It’s been a busy couple of months for the newest crop of Carter County Junior Livestock Show Youth Ambassadors.
Since coming together in October, they’ve already held a coat drive for Community Youth Services, volunteered at the Christmas Market and are now gearing up for the show which takes place in February.
In many ways, this group of high school students are the face of the show. They speak with the donors, promote the show to various community organizations, help out with the fundraiser Boots and Bowties, and work at the show itself.
And they do all of this in addition to their school work, raising their own show animals and many other commitments.
The ambassadors come from schools across the county. Some have been ambassadors in years past, and for some it’s their first year. This year’s Carter County Junior Livestock Show Ambassadors are:
- Brandt Allen, a sophomore at Dickson
- Hannah Butler, a junior at Lone Grove
- Dylon Dodd, a senior at Lone Grove
- Abby Helmke, a senior at Fox
- Hailey Helmke, a junior at Fox
- Tucker Mashore, a senior at Wilson
- Abby Porterfield, a junior at Lone Grove
- Breckyn Scruggs, a sophomore at Dickson
- Kylie Whitley, a senior at Dickson
Another new face with the ambassadors this year is Emma Rutledge, the new ambassador coordinator. She is taking over the position after longtime coordinator Linda Baughman moved with her family to Lubbock, Tex.
A Dickson High School Graduate, Rutledge said she grew up around livestock and showed pigs and cattle when she was in school.
“I grew up on a working cattle ranch, so that’s kind of how I got into it,” she said. “I started showing pigs in middle school and then started showing cattle. So I went through all the things they did, except we didn’t have the ambassador team when I was in school.”
Rutledge said she is excited to be a part of the CCJLS once again.
“I thought this would be a great way to kind of give back to the program that meant so much to me growing up.”
Kylie Whitley is one of the returning ambassadors. In fact, this will be her third year. She said her favorite part of being an ambassador is becoming a role model to younger children.
“I love being able to work the show ring and hand the kids the blue ribbon or the red ribbon that they worked so hard for,” she said. “I want them to say I want to be just like her when I get to be her age.”
Though Tucker Mashore is a new ambassador, he has several years of experience as a role model.
“I try to help all the kids in my chapter,” he said. “I try to help them look at their animal and work with them on their showmanship. We’ve all got to start somewhere, and I just home my experience can help them out.”
Another new ambassador, Dylon Dodd, said being involved in agriculture has allowed him to meet so many people he would have otherwise never known.
“I’ve got friends from all over and states I’ve even thought about,” he said. “I’ve friends with people from Montana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. And it’s all because we’re interested in ag.”
The ambassadors will get a bit of a break for the rest of December, but will hit the ground running in January. The Boots and Bowties Ball is scheduled for Feb. 8 and the Carter County Junior Livestock Show is Feb. 25-28.
Rutledge encouraged everyone to become involved with the show. That could include volunteering your time or becoming a sponsor.
“Think of it this way, you’re investing in the kids,” she said. “You’re investing in the community. You’re investing in the future.”
Mashore agreed with her statement and said being involved in agriculture has made him the person he is.
“I think it’s really important for kids to get into ag because it’s made me who I am,” she said. “Ag and showing livestock teaches you so much. It teaches you discipline and responsibility. It forces you to get up out of bed when you don’t want to. And gives you the kick in butt you need sometimes to keep going.”
