“Consistent with his belief of leaving it better than he found it, past chairman, Jarold Callahan, began laying the foundation for a Lasting Legacy in the fall of 2023. He challenged our team to begin planning a capital campaign to ensure the long term success of Cattlemen’s Congress by focusing on the aspects of it that make it unique and valuable to the cattle industry.
Today, in his honor, we are carrying this challenge forward and are pleased to announce the Jarold Callahan Lasting Legacy capital campaign.
Jarold believed in investing not just in cattle, but in people. He had a unique ability to bring individuals together, inspiring them to achieve their best. His legacy lives on through Cattlemen’s Congress as a premier event in the industry.
The Lasting Legacy will invest in our future leaders. The capital campaign will invest in:
• The Jarold Callahan Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest
• The Cattlemen’s Congress Internship Program
• New Marketing Opportunities for Cattlemen and Cattlewomen at Cattlemen’s Congress
Your contribution to the Jarold Callahan Lasting Legacy supports Jarold’s vision and the future of the Cattlemen’s Congress. Whether your donation is large or small, we are grateful for your support in continuing Jarold’s legacy and advancing the cattle and agriculture industry.”
https://cattlemenscongress.com/sponsors/jarold-callahan-lasting-legacy/
The Pulse caught up with Jennifer Callahan to gain more insight on this campaign and the legacy it will carry on in honor of Jarold at Cattlemen’s Congress.
- What was your motive for starting this/back story behind campaign?
Early last Fall Jarold mentioned that he thought it was time to start a capital campaign for Cattlemen’s Congress. He had a number of folks who had reached out wanting to support CC and he believed that it had established its place as a valued component to the purebred cattle industry. As with all businesses, reserves are important to ensure funding to make the changes necessary to continue innovating. More importantly, as a nonprofit, CC has featured programs that Jarold and others wanted to ensure had the resources available to not only continue the programs but build on them. CC has not and will not increase costs to exhibitors and marketing to build reserves so it made sense given the interest expressed to consider a capital campaign at this time. We spent a lot of time last Fall working on ideas with the team at CC but decided to hold on any rollout until after the 2024 CC because we were rapidly approaching Thanksgiving, Christmas and the 2024 show. The story behind this announcement is that Lasting Legacy represents us carrying his challenge to the team forward as he would expect us to.
- How do you see this furthering success at Cattlemen’s Congress
CC is unique in that it is the only cattle venue of this nature that is run by cattlemen for cattlemen. Providing resources for continued innovation and development of key programs will not only benefit those participating in the programs but the industry as a whole.
- There are 3 sectors highlighted in this campaign, can you elaborate on where you see each one headed in the future/growth plans?
The Lasting Legacy will invest in our future leaders. The capital campaign will invest in:
- The Jarold Callahan Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest
This area of interest will provide the financial resources to continue to build on the quality of the Livestock Judging Contest and the educational opportunities associated with the Contest.
- The Cattlemen’s Congress Internship Program
The CC Interns are our ambassadors and they are critical to the exhibitor experience. The Intern Program also provides college students an opportunity to interact with leaders in industry that are purebred cattle breeders and those that support the purebred industry whether it be breed associations, marketing agents or suppliers of goods and services. The Intern program facilitates job opportunities and career paths for this talented group
- New Marketing Opportunities for Cattlemen and Cattlewomen at Cattlemen’s Congress
Jarold believed one of the most important roles of CC was to expand and develop marketing opportunities for the purebred cattle industry by providing innovative platforms for marketing opportunities for all sizes of breeders that were affordable, reliable and located in the heart of cattle country.
- What are you looking forward to most with this campaign?
Working with the many people who have been with us from the very beginning to (i) help ensure that cattlemen control their own destiny with respect to showing and marketing their cattle and (ii) facilitate opportunities for developing leadership among young people who have a passion for this industry.
A huge thank you to your team at Sullivan’s Supply. You guys have been here with us from the very beginning and have demonstrated alignment on so many aspects that have been important to the success of CC. Your support has been amazing and I truly believe that the industry has benefitted immensely. – Jennifer Callahan
Thank you Jennifer and the entire Cattlemen’s Congress Board & Team for taking the time to invest in the future. Sullivan Supply is proud to be apart of your show. We are committed to Cattlemen’s Congress and to the Jarold Callahan Lasting Legacy Capital Campaign!
