Editor’s note: In an effort to honor the AJBA “All-American” and the scholarship programs associated with the event the following is a historical look back at some of the scholarships that have been awarded to Junior members over the years. If any of the information is inaccurate we apologize, as we utilized interviews and past editions of The Brahman Journal to provide our readers with this information to the best of our ability. Look to the online magazine for more in depth coverage and lists of scholarship winners.
The “All-American” celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year. The first American Junior Brahman Association “All-American” national show was held July 30 to August 2, 1980. The very first show drew some 285 cattle entries from four states and exhibitors/participants in the association itself from five states.
The exhibitors and their cattle spent four days at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge actually forming the new American Junior Brahman Association and then competing for the first time on a national level.
By 1982, the third “All-American” show had grown to five hundred plus head of Brahman cattle and set a record for the number of Brahman cattle to actually show at a livestock show. Additionally, it was the largest of the summer junior beef breed shows.
The first show where we were able to find a record of scholarships being presented was at that third “AllAmerican” held in Lake Charles, LA.
Since then there have been hundred’s of thousands of dollars in scholarship money awarded to AJBA members.
According to the ABBA website, “Eligibility for scholarships is based on AJBA membership. Scholarships are available to graduating seniors with the exception of the Barlow-Pounds Memorial Scholarship, which is available to graduating seniors as well as AJBA members enrolled in undergraduate studies at an accredited university. Completion of the general AJBA application will qualify AJBA members for multiple AJBA scholarship awards. The Barlow-Pounds Memorial scholarship requires the completion of a separate scholarship form.”
Typically the scholarship application deadline is the beginning of May. This year the deadline has been moved to June 1st, to give more time to those effected by the COVID 19 pandemic.
AJBA members download the application from the ABBA website and are then required to mail it to the ABBA office. For most of the scholarships the award process goes thru the AJBA. For those scholarships the AJBA selects three judges that could be from the ABBA Board of Directors or from the Youth Activities Committee to judge the applications. These judges receive anonymous applications and they submit a score sheet to the AJBA. Based on the scores the AJBA then assigns scholarships to the different applicants.
There are a few scholarships that are memorial scholarships. For these scholarships the family receives the anonymous applications and choose who they feel is the best fit for their scholarship. A few memorial scholarships ask for an extra essay or have a few extra questions they want answered about the person applying for the scholarship.
BILLY DAN LINDLEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Billy Dan Lindley Memorial Scholarship was created as a way to continue Billy Dan’s dedication of finding new ways to enhance the youth program. Billy Dan served as the Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President, and President of the Texas Brahman Association and Secretary/Treasurer, VicePresident, President and Executive Committee Member of the American Brahman Breeders Association. He also served as chairman of the ABBA’s Youth Activities Committee and Membership Committee. His love for the breed and passion for youth programs inspired others to get involved.
His daughter, Sara Lindley Allen, showed at the very first “All-American” in 1980 and was awarded Reserve Grand Champion Bull.
This scholarship goes to an AJBA member who has acceptable grades at school, has a commitment to the Brahman breed and plans on being involved in the agricultural industry.
Suzanne Lindley, wife of the late Billy Dan, encourages AJBA members to get involved and apply.
“Everyone needs to apply because everyone has a story to tell,” Suzanna said.
JEFF SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Jeff Smith’s family wanted his legacy to live on through the Jeff Smith Memorial Scholarship. Jeff Smith was a beloved breeder who served on the ABBA board for eight years. During this time, he was involved in numerous committees and was chairman of the Youth Activities Committee and Show Committee. The AJBA was very important to him and he always wanted to do the best for the kids because he knew they were the future of the breed.
Jeff would do anything he could to make sure a youth had an animal to show and would frequently let kids from Louisiana show his cattle.
“Our father was a very caring man who was always trying to help others, and we look for those same qualities when choosing a recipient for this scholarship,” Jessica Fairchild, Jeff Smith’s daughter explained. “We ask for a personal essay about an experience the AJBA member had where they helped someone either better themselves or their surroundings to create a better outcome for their future.”
BARLOW-POUNDS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Barlow-Pounds Memorial Scholarship is given in honor of Dr. Robert Barlow, Jr. and his granddaughter, Amanda Pounds. Amanda Pounds made a huge impact on those who knew her. She was an ambassador for the Brahman Breed, competed in various contest and represented the association as Queen and Princess.
Amanda had a passion for showing cattle and never backed down from a challenge. She had a strong work ethic and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Amanda had a great role model in her grandfather, Dr. Robert Barlow, Jr., more commonly known as “Doc”. Dr. Barlow earned his degree in Veterinary medicine and practiced in Alabama, where he started raising Brahman cattle in 1975. He loved his cattle and prided himself in raising moderate frame beefy cattle.
His family is deeply involved in the Brahman breed and share his passion for the cattle.
“He would like nothing more than for you to remember a story he shared,” Kathy Pounds, Dr. Barlow’s daughter, said. “He would also like for you to remember to work hard to achieve your goals and be true to your word.”
His daughter, Kathy Barlow Bishop, along with her son Matthew Pounds and her daughter Morgan Pounds, award a scholarship each year to honor and remember the legacies of Dr. Barlow and Amanda.
All applicants must be an active member of the American Junior Brahman Association and must be a graduating senior or enrolled in undergraduate studies at an accredited university. This scholarship is awarded after the completion of the recipients first semester of college and review of transcript.
JOE BUTT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Another important memorial scholarship is one for Joe Butt. Throughout the years, Joe showed and promoted Brahman cattle all over the United States. He had a deep passion for the breed and was a proud member of the ABBA. Joe exhibited or assisted in the exhibition of more ABBA Premier Show Bulls and Show Cows than any other exhibitor.
