Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association
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About
The Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association (GJCA) is a division established under the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association for members 21 years of age and younger, as well as current college students. For just $15 a year, members find their place within the strong community of young cattle producers that work to strengthen Georgia’s cattle industry. Involvement in GJCA provides opportunities for youth to connect with other members across the state and participate in programs curated to help identify potential career paths. Students whose lives are impacted by GJCA programs build valuable skills through hands-on learning, real-world industry experiences, and leadership development opportunities.
Why Join?
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Become eligible for scholarships and award programs that assist in providing financial support for your future!
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Expand your network of resources, cultivate meaningful relationships with industry stakeholders and GCA leadership, and develop valuable leadership skills and experiences.
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Receive a monthly e-subscription to the Georgia Cattleman magazine.
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Represent the Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association during local, state and national activities as a GJCA Officer Board Member
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Apply for the opportunity to exhibit and/or develop a high-quality female, while learning the skills associated with raising and exhibiting a livestock project through the Heifer Allotment Youth program scholarship.
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Participate in opportunities exclusive to GJCA, including the Georgia Junior Herd Builder program, the Top Hand Stockmanship & Stewardship contest, the GJCA HAY Program, along with various other hands-on educational programs!
Leadership Opportunities
GJCA Officer Board
The purpose of this prestigious role is to serve as the voice of the Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association during local, state, and national activities. The officer team is responsible for sparking exciting and increasing involvement of youth throughout the industry. The group of young leaders will have numerous opportunities to expand their network of resources, cultivate meaningful relationships with industry stakeholders and GCA leadership, and develop valuable leadership skills and experiences. Through this opportunity, officers play a key role in sharing the message of GJCA and the cattle industry by visiting with local farmers and ranchers, legislative officials, allied businesses, livestock exhibitors, and program supporters in cooperation with GCA staff and leadership. If you're looking to make a positive difference in the lives of GJCA members and help unite and advance Georgia's cattle industry, consider applying for a position on the 2023-2024 GJCA Officer Board. Click here to download the GJCA Officer Board Application
GJCA Officer Responsibilities:
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Help manage the GJCA social media platforms to engage with current and prospective members.
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Keep 5,000+ GCA members up to date on various youth activities throughout the state by writing articles to be featured in the Georgia Cattleman magazine.
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Attend industry events and activities on behalf of the association, including GCA Executive Committee Meetings, the Annual Convention, Cattlemen's Connection Quarterly Meetings, HERD and Bull Test Program sales, the Sunbelt Ag Expo, the Georgia National Fair, regional and state Top Hand Stockmanship & Stewardship contests, etc.
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Play an integral role in planning, organizing, and facilitating events to provide innovative and educational opportunities to GJCA members.
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Develop and maintain positive relationships with current and prospective members, local cattle producers, industry supporters, event sponsors, and the general public.
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Play a key role in sharing the message of GJCA and the cattle industry by visiting with legislative officials, beef cattle farmers and ranchers, livestock exhibitors, and allied businesses in cooperation with GCA staff and members of the Executive Committee.
Meet the 2022-2023 GJCA Officer Board!
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Bryson Smith
GJCA Officer Board President
Bryson Smith is a Freshman at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and is working towards his degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Livestock Production. Smith has been an active member for several years, making his impact as a GJCA Ambassador and even being selected as the 2021 Georgia Junior Cattleman of the Year award recipient. He has been involved with both 4-H and FFA, showing beef cattle throughout the state and winning multiple awards throughout his career. His goal for the upcoming year is to offer educational programs such as BQA certification training courses, provide curriculum focused on risk and disaster management, and present resources that highlight safe cattle handling practices. Bryson is from Rome, Georgia, where his parents Eddie and Jennifer Smith still live today.
