THE HERD BEHIND THE SCENES: Intern Edition

There’s no staff, no salaries — just passionate people. These four interns represent the heart of FUZION: leadership, grit, and service. In this episode, Dalia Weber chats with the 2025 intern team. 

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Transcript

[00:00:05.780] - Speaker 3

There are so many smart people here. It's crazy.

[00:00:08.920] - Speaker 1

People and the message behind the show, which is do it for the kids. It's all about the experience is really what stuck out to me.

[00:00:17.180] - Speaker 4

All right. Hi, everybody. I'm Delia Webber, and I'm your NHA area e-President. I'm here today to talk with these four lovely interns. If you all could just... We can start with Julie. If you could tell us your name and a little bit about you.

[00:00:30.400] - Speaker 1

All right. Hi, I'm Julie Damon. I'm from Melbourne, Iowa, so about two and a half hours south of where we are. I grew up on a cow-calf operation with hogs we farrow to finish and bro crop. I just finished my first year at Iowa State University, where I'm studying animal science, and that's all I got.

[00:00:49.880] - Speaker 2

Well, I am Ashley Purvine. I am from Western Oklahoma originally. I will be going into my sophomore year at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonquua. Go, maps. I'm on the livestock judging team there as well. My family and I raise Scimital and Scimangus cattle, mainly seed stock, and we're also wheat and soybeans farmers as well.

[00:01:13.360] - Speaker 5

My name's Paige Roberts, and I'm originally from about 30 minutes from here in Albert City, Iowa. I grew up on a row crop farm, and when I was 10, I said I wanted a cow. Got told no, got one anyway. Started showing, and now we have a cow-calf herd, raise a couple, and sell beef. I'm currently at Iowa State University studying agriculture studies.

[00:01:38.660] - Speaker 3

My name is Madison Louffer. I'm from Mountainview, Wyoming, and I grew up on a cattle ranch there. It's been in my family for generations. I think I'm sixth or seventh. Was there before it was a state, pretty much. We raise mainly commercial and seed stock, Simangus cattle. I am currently going back to Casper College to finish some degrees there, but I was at the University of Wyoming as well.

[00:02:05.520] - Speaker 4

That's how I met her. My next question for you guys is, what made you guys want to be an intern for Najra? We could start on the other side now with Ms. Louf.

[00:02:17.860] - Speaker 3

Yeah, they call me Louf. I go by Louf, mainly. I actually heard about Najra the first time I had met Ms. Delia over here. I call her Dale. We were both wanting to be on the University of Wyoming Livestock Judging team. Okay, I do have six head of Red Angus, so I was getting into that. Then when we were introducing ourselves, she's like, Oh, yeah, I'm on the North American Junior Red Angus event. Bored. I'm like, I got to be friends with this girl because I love red cattle. New passion. She introduced me to it. I was an intern last year. Absolutely loved it. People are amazing. People who put on the show, with all the families. I had such a great time that I might have twisted their arms to let me come back.

[00:03:06.300] - Speaker 5

I wanted to be an intern because I originally had heard about this from some friends who had done it in the past or that had raised Red Angus and told me about the association. Still trying to figure out what my career path might be, but I do like running events, and shows would be a good stretch for that. So definitely something that's up my alley. But I also intern last year with Looff, and we both loved it so much. I wanted to come back again because the people are great. They really make you feel like family coming in here and not knowing anyone. Now I go back in the barns and everyone's like, Hey, it's you again. I'm like, Yep. So had to be here.

[00:03:45.980] - Speaker 4

Ms. Ashley?

[00:03:47.340] - Speaker 2

Well, my story is just a touch different. Kind of like everyone else, I heard about Najri from junior members, specifically my teammate, Madison Fisher. So last Last year when I was trying to figure out who all of my teammates were, I actually saw a post from Madison about the NAJRA show last year in Louisville, Kentucky. That's how I found out about the organization. Then I always knew that I wanted to intern at a junior national. Just wasn't really sure which one. I'm primarily a Simmental kid, so wanted to go into something similar, like go intern at a Simmental show or maybe an Angus more closely to what I raise. But I saw the opportunity to intern here, and part of the reason I wanted to so badly was because they added the Black Angus show. So I thought that would be a really good opportunity for me to not only branch out, but to also get back to my roots of what I raise. So that's why I decided to apply to be an intern.

