April 22, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
For more
information contact:
Carrie Heitman, communications coordinator, at 816-383-5100 or cheitman@angus.org.
Angus Juniors
‘Raise the Bar’ at Kansas State University
Leadership event in Manhattan, Kan.,
draws 45 junior Angus leaders, officers and advisors.
When
it comes to leadership development, it’s more than just showing up. It’s about gaining
industry knowledge, strengthening communication skills and learning the value
of teamwork. That is exactly what Angus youth learned while attending the 2013
Raising the Bar conference at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.
National
Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members met April 11- 14 to participate in the
premier leadership-training event.
“The
Raising the Bar conferences give our junior members the opportunity to expand
their horizons and truly ‘raise the bar’ on what they can accomplish,” says
Robin Ruff, American Angus Association® director of junior
activities.
Throughout
the weekend, 45 Angus junior leaders, officers and advisors from 11 state
junior Angus associations participated in activities geared toward building
stronger leaders, and developing friendships.
They
toured Kansas State University and area Angus operations, heard from
motivational speakers, participated in industry-related workshops – and made
time for fun activities, including bowling at the University campus.
“One
of the best things a junior can gain from this experience is new friendships,”
Ruff says. “Together, they can learn, grow and prepare for a promising future
in the Angus industry.”
Lindsay Upperman, 20, of Chambersburg,
Pa., attended Raising the Bar to meet new people and have fun. She encourages
other Angus juniors to consider attending a Raising the Bar Conference.
“I started (the NJAA) in 2007, and it was a life-changer for me,” Upperman says. “In the years I’ve been involved,
I’ve met so many people, have so many new connections and know that where I’m
going in the future will be helped by what I have done in the past through the
Angus Association.”
At
the Kansas State University campus, participants toured the Kansas Artificial
Breeding Service Unit, and visited with Sharon Tucker about semen collection;
explored Call Hall, the University’s dairy processing plant, which includes the
infamous ice cream parlor; and learned about the meat science facility that gives
meat processors, students and entrepreneurs an opportunity to use various
aspects of a state-of-the art meat science research and teaching complex.
Angus
juniors also met with Larry Corah, Certified Angus
Beef LLC (CAB) vice-president, about the brand; and Galen and Lori Fink about
their success with CAB in their restaurant, Little Apple Brewery.
Raising
the Bar participants also toured Lyons Ranch, known for their conservation
tactics for the tall-grass prairie in the Flint Hills.
Keynote
speakers, Kerry Priest, Kansas State Leadership Studies assistant professor,
and Emily Lehning, assistant vice president for
Student Life and director of New Student Services, encouraged juniors to focus
on personal goals while still behaving with a team attitude. Junior Board
members also held advocacy and goal-setting workshops.
Eighteen-year-old Reid Shipman of Manhattan, Kan., has been
involved in the NJAA for five years, and he participated in Raising
the Bar to learn more about leadership and get more involved in the Angus
Association.
“I think it’s important for juniors
who are younger to get involved,” Shipman says. “The beef industry and
livestock industry are such a major part of our world today. It’s going to take
all of us to be able to provide a good, wholesome product for the dinner
table.”
A complete list of the Raising the
Bar participants at Kansas State University is listed below.
About
Raising the Bar
Now
in its sixth year, the Raising the Bar conference continues to foster the
development of Angus youth by hosting events in four regions across the
country. The NJAA, with sponsorship from the Angus Foundation, has conducted
Raising the Bar conferences in cities such as Nashville, Tenn.; Ames, Iowa; Columbus,
Ohio; and Stillwater, Okla.
The
next Raising the Bar conference will be held the
weekend of Friday, May 3 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. To register for
the conference or for more information, contact Ruff at 816-383-5100 or rruff@angus.org; or visit www.angus.org/njaa.
The
NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle, while
also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for more than
6,000 active members nationwide.
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, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed
registry that grows by nearly 300,000 animals each year. The Association also
provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on
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, visit www.ANGUS.org.
###
Raising the Bar Participants:
Idaho
Shane Kerner
Iowa
Taylor Duckett
Tara Gray
Kansas
Meghan Blythe
Eric Blythe
Tyler Blythe
Chelsey Figge
Caleb Flory
Megan Green
Esther McCabe
Reid Shipman
Cody Theis
Claire Wingert
Jackson Wingert
Evan Woodbury
Kentucky
Corbin Cowles
Minnesota
Alex Merritt
Missouri
Chance Hardy
Jacob Heimsoth
Kendra Pryor
Cooper Sadowsky
Nebraska
Michaela Clowser
Caylie Egger
Torie Egger
Michelle Keyes
Blythe Lust
Justine Nelson
New York
Katherine Hopkins
Matthew Kelley
Elizabeth Luckman
North Dakota
Renae Tokach
Pennsylvania
Lindsay Upperman
Virginia
Catie Hope
Connor Orrock