JUNIOR ASSOCIATION

Fall/Winter 2011 AGJA Newsletter

10900 Dover Street, Westminster, CO 80021 | 303-465-2333 |www.gelbvieh.orgView this newsletter online at www.gelbvieh.org/juniors/communications.html

Champions Named in Gelbvieh Junior Twister Classic The American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) held its annual national junior show July 3-8 in Kearney, Neb. Named each year for the host state, the 2011 AGJA Twister Classic saw 248 Gelbvieh and Balancer® animals entered by 151 junior members from 16 states. The week-long event not only included the exhibition of the best Gelbvieh and Balancer females, bulls and market steers from across the country, but youth also participated in 23 educational contests and programs. The Twister Classic was hosted jointly by the Gelbvieh Association of Nebraska and the Kansas Gelbvieh Association and was held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. “Participating in a national show like this not only provides an opportunity to compete nationally, but it also provides a chance to see great cattle and meet Gelbvieh youth and breeders from across the country,” says Dana Stewart, American Gelbvieh Association director of member services and director of youth programs. Complete results from the show, including show programs and photos, can be found online at www.gelbvieh.org by clicking on show programs, under the communication tab. Additional photos can be viewed and downloaded at www.agja.smugmug.com.

AGJA Members Can Earn Prizes While Fundraising Each year the American Gelbvieh Junior Association holds a raffle to raise critical funds for the association. These funds are used to help cover costs at the AGJA Junior Classic, promote Gelbvieh and AGJA at events like the National FFA Convention, and provide everyday services to its members. The heifer raffle is AGJA’s largest and most important fundraiser of the year and we need members like you to help sell raffle tickets! Enclosed in this newsletter is a sheet of tickets that you can use to sell to family, friends, agri-businesses and more. Copies of this sheet can be made or you can download additional sheets from http://www.gelbvieh.org/juniors/communications.html. Just return the tickets and money to AGJA before Jan. 2. Tickets are $10 each or can be sold in a group of 6 for $50. Every single ticket counts in a big way. The drawing will take place and the winner will be

announced during the AGA National Gelbvieh Sale on Sunday, January 8, at the 2012 National Western Stock Show. The top two ticket sellers will be awarded prizes from AGJA and anyone selling more than 10 tickets is eligible for additional prizes such as AGJA caps and notebooks. As an added incentive, State Challenge Cup points will go to the states selling the most donation heifer tickets. The state selling the most tickets earns 20 points, second high seller 15 points and the state selling the third largest amount earns 10 points. A special thanks goes to this year’s donor - Beastrom Ranch of Pierre, South Dakota. Thank you to the Beastroms for donating one of your best! Check online during the fall for more information, updates and photos of the heifer.

2011--2012 AGJA

Board of DirectorsDustin Aherin, President (2013)P: 785-302-1253

Justin Taubeneheim, Vice President (2012)P: 308-826-5185

Seth Arp, V.P. of Leadership (2013)P: 608-712-1186 

John Shearer, Secretary (2012)P: 620-628-4621

Van Tucker, Treasurer (2012)P: 785-282-0544 

Cole Buffo (2012)P: 913-683-0034 

Grace Hammer (2013)P: 785-728-7111

Christrian Hojer (2013)P: 605-860-8635

Garrett Teeter (2013)704-267-4060

Janelle Hayek, Ex-Officio P: 319-330-1647

Adult Advisors:Mike & Toni ShrewsburyP:816-528-3644

Adult Advisors:Al & Mary KnappP: 913-724-4105

Staff Advisor:Dana StewartP: 303-465-2333danas@gelbvieh.org

Find us on Facebook: Become a fan of the American Gelbvieh Association!

Eagle Pass Ranch Adds New All-Around Award Eagle Pass Ranch from Highmore, S.D., has been a long-time supporter of AGJA. Keeping with this tradition, they have provided a great incentive for AGJA members competing at the AGJA Junior Classic. They will donate a heifer each year to the All-Around winner, which is named by earning points by participating and placing in contests during the junior classic. This program replaces the previous AGJA heifer chain. In doing so, the all-around winner will be awarded their heifer at the National Western Stock Show. Proceeds from the heifer’s first calf will be donated to the American Gelbvieh Foundation, which supports research and educational opportunities such as scholarships. This year’s winner was Connor Durham from South Carolina.

AGJA Resources are Online! If you haven’t stopped by to view all of the changes and updates to the AGJA page at www.gelbvieh.org, you’re missing a wealth of information to prepare you for AGJA contests. Score sheets and contest guides can be found on the resources page. Be sure to visit the 4-H and FFA resources for study information for livestock judging. And, don’t miss the American Gelbvieh channel on You Tube! Search You Tube for “American Gelbvieh” to find our channel or click the You Tube button from AGA’s homepage. Feel free to use any of the videos for your website or facebook page.

Regional Scholarship Opportunity for AGJA Members

The Jimmy Christopher Memorial Scholarship will award up to 2 scholarships to deserving AGJA members. The scholarship was started to honor Jimmy Christopher, former herdsman for Bar None Gelbvieh, who lost a battle with cancer. The scholarship is open to AGJA high school seniors or college students who reside east of the Mississippi River. Applications are due December 1 and can be downloaded from the junior's page on the AGA website at www.gelbvieh.org or can be requested from danas@gelbvieh.org.

Save the Dates for the “2012 Black and Gold Classic” Start making plans to attend the 2012 AGJA Black and Gold Classic in Chillicothe, Mo., July 2-6. Hosted by the Heart of American Gelbvieh Junior Association, the Black and Gold classic promises all the fun and hospitality of great classic. More information, such as hotel arrangements, will be posted online as it becomes available. See you there!

Bull Futurity Scholarship Available The Breeder’s Choice Gelbvieh Bull Futurity is pleased to announce a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded in conjunction with the 2012 Breeder’s Choice Gelbvieh Bull Futurity during the National Western Stock Show. Applications are available online or can be requested by emailing danas@gelbvieh.org. Eligible AGJA members are encouraged to apply. Applications are due December 31, 2011.

Tips for competitive livestock judging Taken from University of Missouri Extension. For more valuable tips and information, visit http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G2952.

• Do not waste valuable time. Begin judging as soon as the class is in the ring. • See the animals exactly as they are, not as you would like to see them. Every

class is different. Do not "read" anything into the class! Do not play hunches! Do not try to out-guess the official judges. Place the livestock exactly as you have been taught.

• Break each class down into sections: Top pair, easy bottom, close middle, etc. • When the contest starts, do your own work. Depend entirely upon your own

judgment. Pay attention to the class and not to anyone else. • Try to have a tentative placing before too much time has elapsed. Otherwise you

may find yourself out of time with no decision made. • When evaluating a class, your first impression is usually your most unbiased and

most accurate if it is the result of careful analysis.. • If there is a break in the contest do not let the time go to waste. Make use of this

by looking over your notes from previous classes.