AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION - THE BUSINESS BREED

New Angus Heights

NJAA members travel to Colorado for the Raising the Bar Conference.

By Megan Silveira, Angus Journal Managing Editor

May 1, 2024

Raising bar — With support from the Minix Estate/Black Witch Farm Endowment and the Angus Fund, the Angus Foundation has continued to support the Raising the Bar conference for the last 15 years.

Unrestricted dollars help present juniors with hands-on learning experiences.

“The friendships that I have created and the opportunities Raising the Bar offers are something that you don’t just find anywhere,” says Aubrey Herbers, a 15-year-old from Lynchburg, Va.

Herbers attended the conference for the first time last year in Clemson, S.C. She says it was a privilege to have access to college campuses, tours and people who were all so invested in the development of her and her peers.

With all these fond memories, Herbers was happy to join 49 other National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members in Denver, Colo., for this year’s Raising the Bar conference.

“Denver was on our docket for 2020 — the schedule was finalized, and we were gearing up for a great event. But with the restrictions and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we made the call to cancel the event for 2020,” explains Madeline Bauer, senior events coordinator at the American Angus Association. “We had been eager to put Colorado State University (CSU) back on the list to attend, and this year it just fell back into place.”

The college campus offered a variety of agricultural opportunities to young people, and Bauer says the NJAA membership had repeatedly asked to visit.

“We knew we needed to make it happen in 2024,” she adds.

The three-day conference is a time for the upcoming generation of cattlemen and women to broaden their minds and develop closer bonds.

“The purpose of the conference is for juniors to leave with a greater sense of personal growth and leadership, knowledge of the industry, and an insight into college experiences to better prepare them for their future,” Bauer explains.

From exploring the CSU campus to learning how to conduct PAP (pulmonary arterial pressure) tests and even to touring feed intake barns, attendees gained practical knowledge to take home to their own herds and operations. Bauer calls it the “VIP experience to higher education,” for those looking to pursue it.

“All of the tours, including Greeley Hat Works, Colorado State University and Parry Angus, continued to spark curiosity for my passion throughout the industry,” Herbers added.

Lauren Phillips, another NJAA member, named the Kuner Feedlot as her favorite stop on the trip. The Centerville, Iowa, local says she had never been to an operation as big as Kuner before. To Phillips, there’s only one thing better than gaining newfound knowledge.

“Seeing my friends from across the country is what pulls me back to Raising the Bar each year,” she explains. “While I enjoy learning new things within our industry, the friendship made along the way is what sticks with me the most.”

At this conference, Phillips says it’s the perfect balance of connecting with old friends and making new ones to last a lifetime.

“Attending Raising the Bar provides a unique opportunity to connect with a diverse group of youth from all over,” Herbers echoes. “The weekend fosters meaningful connections, uniting a generation of bright, intelligent and passionate individuals who share a common love for agriculture and the Angus breed.”

While they’re most comfortable in the barn or pasture, NJAA members headed to Greeley Hat Works to learn more about a cowboy’s most important accessory.

Tour Stops

Colorado State University
Parry Angus
Five Rivers Cattle Feeding–Kuner Feedlot
Greeley Hat Works
CSU Spur
National Western Stock Show

Speakers

Caroline Lukens, National Western Stock Show
Jena Lee Wagner, Blueprint
Michaela Clowser, National Cattlemen’s Beef Ass’n
Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef
X2D Ranch Ministries