Paige Lemenager

by Sara McClendon

Recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Junior of the Year Award Proves the Industry’s Future is Bright

Winning a national show championship, receiving awards across multiple breeds and serving in leadership positions for various beef industry organizations takes a certain amount of drive and determination. Add in the fact that it was all accomplished as a young adult, and it is clear that 19-year-old Paige Lemenager, the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Junior Member of the Year from Illinois Beef Association, is blazing a path for a strong future in the industry.

The Outstanding Junior of the Year award recognizes a member of the Illinois Junior Beef Association who shows integrity, leadership and dedication to Illinois’ beef cattle industry. Three areas where Paige, who serves as vice president, has shown up and stood out. Combine that with a humble attitude and a commitment to helping younger members of the industry, and it is easy to see how she has already made a name for herself in the beef industry.

Paige currently attends Lake Land College where she competes on the livestock judging team, an endeavor she began in high school. She also is the Lake Land College Collegiate Farm Bureau President and represents the college as a student ambassador. She has served in leadership positions in 4-H and FFA as well.

However, Paige is quick to point out that her success did not happen overnight. It took years of practice to hone her craft and reach the level she is at today. And it all started at home, on the family’s cattle operation in Hudson.

A Family’s Passion for the Industry

Lemenager Cattle began as an Angus operation in 1998 when Paige’s parents, Luke and Stacy Lemenager, purchased their first heifer together. It is a purebred operation, utilizing IVF with a progressive embryo herd.

Paige spent her childhood working alongside her parents and learning the ins and outs of a successful beef operation while they balanced their professional careers. As she worked in the family business, she made a point to understand different pedigrees. She also observed her parents’ passion for the beef industry.

In 2015, the family decided to expand to a second breed and introduce Herefords to diversify the operation and for Paige to show in addition to Angus heifers. Plus, as Luke says, the Herefords made it easy to distinguish which of the herd was his daughter’s.

After arriving home late one evening, Luke encouraged Paige to go out to the barn where a Hereford heifer was waiting for her.

“That was one of the most exciting moments for me because I knew it was the beginning of a new chapter,” Paige says.

For not having grown up raising Herefords, Paige said the industry welcomed her with open arms. She credits this to the strong community the beef industry has as a whole.

Luke and Stacy both grew up showing cattle and they passed that passion down to their daughter. Stacy showed steers, and Luke and his brother, Chuck, showed breeding stock. At the time, they did not realize just how competitive their future would be in the show ring. However, Luke says that from a young age, Paige always gave her all to everything she did.

“When she was little and playing softball, she played with all her might,” Luke says. “When she played basketball in junior high, she gave 100 percent. She completely committed to everything she did.”

He says when Paige entered high school, she quickly realized that to give cattle the time and attention required, she would need to narrow her focus, which she did by continuing to show and becoming a leader in FFA.

“One thing we have always taught her is it only takes a little bit more effort to do something right,” Luke says. “We did not push her, but she realized if she was going to be competitive, she needed to focus on this. She saw a path to success and she has worked really hard.”

Luke and Stacy are Paige’s core role models in her life. They work together to accomplish their goals, and have taken on leadership roles in the industry that stood as a shining example of what it means to give back to others.

Paige’s extended family has also helped guide her way. She says watching her dad and her Uncle Chuck’s drive and optimism has influenced how she navigates her way through the industry. Her cousin Gabrielle also won the Outstanding Junior of the Year Award, which helped inspire Paige as well.

Hard Work Pays Off in the Show Ring

Paige says her show journey began at the county fair. Before ever stepping foot in the show ring, she was observing and learning from people who had built a strong reputation. From there, she spent countless hours working with heifers, leading to top awards in both Angus and Hereford breeds.

Then, at the Central Illinois Angus Preview Show and Illinois Junior Angus Field Day in Bloomington, Paige told her parents she was ready to try and hit the national stage and earn a spot to compete at the National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest. With only one shot to get it right, Paige signed up for the competition, despite the fact that many people wait until they are 20- or 21-years-old to compete at that level and she was just 18.

“I didn’t necessarily want to be a trailblazer,” Paige says. “I just wanted people to feel that they could confidently pursue that challenge and contest at any age.”

Despite her history of many shows and many wins, the national ring offered a completely unique feeling to Paige.

“Being there in Kansas City was a surreal feeling,” Paige says. “Making top 15 was my goal. I had no idea what was to come after that because there were 15 people that I was standing alongside that I can confidently say I would put on the end of one of my heifers.”

