What does the
Canadian Junior Angus do?
CJA Board of Directors
2020-2021 CJA Board of Directors: Introductions
Name: Robert Geis
Hometown: Barrhead, AB
Post-Secondary Education: Lakeland College Animal Science Technology, Agricultural Business
Favorite Food: Beef
Favorite Song: Springsteen
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Movie: Miracle on Ice
Favorite CJA event: Showdown
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
Belinda, because she is amazing and everything would fall apart without her
Quote everyone should live by: “There are three types of people in the world, ones who make it happen, ones that watch it happen and ones that wonder what happened.”
Hi my name is Robert Geis from Barrhead Alberta I am 20 and currently holding the vice president position, I grew up on a Black and Red Angus farm with my mom and dad Brian and Kim Geis and together we run Geis Angus Farms Ltd. In 2012 we had a dispersal and ever since then I have been rebuilding and now at 110 head of black angus. I Just graduated from Lakeland College with a diploma in Animal Science Technology and returning to get my diploma in Agricultural business. After school my main plan is to come home and take over the farm.
Name: Beverly Booth
Hometown: Jolicure, NB
Post-Secondary Education: Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Favorite Food: Lasagna
Favorite Song: Fly Over States - Jason Aldean
Favorite Color: Burgundy
Favorite Movie: The Last Song
Favorite CJA event: GOAL
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why? I would love to pick the whole crew because we all have a great time together at all of the CJA events but if I had to pick just one it would be Charlene because we have the same personalities.
Quote everyone should live by: “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.” - David Bly
Hey everyone! My name is Beverly Booth. I'm 19 years old, and I am the Maritime Director on the CJAA board. I grew up with my grandparents, uncle and sisters in a small town just off the NB/NS border. My family owns and operates Dusty Breeze Farm in which we raise purebred black Angus, Hereford and Commercial cattle. In the fall I will be entering my third year at Dalhousie University where I am majoring in Animal Science. During the academic year I am a member of the Dal AC Varsity Woodsmen team. My goal is to enter into a veterinary medicine program at the Atlantic Veterinary College, where I plan to specialise in large animal with the focus on bovine. After my education, I hope to run my own veterinary clinic and maintain my herd size of purebred black Angus cattle. Being a board member has allowed me to network and socialize with so many fellow Angus enthusiasts. I look forward to seeing all of you in the near future!
Name: Naomi Best
Hometown: Harding, MB
Post-Secondary Education: University of Saskatchewan, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Favorite Food: Ribeye steak
Favorite Song: My Maria - Brooks and Dunn
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Movie: 8 Seconds
Favorite CJA event: Showdown
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
Tyra, because she knows how to have a good time and she is organized just like me lol
Quote everyone should live by: “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” - Suzzy Kassem
Hi everyone, my name is Naomi Best and I am the Manitoba director with the CJA. I grew up in Harding, Manitoba with my parents, Donald & Wenda, and my brother Levi where we own and operate Clay Hills Livestock. I am currently going into my fourth year at the University of Saskatchewan where I am working towards my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Upon completing my degree I plan on returning to Manitoba to work in the agriculture finance sector. Over the past two years of being on the CJA board I have enjoyed getting to meet so many juniors from across Canada. The friendships that I have made and the connections with my fellow board members are ones that will last a lifetime! I hope everyone enjoys their summer and I look forward to seeing everyone for Showdown 2021 in Brandon, Manitoba!!
Name: Hillary Sauder
Hometown: Hodgeville, SK
Post-Secondary Education: Animal Science Technology
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Song: Back Porch - Willie Jones
Favorite Color: Forest green
Favorite Movie: Wild Hogs
Favorite CJA event: Showdown
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why? I would like to be quarantined with the whole board as we get along well, but if I had to choose one it would be Tyra. Tyra has been a big sister to me for forever and she is one of the main reasons I joined the Canadian Junior Angus Board.
Quote everyone should live by: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” - Babe Ruth
Hi my name is Hillary Sauder, I am 19 years old and a Saskatchewan director on the CJAA board. I live north of Hodgeville, Sk where we own and operate Windy Willows Farms along with my parents. I have recently finished my first year of Animal Science at Lakeland College in Vermilion, AB.
