“And in first place, entry number 70, Annie Meier from Tennessee.”

At those words, time stopped. 

The announcement only took a few seconds, but for one girl, it felt like a lifetime.

Standing in the Expo Square Arena Friday night of the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Annie Meier stood alongside 14 other showmen in matching white button-ups, the only sign of their nerves found in a suffocating grip on their show sticks. The seconds crawled by, each of them waiting to hear who would take the title of champion from the National Junior Angus Showmanship contest. 

Then came the announcement. 

“For a second, I couldn’t believe it was real,” Meier recalls. “I almost felt frozen. All the hours of training, the sacrifices, the ups and downs, they all flashed through my mind in that split second.”

It was overwhelming in the best way. I had dreamed of this moment for so long, but living it was so surreal.” — Annie Meier

As the announcer’s voice echoed through the ring, the hum of anticipation gave way to a burst of applause.

Time restarted, and the emotions hit like a tidal wave. 

“It was overwhelming in the best way,” she says. “I had dreamed of this moment for so long, but living it was so surreal.”

Tears falling down her cheeks, Meier embraced her fellow competitors before turning and running into the arms of her biggest supporters: her dad, Lydell; sister, Alyssa; and brother, Andrew. 

“The second I saw my dad, sister and brother, everything I’d been holding in just came out,” she says. “Getting to run to them and sharing that moment made the win even more special because it wasn’t just mine, it was ours.”

Life at the ranch didn’t pause for the NJAS, so Meier’s mom, Holly, couldn’t be there to celebrate the moment. While she was at home helping getting the next batch of calves ready for the summer show run, Meier FaceTimed from the show ring in Tulsa to share the good news.

“I wish she could have been there, but hearing … her tell me how proud she was, it hit me harder. Even from miles away, she still made me feel like she was right there by my side,” Meier says.

Her journey to victory on Route 66 was announced in just a few seconds, but Meier has been working towards this for as long as she can remember. Growing up on the Three Aces Cattle Company, a seedstock operation in Clinton, Tenn., Meier says stepping into the show ring wasn’t a choice she made — it was a natural extension of her everyday life.

For Meier, it was love the first time she gripped a show stick.

“I showed at my first junior nationals … when I was only 7, and I have been showing ever since,” she explains. 

Through the years, this journey has taken Meier across the country to livestock shows like the National Western, Cattlemen’s Congress and dozens of junior national shows each year. 

Family tradition

While she doesn’t deny the significance of the other shows she has exhibited at, Meier admits there’s a special type of reverence associated with the showmanship ring at NJAS. 

Two years ago, she watched her older brother, Andrew, take home his silver bowl in Grand Island, Neb. 

That moment, she says, cemented her desire to be in the same spot. 

“I saw firsthand the amount of work, discipline and dedication it took, and it pushed me to set the same goal for myself,” Meier says. 

Her brother’s success as an example, Meier put in hours of early mornings and late nights, never willing to believe she wouldn’t don a white shirt at the NJAS. Winning the qualifying contest hosted by the Tennessee Junior Angus Association was the motivation she needed.

“Once I qualified … I knew I had to step up my game,” Meier admits. “Leading up to Tulsa, I tried not to think about it too much, so I wouldn’t overthink it. I had to go in with a plan and a clear mind.”

Meier names her brother as a major influence in helping prepare her for this part of her showmanship journey, saying the advice he shared from his own experience pushed her to be her best.

“To now be able to experience the exact moment [as Andrew] was incredible. It felt like I was carrying on a tradition.”

Winning, she says, was a testament to the work the whole family put in. 

“My parents have been my biggest mentors,” Meier says, “teaching me the importance of hard work, patience and attention to detail.”

She also mentions the ways her sister, friends and other breeders have come alongside her, always ready to offer tips, encouragement and a helping hand.

Glancing back, focused ahead

Now, Meier wants to pass on some of that advice to younger showmen by sharing some things she wishes she could tell her 8-year-old self.

“Be patient and trust the process,” she urges. “Sometimes progress feels slow and it’s easy to get frustrated, but every little bit of work counts.”

She also stresses the importance of enjoying the journey rather than getting caught up in the rush for the next buckle. 

“The friendships, the lessons and the fun along the way are just as important as winning,” Meier says.

For those who qualify to compete in the NJAS Showmanship Contest in the future, Meier encourages competitors to stay in the moment throughout the week, balancing preparation with soaking up the experience. 

“The NJAS is more than just a contest. It’s a chance to grow as a showman and a person,” she says.

For Meier, time in the show ring isn’t just a hobby. It’s her life. 

“What I love most about showing is the journey that has led me to where I am today,” she says. “For me, it’s more than winning banners. It’s about the life skills, work ethic and memories I get to carry with me forever.”

This goal accomplished, Meier has her sights set firmly on the future. 

“I’m excited to keep building on what I’ve learned and continue improving in my show career,” she shares.

Meier believes there’s always room to grow — both as exhibitors and as people. Unsure of what exactly the future holds for her outside of the ring, Meier is sure of one thing: she’ll be back at the NJAS next year. 

For her it’s not just a competition — it’s a chance to connect with people, learn new things and become the best version of herself.

Time marches onward, but Meier says this advice from her dad drives her into the future.

“Do what you love, love what you do, and everything will take care of itself.”