July 20, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Holly Martin, director of communications

816-383-5143

hmartin@angus.org

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Cutline: Ashlyn Mool poses with her earnings as the 2023 Junior Herdsman of the Year, during the National Junior Angus Show’s awards program.

Mool named 2023 Junior Angus Herdsman

Illinois showman awarded 2023 Junior Herdsman of the Year.

Many awards come down to one judge’s opinion on one day. However, the 2023 Junior Herdsman of the Year, Ashlyn Mool from Illinois, was selected by a large group of her peers as recognition for years of excellent work.

“Out of every show, every award, this is probably the most meaningful because this is when you’re retiring and is voted on by your juniors, and that means a lot to me,” Mool said.

The award was created to honor an outstanding member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) in their last year of eligibility. The individual must display a strong work ethic, dedication to his or her animals, and have skills in preparing their cattle for exhibition to a high standard. In addition to the Junior Herdsman of the Year belt buckle, Mool received $500 towards Boviteq IVF services and $500 towards Purina product credit.

“We always joke that if there’s ever an opportunity to show a calf, she’s going to show a calf,” said Garrett Lampe, a mentor of Mool’s. “She absolutely loves the competition and the show ring part of it, but she’s taken a lot of ownership in the daily management and even inside their cow herd with cow-herd duties.”

Mool said her sister paved the way for her during her early years of association involvement. She has since carved a path of her own by serving in leadership roles at the state level and earning recognition as the Illinois 2023 Herdsman of the Year.

Mool said one of the most challenging aspects of her junior career has been balancing time commitments, but she continues to prioritize her learning and encourages other herdsmen to do the same.

“You have to be able to learn and adjust because every animal is different,” she said. “Even now as a retiring junior I’m still asking a lot of questions.”

A Junior Herdsman of the Year award recipient also shows qualities of working well with others.

“She’s just a pretty incredible young lady,” Lampe said. “You can tell a lot of young people look up to her.”

One of her favorite parts of working with younger juniors is teaching them how to improve their showmanship skills.

“Six or seven years ago, I was not the best showman myself and then Gretchen and Garrett Lampe really helped me bloom into a showman, so I want to pass that along and help other kids,” she said.

Although Mool will age out of the NJAA, she plans to continue being involved with the breed as she and her family expand their herd. She will also continue her studies of agribusiness at Iowa State University in the fall of 2023.

To learn more about the NJAA or to view NJAS results, visit www.njaa.info. Additional coverage is also available on the NJAA social media channels and in the September issue of the Angus Journal.

— Written by Sarah Kocher, Angus Communications

About the National Junior Angus Association

The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle while also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for more than 4,500 active members nationwide.

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association^® the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by nearly 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.