Well, except for when our annual Thanksgiving Day two-hand touch football game with my cousins in my grandparents’ front yard turned to tackle, and I wound up with a fractured arm. We all got in trouble with grandma.

Or, when my family’s annual Easter day wiffle ball tournament turned to tackle too, and my cousin’s new girlfriend was taken out at second base. She was OK and wasn’t scared off — they got married years later.

And on Christmas day when my husband made my little cousin cry beating her at the Ticket to Ride^® board game. The ironic part? He couldn’t care less if he won or lost; he was just having fun. It was the rest of us who maybe cared a little too much about getting the most points building railroads across the United States.

Doing the best you can, at whatever you are doing, is a value of my family. And having the chance to compete is as enjoyable as it is character-building. 

In the cattle business, friendly competition is a catalyst for greatness, both individually and as a whole. When rooted in respect and shared goals, rivalry drives excellence. 

A drive to succeed fosters mentorship and knowledge-sharing. 

Angus All-Stars

This September issue embodies the heart behind competing among peers, highlighting many of the Angus All-Stars in the business.  

The National Junior Angus Association’s biggest event, the National Junior Angus Show, sets the stage for camaraderie and is the perfect balance between competing and celebrating each other’s wins. Life lessons are learned all along the road from the barns at home to the show ring and contests. 

We get to share a special story about a group of young men who have been given the opportunity to learn from ranch life and change their course — truly all-stars all around. 

This issue is always a special one for the Angus Journal team to put together. The sheer number of names and awards listed in the pages that follow, supported by families and friends who invest in young people, assures me the future of our industry is in good hands. 

When rivalry is embraced for growth, not division, all can win in life. And maybe when tackling is kept out of the game.