High Honors...Maine-Anjou Junior Member Wins Big!

by Kyla Nesheim

  Strong devotion to the Maine-Anjou breed and the cattle industry describes an extremely talented Oklahoma native. Rashele Blakley, Oologah, Okla., often finds herself in the winner’s circle at cattle shows and in life. At the young age of 14, Rashele has won more honors and accomplished more than most will in a lifetime. She has worked hard to get where she is today and this is only a small dose of what’s to come in this junior Maine-Anjou member’s life.
  Rashele is a strong supporter of the American Junior Maine-Anjou Associaion (AJMAA) and the Oklahoma Club Calf Association (OCCA). She has taken home countless honors in both venues. She has been showing Maine-Anjou cattle for six years and has been exhibiting in the OCCA for four years. “I began exhibiting Maine-Anjou cattle when I was six and have increased my involvement every year. I have also started building my own cow herd,” she explains. She currently runs 54 head of Maine- Anjou cows and calves. She plans to continue focusing her life around the production of beef cattle.
Family Ties
  Rashele’s family has been active in the cattle business for many years. As many know, Diamonds In The Rough is a reputable name in the Maine-Anjou breed. Diamonds in the Rough is a family owned and operated business owned entirely by the children of Vincent and Nancy Blakley - Rashele’s grandparents. Lyle, Lynda and Lyndsey are fifth generation Oklahoma cattlemen who grew up breeding, raising and exhibiting champion livestock. Rashele is the daughter of Lyle and RaeAnn Blakley. She has two siblings, Reighly and Larahmy, who are just now starting in the show ring. Mike and Lynda Runner are Rashele’s uncle and aunt and Lyndsey, is her uncle.
  Diamonds in the Rough is one of the Maine-Anjou breed’s top exhibitors. They were recently named Premier Exhibitor of the Year by the American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA). They have also won premier exhibitor and premier breeder honors several times at numerous state and national shows. Rashele has helped in this feat by contributing many hours of hard work. “My family shows Maine-Anjou cattle very extensively throughout the United States,” says Rashele. “They exhibit at many state fairs, the four national shows, Houston, Arizona National and other beef expos. This is one of the avenues we use to sell and promote our cattle.”
On the Road
Cattle shows have been Rashele’s second home. She spends most of her spare time pulling to shows. No stranger to the winner’s circle, she has chalked up many wins over the past six years. She has exhibited the grand champion bred and owned market steer two years in a row at the national junior show and also exhibited the reserve grand champion bred and owned high percentage female at the national junior show. She gets involved in all the contests throughout the week, placing in many. “The Maine-Anjou junior nationals is without a doubt my favorite show because this is the one time my friends from all over the United States are gathered in one place and we are able to renew our valued friendships,” says Rashele. She has now been to four national junior shows. “I have been fortunate to win many high placings with my cattle as well as in the contests,” says Rashele.  
  With the help of her family, Rashele is able to exhibit her cattle at the county, district, state and national levels. She attends all the state fairs she can before school starts. These include the Ozark Empire Fair, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and on occasion, Iowa. She also exhibits her cattle at the State Fair of Oklahoma, Tulsa State Fair, Oklahoma Spring Junior Livestock Exposition, American Royal, Louisville, National Western Stock Show, Ft. Worth, Houston, Arizona National, several state beef expos and many jackpot shows.
  Rashele sets a good example for her younger cousins and many other young Maine-Anjou members. The result of her hard work and dedication leaves something to be desired by all. The AJMAA is fortunate to have a member of this caliber.
Top Oklahoma Honors
The OCCA holds their annual banquet every year at the Oklahoma Beef Expo in Stillwater, Okla. This year was special for Rashele, as she was named the 2004 Oklahoma Premier Overall Junior Beef Exhibitor. This award is derived from the points system of the OCCA. Points are awarded for overall placings with steers, heifers and showmanship contests throughout the year. “I feel honored to have received this prestigious award based on all three overall placings,” says Rashele. “It was a surprise to me at the awards banquet and I feel I owe my family a great deal for the sacrifices they made so I could travel and participate in the shows. There is no way I can ever repay them for all of their support.”