Presented in memory of longtime Angus leader John Grimes, the PGS Premier Exhibitor award recognizes the exhibitor who best embodies the purpose of the Phenotype and Genotype Show (PGS) program, based on an application and point system. The award also includes a $1,000 scholarship to support the recipient’s future educational endeavors.

The inaugural recipient, Gage Long of Vinita, Okla., knows firsthand what made the honor so meaningful.

“Whenever they announced me the premier junior exhibitor, his family came off that stage in tears, and we all hugged,” he says. “I’ve known him my whole life, so it’s pretty special that I got to win that award the first year.”

The moment left him searching for words.

“I was speechless the whole day about it,” Long says. “I didn’t know how to say it, but I feel super honored to be able to have that award.”

For this junior, the significance extended far beyond another show-ring accomplishment.

“Just knowing how good of a person John Grimes was, it’s kind of a surreal feeling that I got that,” Long says.

An award with meaning

The award was established following John’s passing in April 2025 and serves as a tribute to one of the strongest champions of the National Junior Angus Show’s (NJAS) PGS program. More than recognizing successful exhibitors, the honor celebrates young producers who embrace the principles John worked tirelessly to promote: the art of balancing phenotype, genetics and real-world livestock production.

“John wanted to always be able to provide young people with an environment that they could gain experience in the seedstock industry … and an experience that reached beyond the show ring,” says Joanie Grimes, John’s wife. “He wanted to be able to make it a real-life situation.” 

John encouraged junior exhibitors to think beyond banners and buckles. He believed successful cattle should excel not only in the ring, but also in production settings.

“The PGS program was one of his main missions,” Joanie says. “It has been five years in effect before his passing, and he was so proud that the PGS could accomplish those goals by exposing the participants to real-world situations, and that it wasn’t just a show ring.”

Long believes that purpose is exactly what makes the program and award unique.

“It’s showing off what you’re capable of at your own ranch,” Long says. “You can’t just have an out-of-this-world phenotype heifer and have bad numbers. You need to have a mix of good numbers and a good heifer, and it all has to combine together.”

Because the PGS program represents one of John’s proudest accomplishments, his family felt an award tied directly to that mission was the most fitting tribute.

“We just thought it was very fitting to build upon the PGS show because that was something that he truly believed in,” Joanie says.

John’s influence can be seen in the growth of the program and exhibitors who have embraced its principles.

“It’s been humbling, and brings a lot of joy to us to know that what started as a vision as a sidebar at a meeting to actually come to fruition and see it prosper,” Joanie says.

The family’s excitement only grew when they learned Long would become the award’s first recipient. 

“We were really excited to see that Gage was the first actual recipient simply because we feel Gage is the epitome of what John wanted to accomplish — a young man that loves the beef industry, that wanted to be in a real-world situation and was learning,” Joanie explains.

Like her mom, Joanie, Lindsey Hall believes Long embodies many of the qualities her father valued most. 

“I do know just from watching Gage grow up in the association, how hard he works — he’s really the epitome of what the NJAA is all about,” Hall says. “He works hard. He’s respectful; he really cares. I think he’s just a true testament to why we started this show and how meaningful it can be.”

Rewarding success

The Premier PGS Exhibitor award joins other recognitions that already honor John’s contributions.

“The champion PGS female and bred-and-owned champion female each have a traveling trophy that are in memory of dad,” Hall says.

Still, she believes this particular award uniquely captures the spirit of what her father wanted the program to become.

“I’d say it’s probably one of the things he’s most proud of in terms of what he got done on the board, but we wanted to do something that really further solidified the purpose and the intent of the PGS show and rewarded those kids that really embodied the spirit behind the show,” Hall says.

The exhibitor award recognizes the daily work juniors invest in their operations, breeding programs and future careers in the beef industry.

“I just hope this award reminds folks that show cows are important, and we love them, but it’s about more than that.” Hall says. “It’s about what you’re doing at home. It’s building a program of value and how you can positively contribute to the beef industry in your own special way.”

The message reflects who John was throughout his life. Whether serving the Angus breed as the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Board chairman, mentoring young people or advocating for innovative ideas, he wanted to share knowledge.

“John was a teacher at heart and an educator, and he always wanted to leave a person better than what they started,” Joanie says. 

A legacy continued

Even in the midst of pride, grief is still present.

“I have a lot of feelings about it,” Hall says. “Absolutely pride is one of them. It’s a little bittersweet. I love that we’re building up this segment of the National Junior Angus Show … I’m really proud we’re giving that opportunity. But of course, it’s bittersweet. This was something that was so meaningful to my dad, and that he loved so much and was so passionate about. I would love nothing more for him to be there with us, for him to pass out those awards with us.”

Yet, the award also provides a tangible way for the family to remain connected to him.

“It’s how I feel close to my dad, too,” Hall says. “I was standing there in the makeup area watching the champions get their pictures, and I felt him there with us.”

One of the most meaningful outcomes has been hearing stories from people whose lives were influenced by her father, Hall says.

“It’s really special that through this award and starting these conversations, people come up to us and share an interaction that they had with my dad or something that he said to them and had a huge impact,” she says. 

While Hall laughs that her father would have been uncomfortable with the spotlight, she knows he would have appreciated what the award stands for. 

“He would probably have rolled his eyes a little bit and said there was someone else more deserving to name an award after or do something,” Hall says. “He actually probably would have hated all this attention, but I know deep down, he absolutely would be proud.”

As the program continues to evolve, Joanie believes John would still challenge leaders and exhibitors to keep improving.

“He would be thrilled to see what the program is becoming, but would always challenge those that are involved to make it better,” she says.
For the Grimes family, that challenge is part of the legacy.

“It just means so much that an organization and a program that meant so much to my dad also valued his foresight in creating something new and different,” Hall says. “It means a whole lot that they thought enough of him to name it after him.”