Her Moment
Lexi Koelling named champion of the National Junior Angus Showmanship contest.
September 9, 2024
Photos by Megan Silveira
Standing in the center of Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Lexi Koelling of Bowling Green, Mo., could not help but think about her childhood dream and the heifer and people that helped get her there. This dream became a reality as she was named the champion showman at the 2024 National Junior Angus Showmanship contest hosted at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Madison, Wis., in July.
Growing up ringside, Koelling says she was eager to learn from the champions that came before her, and she set a goal to win the title for herself one day. That day came as she competed alongside 14 other showmen in the finals. Then the announcement was made.
“It was a surreal moment because it’s something that I have dreamt of since I started showing,” Koelling says. “The little girl in me was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe we did that.’”
She says her heart swelled with pride knowing her little brother was watching.
“It wasn’t about the win at that moment, it was about what that experience meant to my brother and our family’s future in the breed,” she says.
From the start From a young age, Koelling was immersed in her family’s commercial and registered cattle operation.
“Our family bleeds Angus,” she says.
Being actively involved in the feeding, breeding and daily care of her family’s herd, Koelling says she is confident the Angus breed has made her who she is today.
“I believe this background has helped me to be a good showman because I understand the cattle and how they will react,” she says.
Melania, EXAR Forever Lady 6883 is one female that is particularly well-known by Koelling and her family. At the age of 13, they purchased this heifer, which then helped blaze the trail for Koelling’s Angus tenure. Melania won her division in Denver and went on to win several titles at other shows throughout her time in the ring. Koelling recalls winning a division at the 2018 NJAS.
“Melania changed my life,” she explains. “She put me on the map, gave me a name and made a little girl from Missouri recognizable at the nation’s most prestigious Angus events.”
This year, Koelling showed one of Melania’s daughters in the preliminaries for the showmanship contest while earning her spot in the top 15, creating a full-circle moment for the family. With a number of memories to reflect on throughout her showmanship career, she says this one might just be the greatest.
The approach
When arriving in Madison for this year’s NJAS, Koelling says she tried to keep her emotions in check and focus on the job at hand. By the final round of the contest, her nerves and excitement were climbing.
Jim Pipkin, friend and mentor, shared a few words of encouragement just before she stepped into the show ring.
“Just go out there like you have the best heifer that has ever been presented at any show in the world, and that you have nothing to prove,” he advised.
During the contest, Koelling says she remembers looking around the staging area at competitors and friends she admires.
“We all wanted to win, but we were also friends living in the moment,” she explains.
Koelling says she felt encouraged as she stood alongside her peers heading into the final round by something one of the judges mentioned.
“The top 15 [showmen] were making history, leaving an impact on our families and other NJAA members,” showmanship judge, Jill Harker, said in her closing remarks. Harker, Curtis Bryant and Calli Spengler evaluated the intense competition through several exercises for the showmen, switching animals and testing their showmanship knowledge.
While the honor of champion junior showman is well known in The Business Breed, Koelling says, “It means everything to me. It shows that no matter what obstacle was in front of me, whatever bump in the road, I did it. To me, it means not giving up, because there are still good things ahead.”
More than a dream
Although Koelling has worked towards this goal since first holding the halter at the age of three, her work done at home best prepared her for the contest.
“Showmanship is something that no matter if I have the best or worst calf in the barn, I can be the best for myself,” Koelling says. “Before I was even selected to compete in this contest, we would take the heifers in the front yard and just practice showmanship, whether it was my little brother or whoever was home to critique me and how I presented my heifer.”
Those long hours practicing are part of why Koelling doesn’t need pinched.
"Sometimes, I have to remember that this actually happened. It wasn’t a dream, but my dream that I set for myself had come true — champion Angus showman.”
With one more NJAS for Koelling in 2025, she says she will continue to show to the best of her ability and work to win divisions with her cattle.
“I am so appreciative of my Angus family for believing in me, and for my parents for always pushing me to be the best version of myself daily,” she says. “It is surreal and I am humbled.”
Top 15 Finalist
The 2024 National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest top 15 finalists (from left) are Tucker Stagemeyer, Page, Neb.; Jayce Dickerson, Paradise, Kan.; Grant Ward, Oak Grove, Mo.; Lauren Wolter, Aviston, Ill.; Skyler Ward, New Paris, Ohio; Blair Heath, Cooksville, Md.; Lexi Koelling, Bowling Green, Mo.; Mary Wood, Willow Spring, N.C.; Aribella Beins, Deweyville, Utah; Reese Anderson, Chrisman, Ill.; Hailey Jentz, Belmont, Wis.; Allison Davis, Shelbyville, Tenn.; Courtney Rathke, Fredonia, Wis.; Shelby Greiman, Goodell, Iowa; and Sydney Sanders, Leesburg, Ohio.
Top Five Finalist
The 2024 National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest top five finalists (from left) are Reese Anderson, Chrisman, Ill., fifth place; Shelby Greiman, Goodell, Iowa, fourth place; Hailey Jentz, Belmont, Wis., third place; Skyler Ward, New Paris, Ohio, second place; Lexi Koelling, Bowling Green, Mo., first place. Also pictured are judges Calli Spengler, Jill Harker and Curtis Bryant.
Koelling’s Master Class
National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest Champion Alexis Koelling shares advice.
- Know your animal. Koelling says, “Become their best friend, even if they don’t want to be your best friend.”
- Do the repetitive work at home. “For me, before they go on and off the wash rack we show them so that they know what they need to do every single time, and so do I.”
- Be prepared for any situation. Koelling says it is best to be prepared for any situation in the show ring whether you are handling your animal or someone else’s: “Make sure your heifer is best presented every single time.”
- Keep true to yourself. “Make sure that you are only focused on what is in front of you because you can’t change it. You can’t control everything. If you focus on what’s at hand, you will adapt and overcome,” Koelling says.
- Keep working. Looking back, Koelling says she would tell her 8-year-old self, “Don’t try to rush anything, the time will come.”
Topics: Award winner , Events , Success Stories
Publication: Angus Journal
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