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HIGH INDIVIDUAL OVERALL JUNIOR COLLEGIATE
My name is Drew Jacobson, and I’m
grateful to be coached by Dr. Blake Bloomberg and Grace Angotti, and to be surrounded by teammates who push me every day. The environment here is competitive, but supportive. Driven, but grounded. It’s shaped me in ways I’ll carry long after judging ends. This year, I was honored to be named the High Overall Individual at the American Royal. It’s a moment I’m proud of — not because of the title itself, but because of the early mornings, late nights, and quiet steps of growth that led to it. It was a reminder that progress rarely happens all at once. It happens in small pieces. It happens when nobody is watching. Through this journey, I’ve learned to focus on steady improvement instead of expecting perfection.
from Osceola, Iowa. I grew up surrounded by the support of my parents, Andy and Nicole, and my sister, Macy, who have
always encouraged me to work hard, stay humble, and stay grounded in my faith. Their belief in me has been steady long before any awards or contests, and it means more to me than anything else. I didn’t come into livestock judging with years of experience. In high school, I just got my feet under me. However, I quickly learned that effort can compensate for experience when you’re willing to put in the work and stay committed. My show career taught me the importance of responsibility and pride in daily work, but judging is where I found a deeper purpose. It challenges me to think, communicate, and trust myself in ways that have shaped me not only as a competitor but as a person. Today, I’m a
“Progress over perfection. Purpose over pressure.”
And through every challenge and every moment of uncertainty, one reminder has stayed with me: “But God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” To me, that means we don’t have to start with all the answers. We just must be willing to learn, to work, and to trust the path we’re on. I’m continuing my judging career while majoring in Agribusiness, with plans to pursue a future in agricultural law. I want to support and advocate for the industry that has shaped who I am. This journey is still moving — and I’m grateful for every step along the way.
Sophomore at Black Hawk East, and I’m
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