After Joe’s untimely death, the ABBA honored his family with the dedication of the 2017 International Show in Houston.
Joe made sure to attend every “All-American” and was supportive of all the youth involved in the breed. The Joe Butt Memorial Scholarship allows for his love of showing to continue on through the support of AJBA members in their future endeavors.
BUBBA & CARRIE HUDGINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Sometimes it can be friends who want to do something special as a way to keep the memory of their friendship alive. Rhett Butler of Paraguay wanted to do something special in the memory of his friends Bubba and Carrie Hudgins. Leslie “Bubba” Hudgins was extremely influential in promoting the Brahman breed and the Brahman association in Paraguay and had made many close friends during his frequent travels to the country. Rhett contacted Bubba and Carrie’s son Steve Hudgins and explained that he wanted to do something special in their name. Hence, the Bubba and Carrie Hudgins Memorial Scholarship was created.
Bubba judged cattle shows throughout the world. His travels, both nationally and internationally, let him meet and make lifelong friends. He had the opportunity to help breeders in other countries improve the quality of their Brahman herds by using American Brahman genetics. He would often help breeders with their mating selections in the countries he visited.
His wife Carrie was a dedicated employee of J.D. Hudgins, Inc. and was their bookkeeper for over 53 years. She was family oriented and was very involved in her community. These two had a huge impact on the Brahman breed internationally and nationally. Three students have the chance to receive this scholarship, and usually Rhett Butler travels from Paraguay to present this scholarship.
V8 RANCH OUTSTANDING JR. BREEDER AWARD
The Outstanding Junior Breeder Award is also given out during the “All-American”, but it took a passion in breeding a different type of cattle to get this award started in the Brahman breed. While the brand of V8 Ranch is almost synonymous with Brahman cattle, they also have a smaller herd of Shorthorn cattle that they have bred and exhibited at some of the most prestigious events in the USA.
V8 is considered one of the smaller breeders of Shorthorns as they are located in one of the southernmost places for raising Shorthorn cattle. Many of the larger breeders living in Midwest states.
Catherine Williams Neumayr, the youngest daughter of Jim and Luann Williams of V8 Ranch fame, showed an interest at an early age in the Shorthorn breed. At the time that she was a junior exhibitor the Outstanding Junior Breeder Award was the highest honor bestowed to a junior Shorthorn exhibitor.
“When we started our herd of Shorthorns in 1986 we were brand new breeders, small breeders, and grew our entire herd based on the cattle that we showed as junior exhibitors,” Catherine Neumayr explains. “In 2008, over 20 years after we started our journey in the breed, we exhibited our first ‘Miss V8’ Shorthorn National Grand Champion Female. Everyone starts somewhere and with passion and dedication you can achieve your dreams.”
After Catherine won the Outstanding Junior Breeder Award at the 2003 Shorthorn Junior Nationals, the V8 Ranch family decided to create the same type of award for young Brahman enthusiasts. It is based on the applicant’s past and future involvement with Brahmans and their success in breeding and raising quality Brahman cattle. Ambition, passion, and dedication are all figured into selecting and awarding this prestigious honor, designed to spotlight the up and coming breeders of Brahman cattle.
HERITAGE CATTLE COMPANY SCHOLARSHIP
Each year Heritage Cattle Company gives a scholarship in their name during the “All-American”. Judd Cullers, the owner of Heritage Cattle Company, was involved in the AJBA growing up and even showed the Reserve Grand Champion at the first “All-American”. He watched his daughters grow up and become active AJBA members as well.
Youth programs are very important to the Cullers family and they have helped many AJBA members over the years with a variety of projects. From their cow camps, Heritage Junior Shows, to Judd helping AJBA members oneon -one to improve their showmanship skills, they are very supportive of the youth in the Brahman breed.
The Cullers family reads each application that the ABBA sends and looks for someone who has the character, motivation, and integrity to do well in college and beyond.
“We enjoy watching the scholarship recipients mature into young adults while encouraging younger members of our junior association by their examples,” Judd Cullers said.
LOUISIANA BRAHMAN ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP
The LBA gives one scholarship at the “All-American” and three scholarships at their state Brahman show. The LBA decided to give a scholarship during the “All-American” because they wanted to do something on the national level to help AJBA members further their education. This scholarship is open to any AJBA member.
The LBA usually looks for a AJBA member who is actively involved in the organization and has held leadership positions. The LBA appreciates those who have attended their open shows and participated in their F1 sale, because the money from those events go into funding their scholarships.
“The Louisiana Brahman Association has always been a strong supporter of the youth program because they know the youth is the future of the breed,” Cindy Pranther, LBA Treasurer said.
RED RIVER BRAHMAN ALLIANCE SCHOLARSHIP
The Red River Brahman Alliance is another organization that is involved in supporting the younger generations of Brahman breeders. The alliance formed in 2014 and is a group of breeders from Southeast Oklahoma, Northwest Louisiana, Northeast Texas, and Southwest Arkansas with a passion for Brahman cattle and the goals of education, fellowship and supporting youth. In 2017 they started a silent auction at their field day in order to raise money for a scholarship to be given out during the “All-American”.
Each year the RRBA members select a scholarship committee to go over the applications the ABBA sends and to make the recipient selection. They typically look for a someone involved with AJBA, who is interested in breeding, and someone who is actively involved with their Brahman cattle.
Melissa Laurent, of MJ Brahmans, was instrumental in getting the scholarship started and organizing the silent auction to raise money for the scholarship.
“I am proud the RRBA has been able to support the youth and for making that a priority,” Sara Lindley Allen, Vice-President of RRBA, said. “This scholarship would not be possible without the support of the membership and breeders involved in the silent auction whether that be volunteering their time or making a purchase.”
