Get To Know Your Junior Board Members

Name: Madeline Sonnenfeld

Birthdate: March 27, 2003

Siblings: Blake, Nora, David Sonnenfeld and Arianna, Cecelia, Hudson Nickel

Parents: Jason and Jenny Nickel

School you attend/grade: University of Nebraska Lincoln- Freshman

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Movie/TV Show: Outer Banks

Favorite Singer/Music Group: Koe Wetzel

Favorite Book/Author: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Pet Peeve: Being late

Favorite Subject in School: Science

Names of your current show calves: Jolene and Luna

Favorite NJHS memory & why: Attending my first junior national in Grand Island and meeting friends that I still have today!

Favorite NJHS Contest & why: My favorite contest is the judging contest because I love looking and comparing different calves

Least Favorite Show Day Task: Breaking calves down after shows

Would you rather read a book, play cards or fit a calf: Fit a calf

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

Favorite activity outside the showring: Hanging out with friends

you grow up: Go into Ag sales more specifically in the cattle industry

of: I am most proud of my time management skills.

Night Owl: Early Bird

show moment: Forgetting my show shoes at a show in Kansas so I had to wear my younger sister’s shoes which were way too small.

Why do you show/raise Chi cattle: I raise Chi cattle because my first experience with a Chi heifer was incredible. She was showy, good tempered and ended up being an amazing mother that enabled me to sell my first home raised bull at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic.

Who has been your mentor & why: Robin Rutt. Robin helped my siblings and I learn the basics of grooming, feeding, and showing. She treats us like her own kids and has taught us so many things we would have not known without her.

Advice to a new junior starting in the Chi breed: When attending different shows try to be as involved as possible in and out of the show ring. I also would say try to meet as many people as possible.

Would we find you on the wash rack or on the blower? Blower

One weird habit/fact about you: I have a jewelry and shoe obsession

Favorite show animal & why? My 2019-2020 Chiangus heifer Beauty. We took her all over to different shows and she ended up winning both her divisions in the open and junior show at NAILE.

Name: Morgan Baker Birthday: February 11, 2003 Siblings: I have two younger siblings, a brother that is Wyatt that is 15 and a sister Casha that is 13.

Parents: My mom’s name is Amanda Baker. She was the one that introduced me to the show world and has supported me through it all. Without her I would not be where I am.

School: I just graduated from Gordon High School, but I start as a freshman at Texas Tech University at the end of August for a major of animal science and agribusiness. Favorite Color: My favorite color is blue Favorite Movie/TV Show: Lion King Favorite Singer: Parker McCollum Favorite Book: Of Mice and Men

Pet Peeve: When someone walks around with their socks on inside out

Favorite Subject in School: Science Current show calves names: Lady Bell. Favorite NJHS memory & why: My favorite NJHS memory is helping out at the 2021 Junior Nationals and getting to meet new people. Because I am new to the organization and don’t know very many people. Favorite NJHS Contest/why: Public speaking because I love public speaking. Least Favorite Showday Task: Breaking a calf down after they have been fitted

Would I rather read a book, play cards, or fit a calf: I would rather fit a calf any day. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

showring: I have always loved cheering when I’m not at shows.

up: I want to be a reproductive specialist and work on all species of livestock

are most proud of: I am most proud of my courage because it has allowed me to step out and do new things and be passionate about it and give my all Early bird or night owl: Definitely a night owl you can catch me up till 4 am most of the time.

Most embarrassing show moment: Was at Fort Worth my first year showing cattle. My heifer took off chasing another calf because she was in heat and I had never had that happen with pigs. Why do I show/raise cattle: Well I actually didn’t plan on showing Chi cattle because I had a Hereford and my heifer got electrocuted and died back in November. My mom being my mom posted on Facebook ranting and upset about it and many people reached out to her and helped me locate another heifer for my senior year of showing. We never could imagine that we would’ve met the wonderful people who run Competitive Edge Genetics that were extremely generous to give me the heifer to finish out my senior year of showing. Without them I wouldn’t have gotten into Chi cattle and thanks to them I wish to continue to help those who wish to show, but can’t and that is why I have decided to raise Chianina Cattle. Who has been my mentor and why: I would say my mom. My parents divorced a couple years back and my mom has not only raised me and my two younger siblings, but she has always made sure we were all where we wanted to be to fulfill our dreams. So without her pushing me I wouldn’t be where I am today. Advice to a new junior starting in the Chi breed: My best advice to a new junior in the Chi organization is to take advantage of every opportunity you are given because one day you will wish you would’ve taken that chance.

