by Jara Settles, AJMAA Secretary/Region II Director

Confidence

   Another speech to hastily memorize, salesmanship to retrieve pictures for, posters to litter the kitchen table, spoiled show calves to rinse and three hundred small details to carefully check and recheck - sounds like show time. Although the National Junior Maine-Anjou Show is still half a year away, it is now when I look back and see what that weeklong adventure across America truly did. It has been said many times that our junior program is not only focused on raising phenomenal cattle, it is about raising even more impressive youth. As I step into the world of collegiate livestock judging and even closer to the end of my junior show career, it suddenly has become clear what the value of all those late nights and early mornings was. Confidence, it seems, is the name of the game.

   The benefits of junior participation in national contests have now become cliché salesmanship to learn to sell, photography to merchandise a product and quiz bowl to know more about the cattle industry. What now is apparent to me are the hidden gifts bestowed to those lucky as to be called “Maine Kids.” Yes, the obvious effects still hold true; however, in the broader picture, those contests and the overall involvement in them offers much more than what first meets the eye.

   Where better than showmanship can hard work and cooperation be properly recognized? But, stepping away from ringside, it is easy to observe; there is something different about a “Maine Kid.” They have a presence; they walk tall with pride in everything they do. The confidence learned from the power each exhibitor finds within themselves translates into other worlds. Knowing that a bred heifer, weighing upwards of 1,250 lb. can be easily mastered with nothing more than a rope halter and patience is empowering. If that can be accomplished, every other goal seems more attainable.

   The buying, selling and trading of livestock has become even more of a science in the past decade. The fundamentals of this art, however, still have lessons to teach. When a contestant steps up to a three judge panel to deliver their sales pitch, generational differences melt away. It is no longer a ten-year-old girl, trying to hypothetically sell her heifer to three grown men sent there to judge her abilities, but rather an amazing interaction. This five minute sliver of time is when it becomes evident just how talented our juniors are. The confidence learned from grasping, and holding the interest of adults by what is said, shows our juniors just how much potential they have.

   It all comes to a close on that fateful night, the evening before the high percentage show, at the banquet. No one can accurately forecast how the night’s awards will fall. What is certain is that only one person can hold the first place certificate. It is at that time, the greatest gift of that amazing week takes shape, the adults. Yes, a bitter tear may slide down the cheek of a disappointed face but hugs and encouragement are always there. Scores of moms, dads and seasoned veterans can be heard uttering one of the most encouraging phrases known to man, “we’ll get ‘em next year.” The notion that with hard work, and practice, success can be reached, is the grand lesson of it all.

   During my tenure in the showring and the contest room, I have seen what this organization is capable of doing. Not only do our producers strive to breed incredible animals, but more importantly they make incredible leaders. The confidence, work ethic and perseverance gained from those years as a junior member will serve not only me, but every other members long into adulthood. For that, I am grateful for the long drives, the stepped on feet and the second place ribbons.