The familiar sight of a green coat, blonde hair and a welcoming smile has become part of the junior Angus experience for many exhibitors across the country. For Anne Dameron, those moments spent helping fellow juniors, caring for cattle and building relationships within the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) culminated in being named the 2026 Tom Wells Junior Herdsman of the Year.

Presented during the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), the Tom Wells Junior Herdsman of the Year Award recognizes an NJAA member in their final year of eligibility who demonstrates exceptional dedication to cattle care and preparation while serving as a positive leader among their peers. Established in 2023 by the Wells family through the Angus Foundation, the award honors the legacy of Tom Wells, a passionate junior Angus member and supporter of the NJAA.  

For Dameron, a fourth-generation Angus breeder and agricultural communications student at University of Illinois, the recognition reflects the people and the program that have helped shape her through her junior career. 

“The Angus community and the junior program mean everything,” Dameron says. “It’s really what raised me.” 

Long before she competed for banners of her own, Dameron was following family members through the cattle barns and learning the responsibilities of raising livestock. While cattle first introduced her to the Angus breed, it was the people who made the experience meaningful.  

“Coming to the National Junior Angus Show and seeing everyone from across the country all together in one place is when it really clicked for me,” she shares. “It’s a feeling that you can’t experience any other time of year.” 

The annual gathering became more than a cattle show. It became a reunion of friends and a place where lifelong relationships were built.  

When NJAA members selected Dameron as the 2026 Tom Wells Junior Herdsman of the Year, the recognition carries special significance because it came from her peers.  

“Growing up in the NJAA, I’ve always been surrounded by incredibly hard workers, giving their all each and every day without ever needing any praise or recognition in return,” Dameron acknowledges. “To think that those equally dedicated and hardworking individuals considered me for this award is both humbling and a tremendous privilege.” 

The award includes a $500 Tom Wells Junior Herdsman Scholarship and a custom belt buckle to commemorate the achievement, but Dameron says the greatest rewards from her junior career cannot be measured by prizes or accolades. 

Like many NJAA members, her fondest memories revolve around the friendships forged during countless summers spent at junior Angus events.  

“I know that I have lifelong friends coming out of this and people that I can always count on,” Dameron says.  

That sense of belonging has become one of the defining characteristics of the Angus community. While competitors may spend time battling for a banner in the ring, they spend just as much time cheering each other on behind the scenes. For Dameron, that balance between competition and camaraderie is what makes the Association special. 

As she prepares for her senior year of college and the next chapter beyond the junior program, Dameron says the lessons learned through the NJAA will continue to guide her future.  

When asked to describe her experience as a junior Angus member in a single word, her answer came without hesitation.  

“Invaluable — I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she says. “I've met the best people through this association, had the greatest experiences and it's developed me into a person I wouldn't be without the opportunities this association gave me.” 

For a young woman who has spent her entire life in the Angus business, the greatest takeaway is not a title or a banner. It’s the community that helped raise her, supported her and provided a place to belong. 

And that, she shares, is truly something invaluable.  

Results of the 2026 NJAS, including show placings, contests, awards and scholarships at www.njas.info. Additional coverage is also available on the NJAA Facebook page and in the September issue of the Angus Journal.