Thank You American Junior Simmental Association
The AJSA is something I plan on talking about more in the future, but for now, I want to leave this letter here because it sums up my feelings towards this amazing organization.
Dear AJSA,
I started this letter in 2021 after Simmental Junior Nationals and am now finishing it after I competed at my final Jr. Nationals. However, this letter did not just start last year. It started thirteen years ago when I started competing in my state junior association. AJSA, I want to say thank you. Thank you for valuing me for more than just how I do in the show ring. Thank you for valuing me for my intelligence, charisma, and drive.
But, you didn’t just value me, you valued every kid who ever decided that the educational contests were their opportunity to be successful. Every year, it gets harder and harder to be successful in the show ring. Cattle just keep getting better and better, and more and more money is being invested in this area of the industry. This makes it very hard for some kids to continue to feel motivated to show cattle. And in all honesty, I could’ve been one of those kids who end up quitting the show ring when I got older because I never felt like I could do well. However, the AJSA offered me a second opportunity that became more valuable to me than most people will ever realize. The AJSA offered me five career development contests. There are a lot of people who undervalue these contests. They complain about the requirements and call them unnecessary. But, I am here to tell you today, that I would not be where I am without the opportunities these contests gave me. I could go on and tell you about all the communication, confidence, and people skills I gained by competing in these contests, but that almost becomes secondary to what they really gave me.
They gave me a chance to succeed, and an opportunity I sometimes lacked within the show ring. And with this opportunity, I also had a reason to stay in the show ring. So, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for valuing me for more than just my time in the show ring, and thank you for giving so many opportunities every year for kids like me to succeed because of their skills.
Thank you AJSA,
Sawyer Naasz