Maddie Dean
GJCA Officer Board Vice-President
GJCA Officer Board Vice-President, Maddie Dean is currently a high school Junior. She has been involved with many industry-related organizations and has served as a Georgia National Fairground Junior Livestock Ambassador, was a member of her local church's Youth Student Impact Team, and has also held the title of the Crisp County 4-H Senior Board President for the past two years. She has competed at livestock shows around the state and nation, has a small purebred Charolais operation, and is involved with her family's Red Angus Commercial herd. Her goal for the upcoming year is to establish a wider variety of educational opportunities that focus on areas such as management, animal husbandry, and career paths available in the industry. Maddie lives in Vienna, Georgia with her parents Ric and Dia Dean.
Cora Crews
GJCA Officer Board Secretary
GJCA Officer Board Secretary, Cora Crews is an 8th grade student at Brantley County Middle School. She is a 9th generation cattle rancher and is involved in the American Junior Brahman Association, the Florida Junior Brahman Association, the Georgia Junior Simmental Association, Brantley County Middle School FFA, and her local 4-H club. Cora currently serves as the Brantley County Middle School FFA Chapter President, as well as the Brantley County Middle School Student Council Historian. Her goal as the GJCA Officer Board Secretary is to encourage GJCA to approach a larger number of both urban and rural schools throughout the state to educate them on where their beef comes from. Cora lives in Folkston, Georgia with her parents Stephen and Emily Crews.
Award and Scholarship Programs
The Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association is proud to highlight the service, achievement, and involvement of GJCA members each year through various awards and scholarship programs! Check out the information below to read more on this year's opportunities!
IMPORTANT FOR 2022: ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JANUARY 6, 2023
Heifer Allotment Youth Program
Let us help you expand your herd, add a show heifer, or begin your herd with the HAY Program. We will award 3 GJCA members $2,000 towards the purchase of a heifer!
Junior Cattleman of the Year Award
This award recognizes a Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association member who goes above and beyond the call of duty, participating in a variety of GCA and GJCA events and serving as a great advocate for Georgia agriculture and the beef industry.
cattlemen's foundation Scholarships
Scholarships will be awarded for the 2023 school year. To be eligible, a student must attend the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College or Berry College majoring in Animal Science, Ag Communications, Ag Leadership, Ag Business or other related fields combined with a livestock background. In addition, he or she must be a current GJCA member.
Competitions and Live Animal Programs
The Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association, in conjunction with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, provides hands-on educational opportunities exclusive to GJCA members to help improve their knowledge of cattle health and well being, agriculture economics, and best management practices, all while developing strong verbal and written communication skills. Check out the information below to read more on this year's GJCA contests and live animal programs!
GJCA Convention Contests & Activities
- Junior (Ages 9-13)
- Intermediate (Ages 14-17)
- Senior (Ages 18-21)
Click here for rules, guidelines, and specifics on this year's convention contests!
Top Hand Stockmanship & Stewardship Contest
Georgia Junior Herd Builder Program
The Junior Herd Builder Program youth currently enrolled in 8th-12th grade. Participants will be responsible for securing three (3) heifers of similar age and genetics for the purpose of future production or sale. Contestants are required to attend a series of online beef production classes, closely follow the University of Georgia's Beef Management Calendar for their heifers, and participate in two rounds of presentations/interviews about their project. They must also be a current member of the Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association and have a current Beef Quality Assurance certification to be eligible to compete.
Click here for more information!
2023 Georgia Cattlemen's Association and Georgia Beef Board Summer Internship
The Georgia Cattlemen's Association and the Georgia Beef Board are offering a summer internship/scholarship opportunity for current college students interested in the beef cattle industry! The internship will pay $1,500 a month for three months and the intern is expected to live in Macon throughout the summer. All travel expenses associated with program work will be reimbursed. Upon completing the internship, the individual will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Georgia Cattlemen's Foundation and the Georgia Cattlewomen's Association.
Specific responsibilities include:
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Help manage social media accounts to reflect a positive image for GCA, GBB and all associated programs
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Work closely with GBB staff to plan and implement activities to support beef promotions
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Assist in planning and execution of GCA’s Cattlemen's Connection Quarterly Meetings
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Contribute to completion other industry pertinent projects as they arise