Would we find you on the wash rack or on the blower? You would find me in the wash rack. I would much rather be washing cattle in 40 degree weather than blowing calves out. One weird habit/fact about me: I graduated top of my class

and still missed the most school of my entire class. My senior year I missed 30 something days. Favorite show animal and why: My favorite animals was my Poland barrow I had in 4th grade because I bought him for $50 out of a butcher pen to try and feed him out to see if it worked better than the feed program I already had and he turned around to win many Champion titles. And he won them all because of how he was fed not due to genetics or anything.

Name: Maddie Smith

Birthdate: September 6, 2005 Siblings: None Parents: Jared and Marcia Smith

School you attend/grade: Eustace High School, Sophomore Favorite Color: Purple Favorite Movie/TV Show: Outer Banks

Favorite Singer/Music Group: Zach Brown Band Favorite Book/Author: Laura Dave

Pet Peeve: People who walk slow Favorite Subject in School: English Names of your current show calves: Kiki, Primo, Sister Favorite NJHS memory & why: My favorite memory from NJHS was placing top ten in the years Intermediate showmanship. Favorite NJHS Contest & why: Showmanship because you get to show your skills and how well you and your animal work together. Least Favorite Show Day Task: Washing Would you rather read a book, play cards or fit a calf: Fit a Calf Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla

Favorite activity outside the showring: FFA Contests What do you want to be when you grow up: Embryologist

Communication

Early Bird or Night Owl: Night Owl Most Embarrassing show moment: I was at a jackpot show and my heifer stepped on the back of my jeans and ripped them all the way up my leg. Why do you show/raise Chi cattle: I fell in love with the breed when I was a little girl and have had endless success throughout the years. Who has been your mentor & why: My dad because he has always pushed me to do things at my fullest ability no matter the situation. He never lets me give up and is my biggest supporter. Advice to a new junior starting in the Chi breed: Start young doing contest so as you grow you get more success at State and National shows.

Would we find you on the wash rack or on the blower? The blower.

One weird habit/fact about you: I have double jointed arms Favorite show animal & why? My Chi heifer KiKi because her personality keeps everyone on their feet.

Name: Ray Beneker Birthdate: 03/11/2005

Siblings: Hailey, Raegan, and Angus Parents: Ray Beneker (Dad), Crystal/Ryan Gries (Mom and Stepdad) School you attend/grade: Junior at Ross High School Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Movie/TV Show: It’s hard to say I like anything from action to comedy. Favorite Singer/Music Group: George Strait Favorite Book/Author: Lonesome Dove

of: I’m most proud of my commitment to my cattle. I try my best everyday in the barn to help my calves reach their full potential. Early Bird or Night Owl: Night Owl Most Embarrassing show moment: One time I was running late for a class and showed a steer with no show stick

Pet Peeve: When someone stops blowing and the calf is still damp Favorite Subject in School: Science Names of your current show calves: Callie, Cardi, and Crinkles

Getting 4th place intermediate showman in Sioux Falls, SD

Livestock Judging would be my favorite because I love to compete and enjoy evaluating livestock.

Breaking cattle down after the show

play cards or fit a calf: Definitely fit a calf

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate everyday

showring: Hunting and fishing

you grow up: I’m not really sure yet. I’ve thought about becoming a vet or animal nutritionist and raising show cattle. Why do you show/raise Chi cattle: I chose the Chi breed because of the people. No other breed association is as welcoming and friendly as the Chi’s. Who has been your mentor & why: One of my biggest mentors has been Colton Prescott. He has taught me so much about cattle and pushed me to be the best leader I can be.

breed: Talk to people. Make new friends and build relationships with people to learn as much as you can.

blower? On the blower

One weird habit/fact about you: Sometimes I like to chew on straws or bottle caps. Favorite show animal & why? My favorite show animal was my 2020 Chi heifer Clementine. She was All American division champion, won her division at NAILE and OKC, and was Reserve Champion Chi in Fort Worth.