HIGH INDIVIDUAL O V E R A L L CALEB BODEN
I grew up in Clearbrook, Virginia on a commercial cow calf operation. From the time I was hardly big enough to ride in a truck to help feed cows I can’t remember a single day that wasn’t spent learning about stock or becoming a more fierce competitor. Whether it was tagging along with mom’s judging team to harass the big kids or going with dad to a new sale barn to help sort cattle I could not get enough of the industry. If I was not doing something livestock related you could probably find me with a basketball. It not only taught me the importance of a team but stoked a competitive fire in me. Since the very first time I stepped in the ring as a peewee, there’s no doubt the opportunity and hope the show stock industry possesses has made me the determined and hungry competitor I am today. It wasn’t until after graduating high school and heading to Butler when I really learned to enjoy livestock judging contests. Because when your mom is the 4-H judging coach and your middle child antics catch up, you don’t get the option to take any contest off after you’re old enough to start. I genuinely cherish and value the lifelong friendships and life lessons built in the van with coach Frank in El Dorado. When I finally decided to go on and further my education there was an immediate answer. The G.O.A.T Dr. Hoge called me about heading to WIU and I was instantly in. I have always admired the amount of curve bending industry leaders that spent time in Macomb. It didn’t take long to find out the wealth of livestock knowledge my team had been soaking up was staggering. Learning so much more than just how to play the game but finding where stock fits and different directions a guy could take one. I will never be able to thank Dr. Hoge and my coaches enough for not only pushing my team to maximize our ability, but you all have taught us so much more about being better stockmen. Without their help I would have never been able to achieve a lifelong dream of winning the American Royal. I am very humbled and extremely grateful to have been blessed with this achievement. I can’t thank the staff and the volunteers at the American Royal enough for hosting a unique high quality contest. I would like to thank my family enough for all of the opportunities you have provided me, my teammates for being the best group of friends to learn and grow with, and Dr. Hoge and Cooper for everything you’ve done from start to finish. You all are the best mentors in the industry. As Mr. Cory Watts once said, “Do your best and let God do the rest”. •
225
Powered by FlippingBook