kid showing goats, my dad worked for the Shorthorns when they were at their peak. This association planted a seed for me to graduate to the cattle side of things. From having an annual production sale every year to the show ring, there was always a red one involved. That was the start of something that I had no idea where it would end. With the exposure of the appendix program in the Shorthorn association that allowed red Maine cattle to enter their breed, and with dad being involved in both breeds, my love of cattle grew, and I have shown ever since. My wonderful mother and father allowed me to explore all options in life. If you know me, athletics is not my forte, and I realize that very early. I spent my childhood with a DVD player in the back seat of the truck or at the fairgrounds for a show. There was no shortage of shows and with that came the cattle themselves... Lima, Ohio… 2012, at my very first junior nationals with two Maine heifers was my first experience showing on the big stage and it all follows suit. Doing all the contests and showing my little heart out, was the start to an addiction that is deadly to checkbooks and for the competitive nature of showing livestock. Simmentals were not in the cards that I was dealt in the very beginning, but in 2014 we got bit by the bug and purchased a bred heifer from the Long family. That developed into the beginning of a different path. Her first calf being the infamous TLLC One Eyed Jack, started a Simmental herd for me. I started my Simmental junior journey that next year in 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky with a little purebred heifer, and we were off to the races. Between Maines, Chis, Simmentals, and Shorthorn junior nationals there was nothing to take away from the experiences and the time that was spent going everywhere
you could ever believe. From Des Moines, Iowa to College Station and to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Fargo and back these 4-legged ruminants have done more for me than I could have ever guessed. By 2021 I had looked up too many of the on junior board members across various breeds, that are great people and are now leading this industry. With that came the decision to run for the American Junior Maine Anjou Association junior board of representatives, and it was an easy choice. JUST DO IT. From talking to the juniors, speaking to the older members, and having to go out and meet people that I would not ordinarily talk to is something that got me into a whole other comfort zone. Being on the junior board has taught me that you can get the most out of every opportunity that you want if you try and give it what you have. Serving my first two years the influence not only from the junior members but my advisors of Lindsey Broek and Riley Matheny lead me in a direction to run again. Nothing comes close to memories of traveling on board, going to places that seem unreal, and being a part of a breed association. White water rafting in Colorado while on a leadership trip with MAINE, or heading to Florida to meet some very influential people have changed the way that I think. Being apart from something that meant more than just meeting on a zoom call. Making a difference somewhere that
past 15 years, there is YBIC (which happens every other year). This event accumulates all the junior boards across all the breeds to bring them together and teach leadership skills along with taking you to go see sights that you would otherwise not find along the way. Between finding roommates and influential people now that are lucky (or unlucky enough) that I call on the daily and learning about all walks of life from around the United States it is a full circle moment that is something I would go back and do repeatedly if there was a way! A lot of meaningful moments in my life happened in the show ring. There are a few that have shaped me into the man I am today. Take me back to 2017 in Hutchinson, Kansas and it was the first time I ever won anything at a junior national with a Bred and Owned Maine steer. The same year I exhibited a Simmental steer that was reserve at junior nationals as well. I had the bug before, but those two steers skyrocketed my want to do it again. That also happened to be the first year that I showed what many of you know me for to this day. 2017 was the year the fullblood mafia started, and it was a defining factor to getting me to position in the cow herd I have today. The cow that if you talk to me for more than 10 minutes you will know about was the first one I showed, FCF Sequel 7201E. The same bug that I got when I won the two steer shows the year before was amplified when I was lucky enough
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mattered as much to me as the Maine Anjou Association. If you have the opportunity, I cannot urge you enough! JUST DO IT, take every opportunity that floats your way. There is more than just showing the
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