Auer Wins Give Your Best 60 Second Intro
A dozen youth stepped out of their comfort zones on Thursday, June 20, 2024, to participate in the second “Give Us Your Best 60-Second Intro” public speaking contest at the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA)-National All-Jersey Inc., annual meetings in Springfield, Mass.
The idea, born from the advice of former American Jersey Cattle Club Executive Secretary Maurice Core to his staff has quickly become a staple youth contest of the AJCA at national events.
Core always asked his staff to be prepared to speak to the crowd at any meeting they attended and have their best 60-second intro ready to give. Each participant was asked to take the microphone at the Basketball Hall of Fame and deliver their introduction to the crowd.
Every youth participating received a gift card for their effort. They told the audience their name, where they are from, and where their favorite place to see Jersey cows was. The answers ranged from their home, to Louisville, Ky., and even being able to see “Big John” Kokoski’s cows in Massachusetts.
First alternate National Jersey Queen Meganne Chapman, Cattaraugus, N.Y., was the emcee of the event and helped distribute awards to the winners of each category. The top winners in each division (junior, intermediate, and senior) each received a cash prize of $50. The top two winners in the senior division were Regan Johnson, Northwood, N.H., and Lee Taylor, Booneville, Miss. Emory Auer, New London, Wis., and Maddy Poitras, Brimfield, Mass., took the top honors in the intermediate division. The top juniors were Henry Cast, Beaver Crossing, Neb., Nora Kenny, Enon Valley, Pa., and Landon Brown, Cortland, N.Y.
The overall winner received an additional $100. That title went to the first-place participant of the intermediate division, Emory Auer. Following as the reserve overall winner was Henry Cast from the junior division. He received an additional $50 cash prize.
Dr. Katharine Knowlton of Blacksburg, Va., and the Donald S. Sherman Memorial Fund sponsor the youth events at the annual meetings.
