Posted May 21, 2018
The Red Angus Association of America Junior Activities Committee is pleased to name each of the following five Junior Red Angus members as recipients of a $1,000 college scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to JRA members that are active in the association, as well as in their communities and the beef industry, and are planning to attend a two-year or four-year university in the coming year. Recipients completed an extensive application and interview process, and have proven their leadership and professionalism are a step above of the crowd.
Kaitlin Geyer, daughter of Wylie & Sherry Geyer, of Lisbon, North Dakota, will be a freshman this fall at Concordia University, where she will study nursing and play for the women’s basketball team. She has been involved in the JRA for nine years and credits the experiences she has had attending the North American Junior Red Angus Event every summer with improving her leadership skills, beef advocacy and for allowing her to make lifelong friends. Her future plans are to become a nurse and to continue building her registered Red Angus herd of cattle.
Tyler Griffeth is a graduating senior from Ponder High School in Justin, Texas. He is the son of Anne and Kelley Kimmey. Griffeth is active in the Texas Red Angus Association, 4-H and FFA; all while earning honors with a 3.84 GPA. He is also actively involved in his community, volunteering with youth and family groups. Griffeth also competes in livestock judging in both 4-H and FFA. He will pursue a degree at West Texas A&M University starting this fall. Following his undergraduate career, he plans to continue his education and obtain a master’s degree. Griffeth’s future goals are to advocate for agriculture by breaking down myths and barriers about products used in agriculture.
Amber Johnson is a student at the University of Minnesota-Crookston where she is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Communication. She is originally from Sebeka, Minnesota, and is the daughter of Russell and Barbara Johnson. She works on her family’s farm that consists of 250 Limousin and Red Angus cross cattle. She has her own herd of registered Red Angus cattle and wishes to continue showing and breeding quality livestock. She is currently involved in the Ag-arama club, Collegiate FFA, choir and NACTA. She plans on being a positive voice for agriculture in a public relations position at an agricultural organization.
Cooper Dale Rogers, of Elk City, Oklahoma, is the son of Brant and Darla Rogers. He has a younger brother, Casen. Cooper is a senior at Elk City High where he has enjoyed success on the varsity football and basketball teams as well as serving as his FFA chapter’s Vice-President. Cooper is a four-year member of NHS, FCA and has been in the school junior/senior play for two years. Cooper plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall to pursue a career in medicine while expanding his knowledge in the agriculture field. He hopes to make it back to western Oklahoma to apply his knowledge by serving his community and expanding and improving his registered Red Angus herd.
Andrea Rutledge, a senior at Big Sandy High School and the current Montana Junior Red Angus President, is the daughter of Kelly and Kristie Rutledge of Big Sandy, Montana. She raises registered Red Angus cattle and will attend Montana State University-Bozeman in the fall to study animal science with genetics and business minors. She plans to return home to the family ranch to continue raising quality Red Angus cattle and will expand her business to include registered Red Angus sales and cattle reproduction services. Andrea has participated in FFA, basketball, youth group, band, Science Olympiad, volleyball, choir, VFW Auxiliary and 4-H. Andrea has won Red Angus champion and reserve champion awards, livestock evaluation contents and is a four-year honor roll and Academic All-State honoree. Within the next two years, Andrea plans to run for a JRA National Board position.
The RAAA Junior Activities Committee is also pleased to announce Shaye Koester as the recipient of the $500 Dee Sonstegard Memorial Scholarship.
Shaye Koester, from Steele, North Dakota, is the daughter of Steve and Tracey Koester. She attends Kidder County High School in Steele and is involved in several extra-curricular activities. These include FFA, 4-H, Student Council, Sources of Strength, Drama Theater and Jazz Band. After college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she plans to continue raising Red Angus cattle and obtain a career in the agricultural communications field.
For more information on the JRA Scholarship program or other JRA events, visit www.RedAngus.org.
The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the competitive advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. The RAAA provides commercial producers with the most objectively described cattle in the industry by seeking and implementing new technologies based on sound scientific principles that measure traits of economic importance. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2018
For more information, contact:
Brandi Buzzard Frobose, Director of Communications
(785) 448-0239 • brandi@redangus.org
