Lauren Wolter is a 15 year old, from Aviston, Illinois. She is currently a freshman attending Breese Central Community High School and is very active in 4-H and FFA as well as activities at school. Her family runs a commercial Angus herd with a focus on producing cattle with exceptional EPDs and phenotypes. Lauren started showing Angus heifers at eight years old and has continued and grown her passion for the breed!
What’s your favorite show?
While there are many shows that I absolutely love attending, I would have to say that my favorite is the National Junior Angus Show or NJAS. Not only do I get to exhibit my cattle on a very competitive national scale, but I get to see my friends from all over the country and compete in contests. The contests at NJAS are something I am very passionate about and have been fortunate enough to do very well in. Every year I get the chance to develop my skills, meet new people, and expand my knowledge of the Angus breed.
What is your favorite thing to do in the barn?
Blowing out cattle is by far my favorite barn task. I just love fluffy hair once I am all done!
What is your least favorite thing to do in the barn?
I think everyone can agree that cleaning a heifer up for the very first time is one of the worst tasks in the world! Not only are they frightened and act a little loopy, but they are always covered in mud and manure! Sometimes it takes several washes just to get it all out!
What’s the weirdest thing that’s in your show box at a show?
Whether she means to or not, my mom always becomes everyone’s mom at stock shows. Therefore we have a first aid kit in our box. While it might not be the strangest item in the world, I can tell you that of the people in our string, we are the only ones with a first aid kit in our box at all times!
What breed do you show? Why do you like showing this breed?
I have only ever shown Angus cattle and I would not have it any other way! The NJAA offers conferences that allow me to make connections and learn more than I would at a regular show. So many people in this breed have been my friends and mentors. I have been given amazing role models and opportunities because of it. I could not be more thankful for all that the Angus breed has given me.
What are some of your favorite products to use on your animals?
It might not be the most exciting product, but a good old scrub brush is good for about anything! Whether it be balling a tail, brushing out a heifer, or parting a top line, we are always using a scrub brush.
What’s your showbox staple item?
You will never find my showbox without a deck of cards! Whenever I get the chance, I love to get a group of people together and play a game of cards! We definitely have had some pretty intense and competitive games at shows before!
Tell us about your favorite show animal.
My heifer Lou will forever have my heart. Ones like her do not come around very often and I have been beyond blessed to be able to show her. Lou did exceptionally well in the show ring, being my best heifer up to date. She got grand or reserve in almost every division she was in and won Third Overall and Reserve Supreme Land of Lincoln at the Illinois State Fair. Lou almost always gave a perfect performance in the ring helping me do very well in showmanships too. Not only was she very successful, but she had the most amazing attitude of any of my heifers. Lou is so much of a sweetheart that I even have her trained to give kisses when I tell her too! To have a bond with a heifer like Lou has been such a blessing.
What is your favorite part about showing?
While winning is such an amazing feeling, showing cattle has taught me so many life lessons. They are my favorite part because I know that when I age out I will have more than just memories and banners. I will have life skills and qualities that I developed in the barn and at shows.