LEAD Conference: Angus, live from Nashville

Live from Nashville, National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members are set to gather from across the U.S. for the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference. The event is set to take place August 1-4 in Nashville, Tennessee, and is designed for NJAA members age 14 to 21. LEAD Conference is funded by the Angus Foundation and the Thomas and Catherine Chambers Estate Endowment Fund.

Junior Angus members will travel across the nation to experience local agriculture and will partake in leadership workshops put on by the National Junior Angus Board (NJAB). According to NJAB Leadership Director Brody Fitzgerald, LEAD gives participants a chance to leave the cattle at home, grow as a leader and build relationships with peers.

“Junior members who have had the opportunity to attend LEAD remark it’s one of their favorite memories as a junior member,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s a unique chance for juniors to explore the Angus industry while building their network in a fun atmosphere. As a breed, we are not only focused on developing the future of the industry, but also we want to expose juniors to all the endless opportunities out there.”

Angus juniors will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of agricultural professionals, the current Angus Ambassador, Cale Hinrichsen, and motivational speaker Laymon Hicks.

Tour stops include: the RFD TV studio, the trusted Agriculture TV network; Ingram Angus, a prestigious Angus herd home to some of the top producing donors in the U.S.; and Deer Valley Farms in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In addition, junior members will participate in numerous breakout sessions and visit the historic Grand Ole Opry House.

“Junior Angus members will have the chance to explore what Tennessee has to offer,” Fitzgerald said. “I am excited to see the new friendships that will be built and for a fun-filled conference in the Music City.”

Conference space is limited and the early registration deadline is June 15. The early registration fee for NJAA members is $250. After June 15, registration will be $275 and accepted based on space availability. Sign up online at www.angus.org/njaa.

LEAD Scholarship Opportunities

First- or second-time LEAD attendees may consider applying for the Gary M. Stoller Jump Start Your LEADership Award, which helps provide financial assistance with LEAD travel expenses. Interested applicants must submit a one-page typed essay expressing why the LEAD conference is important, what they hope to gain by participating, and the extent of their financial needs. For more information, visit www.angusfoundation.org.

In honor of his dedication to the Angus breed, the family of the late Stan Prox, Macomb, Illinois, created the Stan Prox Memorial LEADers Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Award. Contributions from friends and family in his honor will award one NJAA member with funds necessary to cover LEAD registration costs.

The recipient will be selected by random drawing from those Illinois youth who registered for the LEAD conference by the early registration deadline. If an individual is already receiving funding through the Angus Foundation for this purpose, another name will be drawn.

In honor of his accomplishments in the Angus breed, friends and family of the late Gary Brost of Harrodsburg, Indiana, have created the Gary Brost Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Award Endowment Fund. This fund annually awards two NJAA members with funds to cover registration costs to attend the LEAD conference. Preference will be given to applicants with a farm/ranch background from the states of Indiana and Illinois. The Angus Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship Program application will be used to select the Gary Brost (LEAD) Award Endowment Fund recipients.

Angus youth from Idaho, Oregon and Washington can apply for two $500 Chambers LEAD awards by submitting a one-page essay with their LEAD application to the NJAA by the early registration deadline of June 15. Awards will be used toward LEAD registration costs and travel. For more information, visit www.angusfoundation.org.

For more information, contact the events and education department at 816-383-5100. A tentative schedule follows.