Press Release
Juniors from across the United States gathered to get “Groovy in Grand Island” with the American Junior Shorthorn Association in Grand Island, Neb. Together youth will celebrate the 57th National Shorthorn Show and Youth Conference (NJSS) from June 21 – June 28.
Juniors attend NJSS to exhibit Shorthorn cattle, strengthen their professional skills and gain industry-leading knowledge. This year this event brought in 509 juniors from 32 states competing in fun-filled activities, contests, and competitions. A total of 786 entries were exhibited in three days!
As the Kruse Ranch Beef Cook- Off Contest came around, attendees followed their nose to the delicious smelling contest. The objective of the contest is for each state group to cook the best dish using the wholesale rib cut of beef. Judging criteria is based on the team’s creativity, teamwork, and knowledge of the product/industry in their presentation as well as the taste, originality, and presentation of the beef product.
Executive Secretary/CEO of the American Shorthorn Association, Montie Soules, explained in an interview that, “The National Junior Shorthorn Show and Youth Conference is every bit as much about the contests and the educational aspect from that as it is the cattle show. The youth of this breed pride themselves in participating in a number of contests. This provides leadership and communication skills for those junior exhibitors that will advance them in their lifelong goals. One of the things that I am most proud of about this event is the high participation percentage that we have in our contests. Our junior board and staff have made it a point to try and provide new and updated contests that challenge the junior members with the technology available in today’s world. This prepares Shorthorn youth for their future.”
Receiving top honors in the Beef Cook-Off:
1. Indiana/ Ohio: Piper Cates, Maddox Gunn and Carter Wickard of Indiana, along with Tatumn Poff of Ohio.
2. Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee: Victoria Thompson and Clay Lynn of Alabama, Will Collins of Georgia and Caroline Huebner of Tennessee.
3. Kansas /Iowa: Braylee Kraisinger, Josie Heter and Ryder Heter of Kansas, and Adelynn Vaughn of Iowa.
4. Maryland: Peyton Davis, Charlotte Holland, Gracie Spiering and Delilah Barber.
5. Nebraska: Analynn Beach, Alyiah Beach, Addi Berner, and Jolie Kriefels.
Artistic abilities were shown off in competitions such as the Arts and Crafts Contest. This contest was composed of painting, videography, photography, sculpture, and music to promote America’s oldest breed, Shorthorns.
Entries were judged based on overall artistic appeal, originality and creativity, craftsmanship, attention to detail, difficulty of the medium used and the promotion of Shorthorns.
Receiving top honors in the Prospector I age division (age 9 and under) was:
1.Knox Neumayr, Boling, Texas
2.Aizley Beach, Palmyra, Neb.
3.Faith Bollum, Goodhue, Minn.
4.Collen Romig, Edgewood, Iowa
5.Karlie Schluterman, Ozark, Ark.
