A Part of Something

Outstanding Junior of the Year, Emma Taylor, believes community is the core of the cattle industry.

By Olivia Hoots

Murrayville, Illinois, is known for its delicious ice cream and the memory of a local grocery store that has begun to fade into the memories of the community it served. It is a tight knit community, one you read about in books where folks all wave in their cars as others pass them by. The farms surrounding the town have that same feeling of nostalgia and joy and a home cooked meal.

One farm to the North also feels like the definition of comfort, and is the home of Emma Taylor, the 2025 Illinois Beef Association Junior Member of the Year. In talking with Emma any number of people would feel delighted. Her smile radiates and speaks kindness to those around her. That same tone is evident in the humbleness with which she talks about her many accomplishments in the beef industry as a junior.

Something Personal

At just five years old Emma’s dad helped her enter the show cattle world. Before that she would follow her dad around on the farm and always love the cattle part of it.

Just like every other farm kid she joined 4-H at the age of eight, and they decided on a steer to show that year.

“Since it was my first year I decided I was just going to have fun,” Emma says. But she took home Reserve Champion Simmental that year, a memory she will not soon forget.

When Emma’s parents got married they started a small feeder herd, but when they had kids her dad knew it was time for some breeding stock.

“He always had the feeling I would want to show,” Emma says. “And he was right, because this is my life and I do not know where I would be without it.” Plus, it is something he wanted since he was a kid too, and seeing his kids show has been a joy for him to watch – he is Emma’s role model.

Emma is the oldest of four girls; the “Taylor Girls” is what they call themselves – one is 16 and the other two are twins, age 9. Emma says it is enjoyable going to shows as a “team” with her sisters.

She says they are learning things alongside her, and from her. “They are getting more experience and learning more things younger than I was whenever I was their age.”

Emma has taught her sisters the importance of having priorities. Her dad always told her “you get out of it what you put into it,” she says. “I stand by that.”

Something Memorable

Emma has proved the essentiality of family support and hard work tangibly. A few of her most favorite memories show it.

A few years back she had a Herford steer that won Reserve Grand Champion at the Morgan County Fair. And her favorite part of that day? Seeing her dad stand ringside in support. Seeing her get the slap made him extremely proud, as any parent might imagine.

In 2023, the Morgan County Fair awarded it’s first ever Chris “Crusty” Smith Herdsman Award, after he has passed away from cancer. They were looking for cleanly people with positive attitudes, someone to embody a memory of Crusty.

One day during the fair Emma had just walked out and still had her steers in her hand when they decided it was time to announce the winner of the Herdsman Award. “I was trying to listen, everyone was standing around, it was crowded,” Emma says. “A guy came up to me and told me to ‘get up here.’” Winning that award meant the world to her.

“[Crusty] was a great guy, was really involved in the Shorthorn breed and in the beef community,” Emma says. She had worked on some of his calves before, breaking them for sales and such. “Getting that first year award really hit hard… I wish he was still here.”

Another memory that displays Emma’s character was when she showed against her cousin. She simply said “good luck out there.”

Her cousin did beat her, but Emma, she was not affected, it is all about the moment for her. “We all go compete against each other and come back out, give each other a high five and congratulate one another.”

She hopes her sisters have the same attitude as they continue to show, a smile on their face and determination on their mind. “I hope they always have a fun time and just remember there is always another event,” Emma says.

Something Difficult

At a young age, Emma was a bit more shy than she is now. Today, she would tell any junior to get out of their comfort zone and do something that seems difficult. “I used to be that kid that did not want to go anywhere without my parents,” Emma says. “I have come out of my comfort zone, it has helped me to be involved in things.”

One way Emma’s journey has evolved is through her participation in livestock judging in High School, and then she judged in junior college at John Wood Community College. She loves traveling, seeing the U.S. and livestock judging all over the country, plus spending time with her teammates.

“I have learned a lot, and it has helped with my public speaking skills,” she says. She also enjoys seeing the various operations producers have around the country, and then telling her family all about what she has seen.

During her freshman year at JWCC, they traveled to Denver for the National Western Stock Show. Her judge surprised her and chose her as part of the carload contest team.

After participating and hearing the answers, she realized she had only dropped 11 points. “If you are lucky, you might be in top ten,” her coach, Justin, said. But no, she won the carload contest.

“I was confused for a second. ‘Did I really just do this?’ I asked myself,” Emma says. “I was simply thankful and did not know how to react.

Emma will attend Iowa State University this fall to continue her bachelor's degree pursuit. She hopes to be involved with the Women’s Ag Club while she is there.

Something Outstanding

This year, Emma’s big accomplishment was being awarded the 2025 IBA Outstanding Junior of the Year. When she was told she won the award, goosebumps appeared on her arms. “It makes you realize people are actually watching you,” Emma says. She sees now that those around us see the work we are doing.

She has enjoyed being on the Illinois Junior Beef Association Board of Directors and helping at junior events such as the Illinois Beef Expo or EDGE Conference, and events at the Illinois State Fair. “I always said to myself, ‘I want to be the person who takes a role and leads kids to show them what the beef industry is,’” Emma says. “I have been proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to be an IJBA Board member.

For Emma, being involved is about meeting others, and to have open doors you can walk through. “I definitely recommend getting involved in things because you never know what you will end up doing,” Emma says.

She credits livestock judging, IJBA and other agriculture involvements for the opportunity in front of her.