Walking out of the ring, Paige was surrounded by her support system including mentors who had guided her along the way, and mentees who she had helped. She says being surrounded by people of all ages who supported her was an emotional moment as she was named the 2022 National Junior Angus Showmanship Winner.

Each accomplishment in showing serves its own meaning to Paige. Every award represents a different animal that she worked countless hours with, building a bond and relationship. Plus, with a team of supporters backing her up, it is clear that relationships are what are most important to Paige.

“When I step into the show ring, no matter how it goes, I know that I am heading in there with a team behind me and a heifer I am proud to stand by,” Paige says. “That is what I get the most joy out of in the big picture.”

Paige and her family also prioritize bringing show heifers back into the herd. Paige says it is an amazing feeling to see a former show heifer become a donor. It is the relationship with the animal that means the most to Paige, and she gets a sense of pride every time a heifer is recognized because it means people believe in her, her family and in their genetics.

Leadership In and Out of the Ring

Paige credits the Illinois Junior Angus Association and Illinois Junior Hereford Association for laying the groundwork for interest and skill in leadership. She also says her involvement in the Illinois Junior Beef Association has been a rewarding experience.

“Being able to connect with people who come from different parts of the beef industry is what I really enjoy about the Illinois Beef Association,” Paige says.

Networking with others in the industry is important to Paige. It is the sense of community she gets from others in the industry that keeps her involved and leading the way. Her involvement in beef associations have also provided insight on how impactful older members can be in shaping younger members on their own journey in the industry.

“There is always someone looking up to you,” Paige says. “That is a very humbling feeling. It is a lot of pressure in some ways but I enjoy that. I enjoy serving as a role model and I hope I make people proud in my endeavors and in the way I carry myself.”

Without a doubt, Paige has made those in her life proud. Luke says that in the midst of keeping busy with showing and the business, he is grateful for opportunities to stop and reflect on all Paige has accomplished.

“We are grateful for this recognition from Illinois Beef Association. It was a pleasure to have them come to the farm and interview Paige and allow us to step back for a minute and appreciate all that she has accomplished and the memories we have made along the way. We are so very proud of her,” Stacy says.

While many would consider Paige and her peers as the future of the industry, Paige knows that it is never too soon to start mentoring the next generation of leaders.

The Pen-to-Pen program through the National Junior Hereford Association is of many opportunities Paige has used to connect with younger showmen. The program connects a younger member of NJHA to a mentor during the Junior National Hereford Expo, but the mentoring does not stop once the event is over. Afterwards, mentor and protégé continue to communicate through written correspondence the rest of the year, creating a lasting bond and a fantastic opportunity for younger members to learn and grow.

However, mentoring is not always through an official program. While at shows, Paige makes a point to connect with younger participants to share advice and encouraging words. She understands they are watching her, and other older kids in the show ring, just like she did when she was young.

The advice she would give to younger participants is simple: Take opportunities when they come your way and do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

“I have to brag on my parents for this one,” Paige says. “There was never an opportunity they let pass me by. They always pushed me to pursue opportunity because that is what grows you as an individual, grows your network and builds your legacy.”

Paige encourages younger members of the beef industry to not be afraid to take on a leadership role. It might be scary at first, but networking is key to learning and becoming part of the industry. When attending shows, Paige encourages others not to just sit at stalls with friends, but to go and meet new people. She says building a network and being active in organizations like Illinois Junior Beef Association is crucial to building a solid foundation in the industry.

A Bright Future Ahead

Paige points out that there were many organizations, foundations, companies and individuals who have made investments into her and her peers’ future in the beef industry.

“It is such a strong industry not only professionally, but socially,” Paige says. “You create this bond with people that is like no other.”

As Paige moves into her sophomore year, she keeps her studies at the top of her priority list. She is passionate about agriculture economics. She has plans to obtain her bachelors and has her sights on law school to receive her juris doctorate degree. Ultimately, she wants to serve as an estate and succession attorney, giving back to those in the ag industry who have helped her.

With core values of staying disciplined and being open minded, it is a safe bet that Paige will remain a fixture of the Illinois ag community. It is her commitment to the beef industry that gives hope for the next generation of leaders.

“I plan to stay in the industry for the rest of my life,” Paige says. “I look forward to having a family of my own in the beef industry and raising cattle. I want to come back to McLean County. I want to stay active in the Angus and Hereford associations. That is where my passion lies and I hope that is where my future lies as well.”