RALEIGH — The Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference is set to take place Aug. 3-6 in Raleigh, N.C.. The 2017 event is themed “Navigating North Carolina” and is designed for National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members 14 to 21 years of age.
Junior Angus members will travel from across the nation to experience local agriculture and to partake in leadership workshops coordinated by the National Junior Angus Board (NJAB). NJAB Leadership Director Tim Mardesen says LEAD is an opportunity to network with fellow juniors and engage with industry leaders.
“LEAD is an excellent venue to market yourself,” Mardesen says. “There might not be a better place to network and get your name known throughout other breeders who are looking to do the same thing.”
Angus juniors will have the opportunity to hear from professionals covering a wide variety of topics including marketing, genomics and professional development.
Tours during this year’s LEAD conference will give attendees a look at agriculture along the east coast. Tour stops include Eastern Crawfish, a local family owned and operated crawfish farm; Tobacco Life Museum, where juniors can gather history of tobacco farming and tour a functioning tobacco operation; Scott Farms, a sixth generation family farm predominantly growing sweet potatoes; and tour a Caterpillar machinery plant and see live product demonstrations.
In addition, junior members will participate in numerous breakout sessions regarding agricultural careers and also visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
“Juniors will get to see how this area of the country manages and functions in the country’s economy,” Mardesen says. “LEAD also provides workshops, which helps each individual sharpen their assets. This helps make our Angus breed more intuitive and will ensure brightness for the future of the breed.”
Conference space is limited and registration is $275, which includes your hotel. Starting this year, no parents or state advisors will be allowed to register for the conference. All chaperones will be American Angus Association employees. Sign up online at www.angus.org/njaa.
About the NJAA
The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle, while also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for nearly 7,000 active members nationwide. For more information about the NJAA, look online or call the Association at 816-383-5100.
— JD Rosman, Angus Media
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