Texas Maine-Anjou Juniors Excel

by Kyla Nesheim

Texas Junior State Maine-Anjou Show – July 11, 2004 – Navasota, Texas
The Texas Maine-Anjou Association held their second annual state Maine-Anjou show on July 11, 2004, in Navasota, Texas. Texas junior Maine-Anjou exhibitors traveled up to 12 hours to participate in their state Maine-Anjou show. The quality ran deep, and junior members were in high spirits. Texas is known for quality cattle and that definitely rang true with the Maine-Anjou breed.

Prizes for the show were phenomenal! On top of receiving TCCA points, junior members received great prizes. The Texas Maine-Anjou Association really outdid themselves with the prizes. Shiny belt buckles, embroidered bags, banners and prize trophies were a few prizes given to the exhibitors.

The Texas Junior Maine-Anjou Association held their annual meeting the night before the show on Saturday, July 10. The meeting kicked off with a delicious burger feed. New officers for the 2004-2005 year were chosen to lead their state junior association. The Texas Junior Maine-Anjou Association’s new officers include President Jessica Housley, Christoval; Vice President Josh Warner, Thorndale; Secretary Allison Moore, Barry; Treasurer Natalie Schaeffer, Crockett; and three directors, Michelle Hajdik, Bellville, C.A. Jones, Sunray, and Hollen Slaughter, La Porte.

A tough competition ensued for the 2004-2005 Texas Maine-Anjou royalty positions. Three candidates were chosen – sweetheart, princess and queen. Tori Faircloth, Pollok, was crowned sweetheart, Natalie Schaeffer was crowned princess, and Jessica Housley won the battle for the queen’s crown. These three Texas ladies will represent the Maine-Anjou breed throughout the year attending shows and supporting the Maine-Anjou program.

Honors for exhibitor of the year were given to two junior Maine-Anjou members who spent countless hours traveling to shows across Texas. Matthew Dean, Bellville, was named first place exhibitor of the year and Ashley Fleming, Sealy, was second. Texas junior members will hold a fundraiser for their state Maine-Anjou Association by selling raffle tickets for a purebred Maine- njou heifer. Jerry Gibson of J&J Farms, Decatur, Texas will donate the heifer to the junior members for the raffle. Junior members will sell raffle tickets throughout the first few months of 2005. They will start selling raffle tickets at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, Ft. Worth, in January 2005. They will continue to sell the tickets at the San Angelo Stock Show, San Antonio Stock Show, and end at the Houston Livestock Show, where the raffle drawing will be held.

A group of eager junior members were ready for the show to get underway on Sunday, July 11. Numbers for the state show were up and competition was definitely tough. Jennifer Parker, Wylie, evaluated the cattle.