by Wyatt Lawrence, NJHA Director

I feel like the most fitting way to begin this blog is by sharing a little about myself. I am Wyatt Lawrence and I am one of the newly elected National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) directors. I am currently attending the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus studying agricultural business and animal science. In college, I am involved in the Block and Bridle Club, the livestock judging team, and I am a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. In my free time when I’m not studying or practicing my evaluation skills, I enjoy playing intramural sports, going for runs and, of course, working with cattle. Like many of you, my passion for Hereford cattle started at a young age as I road with my dad in the tractor feeding cows, checking fences and looking for calves. As a young boy, I knew I wanted to have a future in cattle and in the Hereford breed. I am so blessed with the honor to serve on what I believe is the most elite junior board in the nation.

With all that said, it has been a crazy set of seasons this past year. With endless rain, extreme cold, heat and fires, it has been a challenging year for agriculture. However, with all of these challenges, there is one thought that keeps coming to my mind. This is just another season of life and in every season of life comes new and different types of challenges. Now it is obvious that I am discussing issues specific to the agricultural industry at this time, but we experience different seasons in our lives as well. For me personally, I am in a season of life where I am studying and growing in knowledge. Many people in school can relate to the stage I am in. Yet I am on the cusp of a new season of life where I will get to go out, get a job, enjoy different experiences and encounter new opportunities. Times of difficulty can leave us questioning why we are doing what we are doing. This is where I think we are given chances to broaden our outlooks and to determine where our passion comes from. So, I think it is important for us to pose the question, “Why are you doing what you’re doing?” Is it to learn, to gain success, to get experience or to find joy? Whatever your reason, it is important to know. To bring this thought back to agriculture, resilience is what makes farmers and ranchers unique. Regardless of the obstacles we face we keep moving forward and I believe it is because we truly love what we do.

As I struggle with the inconsistency in the weather and all of the additional struggles of raising cattle that continue to come up, it is the time I get to spend watching cattle graze in the pasture as the sun sets and the time I spend speaking with other agricultural enthusiasts that reminds me why I work so hard every day of the week. Where does your passion come from and what are those moments that make all of the challenges and adversity worth it? As November ushers in a time of thanksgiving, I think it is important to be reminded of what we are thankful for in our lives. I am thankful for how I was able to grow up and for the industry I get to be a part of. I am thankful for Hereford cattle and the people who come with the breed. And, most of all, I am thankful the Lord will be in the future seasons of life and agriculture to provide for our every need and challenge. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and no group of people are more resilient than those in agriculture.