I will be entering my second year on the CJAA board and I enjoy every minute of it. The connections and lifelong friendships I have made over the years with juniors is incredible! I hope you enjoy our virtual Showdown and see you all soon!
Name: Sarah MacDonald
Hometown: Rock Creek, BC
Post-Secondary Education: Lakeland College, Crop Technology Diploma
Favorite Food: Beef Enchiladas
Favorite Song: Here in The Real World – Alan Jackson
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Movie: Robin Hood (yes, the 1973 animated version)
Favorite CJA event: GOAL Conference 2018 or Showdown 2019
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
I’d love to be quarantined with everyone as we always have lots of fun together! But if I had to pick one, I would choose Naomi because she’s always smiling and positive, and we could dance to “September” every morning (instead of just the 3 days of GOAL Conference!)
Quote everyone should live by: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” - Henry Stanley Haskins
Greetings! My name is Sarah MacDonald and I am the CJAA British Columbia Director, as well as President of the BC Junior Angus Association. I grew up in Rock Creek, BC, where my family and I raise commercial Angus cattle. Along with my two brothers, I am beginning to grow my purebred herd as well. In the fall I will be entering my second year in the Crop Technology diploma program at Lakeland College, with plans of continuing my education in agriculture after. Eventually, I hope to have a career that combines my love for cattle, crops, and advocating for agriculture! In my spare time I enjoy riding horses, showing cattle, and snowboarding. I love being part of CJAA because I get to travel across the country, meet new people and have meaningful conversations about the cattle industry! I look forward to seeing everyone at future Angus events!
Name: Morgan Davey
Hometown: Delisle, SK
Post-Secondary Education: University of Saskatchewan, Animal Science Degree
Favorite Food: T-Bone with potatoes
Favorite Song: In Color - Jamey Johnson
Favorite Color: Cherry Red
Favorite Movie: Cowboy Way
Favorite CJA event: Showdown 2019 - Barriere, BC
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
If I had to quarantine with a board member I would pick Belinda. I’m confident she would make sure I was being productive and not wasting my time during COVID.
Quote everyone should live by: “Whatever you are, be a Good One.” - Abraham Lincoln
Hello everyone, For those who do not know me I am Morgan Davey; This will be my first year on the board, as the incoming Saskatchewan Director. I come from Saskatoon SK, where my family is building our herd of Primarily purebred Black Angus, along with some Reds and commercial females. I am currently spending my Summer Down in Moose Jaw, working for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. When fall comes around I will be Headed into my second year at the University of Saskatchewan. I am pursuing a Degree of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. Over my next three years of schooling I hope to learn as much as I can and experience a little bit of everything, within the beef supply chain.
I have really enjoyed my time as a CJAA member thus far and am extremely excited to start my time on the board. I look forward to interacting with you all through the virtual events and cannot wait to see everyone when the world gets back to normal!
Name: Charlene Elliott
Hometown: Meaford, ON
Post-Secondary Education: University of Guelph, Animal Science Degree and Business Certificate
Favourite Food: Sushi
Favourite Song: “Humble and Kind” - Tim McGraw
Favourite Colour: Dark purple
Favourite Movie: The Longest Ride
Favourite CJA Event: Showdown 2018 in Barrie, ON
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
I would love to be quarantined with the entire CJA board crew, since we always have so many laughs together! But if I were to pick one, I would choose Belinda because she is always very organized and would keep things running smoothly.
Quote everyone should live by: “Live life as if someone left the gate open.”
Hey everyone! My name is Charlene Elliott and I am the Ontario Director on the Canadian Junior Angus Board. I am also the Vice President of the Ontario Junior Angus Association, the Vice President of the Central Ontario Angus Club, and am a director on the Ontario Angus Association Board. Alongside my Dad, we run a 40 cow/calf pair purebred angus operation in Meaford, Ontario. I recently graduated from the University of Guelph and am now working as an Agronomy Associate at Harriston Agromart. In the future, I hope to work as a full-time Sales Agronomist and continue to grow the family beef operation. Being a CJA board member has allowed me to attend many national opportunities and build friendships with other members all over Canada. I hope to see many angus members at our next GOAL conference that will be in Toronto, Ontario in February 2021!
