Nebraska Junior Charolais Association
Join Us
Dues to join the Nebraska Junior Charolais Association (NJCA) are $15 per year. To join us, please send a check payable to ''Nebraska Junior Charolais Association'' and your name and address to our Senior Association Treasurer.
2012 AIJCA Junior Nationals
June 17-22, 2012 -- Grand Island, Nebraska
Location: Nebraska State Fairgrounds, 700 East Stolley Park Road, Grand Island, NE 68801
Click here for driving directions.
Hotel headquarters:
Holiday Inn Midtown
2503 South Locust Street
Grand Island, NE 68801
(800) 548-5542
Room block: Charolais Junior National
Price: Single or Double room = $79/night
Hotel features: 197 rooms on only 2 floors, indoor pool, restaurant, lounge/bar, guest laundry, mini golf, pool tables and ping-pong tables. Hotel is within 5-10 minutes walking distance of the fairgrounds.
NICK HANSEN - AIJCA AREA 4 DIRECTOR
Why did you choose to become involved with the Charolais breed?
When I was younger and just started off showing, the Charolais breeders were the people that were most willing to help me out. This willingness to help out prompted me to continue on in the Charolais breed. These people taught me a lot of things that I will never forget and took an interest in me personally. They took time to just sit down with me and talk about how to manage my small herd. This was particularly important as this small herd my brother and my responsibility. The Charolais family also helped shape me into the person I am today.
What’s the best advice you received as a junior member that you would want to pass on to younger members?
Show pride in everything you do, work your hardest with your projects, never take shortcuts, and remember above all have fun. This advice has been in my head ever since I was a little kid showing at the county fair. My older cousin gave me this advice as a young 4-H member showing my cattle and it has guided my actions both in the show ring and in life.
How many Junior Nationals have you attended, which was your favorite and why?
I have been to two Junior Nationals. I found the 2008 Nationals in Iowa to be a blast. This could have been because it was my first exposure to Junior Nationals. It was fun getting to meet the other juniors in various states, and getting to know what Junior Charolais Nationals was truly about. I enjoyed the variety of activities that they offered us. There never seemed to be a dull moment in my day and I enjoyed that. Junior Nationals in Sioux Fall, SD definitely added to my positive experiences in Iowa.
If you could add anything to Junior Nationals what would you have the junior members do?
I would have to say add a livestock judging contest for the juniors would be a great program to add to Junior Nationals. This would give juniors hands on experience with cattle judging. For the older juniors oral reasoning helps you make a decision and have to defend the decision and enhances your public speaking ability. Also for the younger members it gives them hands on experience on how to critique cattle and learn what you want and don’t want in the cattle industry and more importantly in the Charolais breed.
Was there a certain person who inspired you to become an AIJCA Junior Board member?
Yes there was, Larry Dybdal was the first person to really encourage me to run for the AIJCA Junior Board. I was contemplating on whether or not to run for the national board and he was the one person that really encouraged and challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and run for the AIJCA Board.
For more information about the AIJCA or the NJCA contact Nick at: nickhansen7@hotmail.com or visit the AIJCA website at www.charolaisusa.com/juniorhome.html
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