Be A Leader
by Mitchell VanderWal, JRA Board
Have you ever met Joe? You may be asking yourself, “Who is Joe?” Well, let me tell you a little story about my good friend, Joe. Nearly 15 years ago, I met Joe. Upon meeting him, I learned about Joe and how he has autism. Sure, I could tell that he was different from me, but it was not because of how he talked, walked or carried himself into the first day of kindergarten that made him different, it was his smile. No matter who he was with, Joe had a smile on his face that stretched so wide, that one would have thought he had just won the lottery. Whenever I felt down in the dumps, Joe would magically appear with his arms outstretched and his smile wide. He would wrap his big arms around me and squeeze until I couldn’t breathe any longer. That warm hug and smile remained constant throughout middle school and into high school. Over time, my classmates and I realized that Joe played a much bigger role in all our lives than we originally realized. Sure, he was our friend, our classmate and our biggest supporter, but most importantly, he was our leader. Joe led us with his character. He set an example for the rest of us as to how to act and behave. He taught us to be respectful, hold the door for our peers and how to be a good person. Without my time with Joe, I would be a much different person. Joe was the reason we grew in respect for one another by teaching. He taught us the value of seeing everyone as equals and making everyone feel comfortable in just being ourselves. Joe led by example and boy, did he set a good one for me and my classmates. In all honesty, I am far from being the person that Joe taught me how to be. I often forget to listen to my neighbor, make
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them feel appreciated and offer a smile in the toughest of predicaments. That being said, I challenge all readers to think about this story. Learn from people like Joe and the example that he sets. He was not worried about drama, nor was he concerned about holding grudges over past situations. Joe simply wanted to talk about cows, combine harvesters and scissor lifts, and make his peers feel welcomed and appreciated. Joe loves people, and that is why we love Joe. For me, the people were the reason I joined the Junior Red Angus Association. At my first Round-Up, I quickly realized that talking about cows was just an added benefit of Red Angus events. The collaboration and fellowship of people who had the same interest as I do fueled my passion for this organization. By the time this article is published, my service as a board director for JRA will have ended. Two terms on the board and a lifetime of memories later, I hope what I have learned might be able to better the youth of this organization’s future. I hope that the time spent following me will prepare all youth for their future as industry leaders. I am eager to see where Red Angus youth find themselves down the road, and hope they carry the tradition of the JRA further down the trail for years to come. To all readers, I hope this small piece of my friend Joe’s story will remind you to work towards being the humble leader who sets a strong example for those who follow you. The most eager of followers become the greatest of leaders. //
Emma Ahrendsen, Iowa • jraemma@gmail.com Peri Andras, Illinois • jraperi17@gmail.com Leah Evans, Iowa • jraleah1@gmail.com Natalie Evans, Illinois • jranatalie@gmail.com
Save the Dates:
Sept. 14-15 – Elevate Collegiate Conference, Denver, CO Nov. 18-19 – Young Stockman Program, Lincoln, NE June 9-14 – Red Angus Youth Expo, Chickasha, OK
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Joe and Mitchell
RED ANGUS Magazine |
July/August 2023
Cameron Ison, Kentucky • jracameron1@gmail.com Mitchell VanderWal, South Dakota • jramitchell1@gmail.com Kim Heller, Junior Program Coordinator juniors@redangus.org
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