[00:04:54.820] - Speaker 1

I grew up with Red Angus. I attended my first Junior Red Angus event in Oklahoma, actually, Stillwater, Oklahoma. And then I came back for Grand Island in 2019. So I have history with this show in particular, and the people and the message behind the show, which is do it for the kids, and it's all about the experience is really what stuck out to me. I love working with kids. I always have that went on through high school and even now into college. So I just wanted a way to give back to the people that helped me, especially when I was first starting out in my very first shows, which are still here with All these kids growing this show and making it even better than it was when I was younger.

[00:05:35.660] - Speaker 4

If you're interested in becoming an intern or know someone who would like to be an intern next year, links for the 2026 internship will be posted this fall on our website at najrae. Com. That is so awesome. I love to hear from all of you guys. We're going to go turn to our two newbies here. Tell me, what is your guys' favorite thing so far to have helped with and what is one thing you're most you're most excited for in the coming days? Ashley, you can start.

[00:06:05.380] - Speaker 3

Okay.

[00:06:06.160] - Speaker 2

So honestly, my favorite part so far has just been working with all of the junior members. I have had the opportunity to connect with some people from Oklahoma and get to know them a little better. And even though we're from the same state, haven't really interacted with them before. So it's been really fun to get to hang out with some people from my home state, but also meet people around the barns and get to talk to and especially the Peewees and the novices. That has been so much fun to interact with them. They're always having fun. They always have a smile on their face, and they're always up to no good sometimes. Sometimes they're just having a blast and they just have the most fun at this show. It's been really fun to see how everyone interacts with each other and how everyone's there to lend the helping hand. We've had kids that don't really have a team, but they need one. We've had all kinds of different kids come to the off and say, Well, I'll do a team event. If you guys can't find anyone else, I'll do it. I'll jump in and do it.

[00:07:06.660] - Speaker 2

Just opportunities like that and experiences like that really mean the most to me.

[00:07:12.660] - Speaker 4

That's awesome. Julie?

[00:07:15.000] - Speaker 1

Being the big little event, especially. Even when I was little, that was something that was really big in this event in particular. Coming in as a young kid, it is intimidating when you're with all these teenagers and young adults. The way that we pair up a little with a big just to blend everyone together and have those littles get more experience, more help, so they feel more comfortable around people is something really special here. That's been my absolute favorite thing to see.

[00:07:41.340] - Speaker 4

That is so awesome. I love it. All right, now we're going to turn over to our two returning girls. What would you two say has been your most memorable experience from last year? What made you like, Oh, my gosh, this is something that will stick with me forever?

[00:08:00.000] - Speaker 3

What a tough question.

[00:08:02.080] - Speaker 4

Hey, I get paid for the good questions. Okay. I'm just kidding.

[00:08:05.780] - Speaker 3

Go ahead, Paige.

[00:08:09.260] - Speaker 5

I would say one of my biggest memories from last year that's maybe a little different than a traditional answer would be, I was able to be at the announcement stand during the shows, and I ran that with Matt Griffith. If anyone knows Matt, you're going to have a good time. We really worked hard to be good DJs, and we're hoping we can get that revved up here the next couple of days for shows. That's probably one of the most memorable. But also, I've been able to see a couple of families from last year at different shows. Knowing that I can always go and talk to them and they'll make me feel like family is probably something I'll carry through the rest of my life.

[00:08:48.730] - Speaker 4

That is so awesome. All right, Ms. Lou, what you got?

[00:08:52.140] - Speaker 3

Well, I think one of my favorite parts from last year was just meeting all the different people that show up to this event. They have a lot of different backgrounds and are very knowledgeable about cattle or pretty much anything you ask them. There are so many smart people here. It's crazy. Learning a lot of stuff from them. Honestly, my favorite part was just meeting people and learning about them and how they're connected back to Najra and how they help all the youth that are involved in this organization. I think was probably my most memorable stuff was just seeing like, wow, this is not just a cattle show.

[00:09:31.440] - Speaker 4

I love it. I love all these answers. Well, we are so grateful that you guys are our interns this year, and we hope you guys return again, and same with you guys. Thank you all for all your help this week. That's the scoop on our 2025 interns. Until next time, keep leading with heart, working with grit, and lifting others along the way.