesville, Wisc.
Suzanne Henning, Janesville, Wisc.
Jessica Radcliffe, Weston, Wisc.
West Virginia
Austin Cogle, Kearneysville, W.Va.
Blake Cogle, Kearneysville, W.Va.
Canada
Matt Bates, Cameron, Ontario, Canada
Patrick Holland, Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada
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