Name: Halley Adams
Hometown: Forestburg, AB
Post-Secondary Education: University of Calgary, Veterinary Medicine
Favourite Food: Perogies
Favourite Song: “Old Country Soul” The Reklaws
Favourite Colour: Blue
Favourite Movie: The Notebook
Favourite CJA Event: Showdown
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
I can’t name just one as they are all so easy going and fun to be around!!!
Quote everyone should live by: “It always seems impossible until it’s done” - Nelson Mandela
Hey everyone! My name is Halley Adams and I am the Alberta Director on the CJAA board. I am also the Vice President of the Alberta Junior Angus board. My family runs 250 head of purebred red and black angus, as well as simmental cattle. As a family we enjoy going to shows all across Western Canada every year, and marketing our bulls in the springtime. I am very happy to be attending the University of Calgary in the fall to start my first year of the Veterinary Medicine program. As well as many of you guys, I am also very disappointed that there will be no summer or fall shows to attend, but I hope we can make the best of it and have a good week on social media to bring the CJA membership together and have some fun! Hope everyone is well!
Name: Carson Liebreich
Hometown: Radville, SK
Post-Secondary Education: Agriculture Equipment Technician
Favorite Food: T-bone steak
Favorite Song: God’s country
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Movie: Fury
Favorite CJA event: Showdown
If you had to be quarantined with one CJA board member, who would it be and why?
If I had to choose one person I would choose Belinda. She is the reason everything runs smoothly at events and she keeps me in line.
Quote everyone should live by: “Time is free, but priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back” - Harvey McKay
Hi everyone! I am Carson Liebreich. I grew up on the family ranch, Merit Cattle Co. North West of Radville Saskatchewan where my family runs 180 head of purebred Angus cattle. I have completed my first year of agriculture and heavy duty mechanics at Olds college and I plan to complete my second year of the agriculture technician program this coming fall. After I have completed my second year I plan on working at a local mechanic shop and continue to work on the family ranch.
Canadian Junior Angus (CJA) was established in 1999 as a junior organization to the Canadian Angus Association.
Juniors, who are 21 years of age and younger, participate in national events throughout the year that allow for opportunities to network, learn and grow. These events include Showdown, the national Junior show with events such as conformation and showmanship; and the Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders Conference (GOAL), which encourages Juniors to become involved in and excited about the breed with interactive activities and motivational speakers.
Canadian Junior Angus also offers many different opportunities that Juniors can apply for through the Canadian Angus Foundation. The Foundation functions to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research and historical preservation.
“I gained valuable knowledge from my experiences, both with cattle and working on boards and executives. But more importantly, I gained contacts and a network of friends, customers and coaches that have impacted my career and life every year since my involvement as a Junior.”
Chad Lorenz, Alberta
Canadian Junior Angus has brought to me many friendships, talents and goals as well as new perspectives over the last few years that I would have never been able to gain without them, coming from a small island. CJA has benefited me in a lot of different ways and it’s allowed me to take the things I’ve learned home to my friends and family to teach them new and innovative things for our farms, association and shows. I am forever grateful for the opportunities!
Madison Pirch, Prince Edward Island
The Canadian Angus Foundation has helped myself and many other Junior members pursue their life goals. The Legacy Scholarship, in particular, pushes members to step out of their comfort zone and share their thoughts on the future of agriculture.
Alana Higgins, British Columbia
Members also get:
“Junior Connections” published to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening
Showdown – The Canadian Junior Angus Show – this show will move between regions and incorporate many activities beyond conformation and showmanship
GOAL Conference – annual conference that began in 2006 in Calgary. Its main function is to get more Junior Angus members involved and excited about the breed with fun and interactive activities and great motivational speakers
Involvement with other Junior Angus Associations
Scholarships
Canadian Angus Foundation acts as the liaison between the Canadian Angus Association & Canadian Junior Angus
Interested in becoming a Canadian Junior Angus member?
The Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference promotes leadership skills within the Angus breed.
The annual national Canadian Junior Angus show, Showdown, began in 2000 as an outlet for juniors from across the nation to gather in one location to exhibit their Angus cattle in conformation divisions.
The CJA offers many different scholarships that juniors can apply for through the Canadian Angus Foundation.