7 minute read
IJBA Points Show Program: Lizzie Schafer
You do not find many three-year-olds set on winning banners and excelling at speech giving. But one little blonde girl from Owaneco began turning her dreams into reality from the time she could talk. Today, Lizzie Schafer’s enthusiasm has yet to be diminished. By immersing herself in the beef industry Lizzie has accomplished several goals, her latest one being to win the Illinois Junior Beef Association points show program, and she accomplished that goal in 2023.
Before she even knew how to write her name, three-year-old Lizzie participated in her first of many livestock industry contests. Sorting livestock and challenging her knowledge was something she learned to do from the very beginning. Her slightly older brother, Eric, started giving speeches at about eight years old, so at six years old she convinced herself she could outperform him. She ran into her parents’ bedroom and spent an hour writing her own speech about the different parts of a pig. This was a topic that came naturally to her from living on her family’s 200-sow pig farm.
Climb to the Top
As Lizzie’s skills in showing and speech-making developed, she began to get more ambitious. Lizzie was very eager to be a part of the show industry just like Eric, so she made a deal with her parents to participate in all the competitions associated with the opportunity to show her first pig, a Berkshire. By the time she was eight, the family made the transition to show cattle, starting with Angus and then trying a variety of different breeds as well.
For a while now, Lizzie has worked toward her goal of winning the IJBA points program. This year, with great heifers and an even better group of people supporting her, she was able to claim victory.
When she won, her phone began to flood with congratulatory texts from friends and family. “It was pretty awesome to see all the support I had,” she said.
Lizzie gives credit to her friends, family, and, of course, heifers for success in the points program.
Lizzie’s parents, Aaron and Sue, are her biggest supporters – the kind of parents that give all their time and resources toward the success of their children.
Grace Lemenager, Lizzie’s closest show friend, has also watched her chase this goal. The two became friends while showing various breeds of cattle and have shared many special moments, including the time they were both in the top 20 at an American Junior Simmental Association National Classic. “We got to enjoy that moment together,” Grace says. “She is as enthusiastic about the livestock industry as they get, and I have seen that since we were kids,” Grace remarks about Lizzie and their sister-like friendship. You can often find one in the background of the other’s backdrop photos. “It is one of those long-distance friendships that you pick up right where you left off,” Grace says. Grace believes in the healthy competition that the two embody in the showring – competing but being best friends at the end of the day.
Grace says it is important to have friendships like her and Lizzie’s because they understand the industry they are in, and the hard work and monetary investments that are put into it. “We can all be happy for each other and be united.”
Cattle That Win
Lizzie and her family bought her winning show heifers from Boyert-Core Show Cattle. The Chianina, affectionately named “Chi,” out of Jaylynn Jazzy and Primo, won her breed about 12 times. Lizzie’s favorite show memory was with this heifer in Denver when she got picked for breed champion even though she was a younger heifer at the time.
Also from Boyert’s she showed a percentage Simmental named “Kesha,” receiving champion and reserve many times, winning 18th overall at junior nationals, and succeeding at everything from jackpot shows to Louisville where she won her class. “Winning your class on the green chips is always something everybody dreams about,” Lizzie expresses.
Bailey Boyert remembers the first time she watched Lizzie show in November 2022. “It was really fun to see her shine,” Bailey says. “As someone who sells cattle, you always hope to find families that have good showmen.”
Bailey’s husband Jared is usually back at the chute, and Bailey takes the time to prepare and practice with the juniors before going into the ring. The discussion is usually about getting the most out of the heifer, coupled with encouraging words. She often reflects on the growth she has seen in their operation, but also compares it to hard work she sees in the juniors they support. “With a lot of hard work and passion you can do a lot of big things,” she says.
“I do not think I have ever been able to be around better people than the cattle people,” especially since I have gotten involved with the Boyert crew,” Lizzie says. “They always try to make the all the cattle look their best.”
Other people who have never failed to support her include the Rutledge and Zwilling families, Julie Fugate – who she claims as her “bucket girl” – and her parents, and brother, who she would not have any of this without, and last but not least her grandparents to drive near and far to watch her show.
Set for Success
Lizzie is currently on the livestock judging team at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. In the future she hopes to major in animal science and agricultural communications at Kansas State University.
“I did not know cattle were not just on the earth for showing until I went to Kansas.” Lizzie says. “They are put here for so much more. Being involved in the cattle industry is about being involved in making food for our growing population.”
Her career path stems not only from her agricultural perspectives, but also from her experiences in promotional campaigns, videos, advertisements and proofreading in her personal business which she started because of her love for the work as anchor on her high school news channel.
“I love editing videos and promoting operations in agriculture and just promoting agriculture as a whole,” Lizzie says.
In high school she made a video for her cousin who needed a kidney and posted it on Facebook through their school news broadcasting program. There were people calling from all over the world to offer their kidney. “Doing this stuff can actually make a difference,” Lizzie says. You can find this business, “Elizabeth Edits,” on Facebook.
Lizzie hopes the reasoning and organizational skills she grew up learning will help her to be a better agricultural communicator and individual.
“Never give up,” she says. “There are always times in life where you feel frustrated and like you cannot get through it – like you will never get to the level you want to be at.” Yet, Lizzie can testify to the learned skill of pushing through until a goal is accomplished. “In the last three years I have been able to accomplish so much that I never thought I would be able to in the past,” she says. “Always pushing through and working hard has really made a big impact on me.”
If you see Lizzie in the barns soon, make sure to congratulate her for winning the 2023 Illinois Junior Beef Association points show program!
