Angus juniors have many opportunities to travel the country with the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and learn from knowledgeable experts in the beef cattle business throughout the year. Most recently, NJAA members met April 19-21 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to participate in a Raising the Bar conference.
“Oklahoma State University is a very popular location for Angus juniors to continue their education,” said Caitlyn Brandt, American Angus Association events and education coordinator. “I have no doubt that OSU will gain a few more because of their experience at Raising the Bar.”
The conference hosted 67 Angus junior leaders from 22 state junior Angus associations. Participants toured the Oklahoma State University (OSU) campus, heard from industry experts, took part in leadership training workshops and spent time networking with other participants.
“Oklahoma City was centrally located around three Angus breeders who generously hosted our group,” said Brandt. “Juniors were able to learn more about Angus cattle in Oklahoma and agriculture in general.”
The group visited Express Angus Ranches in Yukon, Pollard Farms in Waukomis and Pfeiffer Angus Farm in Mulhall. Raising the Bar participants also toured the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, as well as the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
While at OSU, juniors toured the OSU Totusek Animal Science Arena, OSU Ferguson Family Dairy Center, OSU Purebred Beef Center and the OSU Food & Agricultural Products Center.
“A special thank you to all of those that helped make this educational experience possible for Angus juniors,” Brandt said. “Raising the Bar conferences provide juniors the opportunity to prepare for the future by showcasing a land grant university while also networking with juniors from across the country and gaining leadership skills along the way.”
Now in its eleventh year, Raising the Bar conferences continue to foster the development of Angus youth by hosting events in two regions across the country. The NJAA, with sponsorship from the Angus Foundation, has conducted Raising the Bar conferences in cities such as Fayetteville, Arkansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. To learn more about how to participate in an upcoming Raising the Bar conference, visit njaa.info.
A complete list of Oklahoma’s Raising the Bar participants follows.
Raising the Bar – Oklahoma
April 19-22, 2018
California
Kathryn Coleman
Florida
Morgan Blommel
Alexa Grau
Idaho
Shelby Burlile
Kassidy Moore
Illinois
Keegan Cassady
Olivia Heltsley
Amelia Miller
Indiana
Maddi Butler
Brooke Davis
Hunter Royer - Indiana Angus Auxiliary Raising the Bar Scholarship Recipient
Iowa
Haley Greiman
Jordan Johnson
Olivia Johnson
Baxter Knapp
Avery Mather
Lucas Moser
Kansas
Alexandria Cozzitorto
Grady Dickerson
Kady Figge
Eva Hinrichsen
Ava Perrier
Jacob Schmeidler
Kentucky
Caroline Cowles
Catherine Cowles
Corbin Cowles
Abigal Smoot
Addie White
Louisiana
Lily Gisclair
Olivia Shepherd
Maryland
Avery Dull
Kyle Schulze
Missouri
Levi Blankenship
Ella Jordan
Jera Pipkin
Mississippi
Elizabeth Rone
Nebraska
Micheala Clowser
Kacey Dethlefs
Dakota Lovett
Nicole Nichols
Reagan Skow
Rachel Smith
Jace Stagemeyer
Miles Stagemeyer
New York
Jayne Bannister
Katharine Wesche
North Carolina
Lynae Bowman
Madison Boyd
Marcie Harward
Mattie Harward
Pennsylvania
Brody Fitzgerald
Oklahoma
Teegin Crosthwait
Blake Long
Oregon
Nicholas Sheridan
Texas
Dylan Denny
Emma Nowotny
Gracie Smith
Lexi Stevenson
Virginia
Gordon Clark
Hannah Davis
Sarah Harris
Helena St. Clair
Washington
Cassandra Garcia
Alianna Koesel
Kelsey Vejraska
West Virginia
Olivia McHale
Natalie Phillips