Junior Spotlight

An Interview with Jacob Ellerbusch, Stephenville, TX

We’d like to introduce you to a successful young man in the National Junior Wagyu Association, Jacob Ellerbusch. Jacob is the owner of Canvas Cattle Ranch located in Weatherford, Texas. He is currently at Tarleton University majoring in Animal Science with an emphasis in science. He has plans to go into embryology and work at a large animal reproduction facility, while raising Wagyu. Jacob is very involved at Tarleton University. He is the Chaplin of his fraternity house, running for student government, participates as a Tarleton Transition Mentor and is proud of his Faith. In June, Jacob will be doing an internship in Sweetwater, Texas doing embryo transfers and bull semen collection.

While Jacob has only been a junior member since 2020, he has been a cattle showman and breeder for 7 years. When asked how he got into the Wagyu breed he explained that he started saving at age 5 because he “always wanted to own cattle and be a first-generation cattleman.” Jacob shared a story of how he met an AWA member, leading him to his first Wagyu investment. Jacob’s mom was a wedding vendor for flowers and when a future bride and her father came to discuss flowers, Jacob ended up talking about Wagyu. He met Les Patterson who offered Jacob his first heifer calf. She was a Red Angus and Wagyu cross. He showed her at a show once and has produced 5 bull calves and a heifer. With the profits he has gained from selling those animals, he bought a Fullblood heifer from Les. Jacob now has 2 fullbloods and several crosses in his herd.

When asked what he likes most about the breed he said, “I love the genetics in Wagyu, and the standard of Wagyu is first class. It is so driven by genetics and is really intriguing especially because I am a Reproduction Major. Improving the breed is a goal of mine.”

Jacob also expressed that being a breeder is important to him, he went on to say, “I worked my whole life to run my own cattle and Wagyu opened that door for me and still be profitable means a lot.”

Jacob said that he loves talking to people and networking. His advice to other junior members is to find a way to get involved, bounce ideas off people and build relationships. Jacob is thriving in this industry, and the American Wagyu Association wishes him the best of luck for all that is to come in his future.

An Interview with Kaitlin Lavender, Fort Worth, TX

We’d like to introduce you to a successful young woman in the National Junior Wagyu Association, Kaitlin Lavender. She is the owner of KDL Energy Enterprises LLC, located in Fort Worth, Texas. Kaitlin is currently a Junior, graduating as a Senior next semester after only 2 years at Tarleton State University. She is pursuing a degree in Animal Science Production. In May she will begin an internship at Natural Resources Conservation Services and upon graduation, she will start a career as a Soil Conservationist for the company. Kaitlin told us all the things she has been involved in throughout her college years such as the Texas Farm Bureau and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Through this opportunity, she has been to four conferences and competed in the Collegiate Discussion Meet. If you ask Kaitlin, her favorite things to get involved with are public education, public outreach, and talking about agriculture.

Originally, she told us her cattle breed of choice was Longhorns, and she had a heifer named Lucy, who she later bred to a Wagyu bull! In 2020, after the lockdown hit and she couldn’t go to any shows, she was referred to get into Wagyu by her dad’s friend, Les Patterson! This is how her journey in the Junior Association started. She got a Farm Service Agency Loan, and the rest is history. We asked Kaitlin what her favorite thing about Wagyu was and she said, “They are very sweet and eat out of my hand. I have a Wagyu x Holstein heifer and she is like a puppy!”

When asked what being a cattle owner and producer means to her, she told us she is passionate about teaching all things agriculture, such as how to give vaccines, discussing feed programs, and letting people get to know her animals’ demeanor up close at her house. She loves the feeling of knowing her animals were raised right, and she is contributing to maintaining the land they are raised on. When discussing where the breed of our beloved Wagyu may be going, she said she has noticed the Dairy crosses and F1’s of any kind are getting more popular, as well as, that the label on meat packaging matters since Wagyu is a hot commodity. Kaitlin’s message to the other Junior members is this, “Networking opportunities through the association is very beneficial, breeders give great advice, respond quickly to questions, and help others out.”

It goes without saying that Kaitlin is thriving in this industry, and we wish her the best of luck for all that is to come in her future!

An Interview with Kylie Siddoway, College Station, TX

We’d like to introduce you to an impressive young woman in the National Junior Wagyu Association, Kylie Siddoway, owner of Lazy SK Ranch ,located in Oregon. Kylie is currently a Junior but graduating early from Texas A&M University majoring in Agricultural Leadership &
Development with a minor in Business. She will be starting her Master’s Program in Marketing Analytics in the fall of 2024 and is currently an intern for Anipro Xtraformance Nutrition. Even though Kylie has only been a Junior member since May of 2023, she told us that her dad has
owned Wagyu since 2008 and that she and her brothers individually had the choice to own any breed and at just 12 years old, she chose Wagyu. She got a registered cow and heifer, and now is the proud owner of 67 Registered Wagyu, 37 of which she bought this past summer.

Her background in Agriculture is also impressive, she told us in high school she was her FFA Chapter President and Vice President of the Eastern Oregon District and participated in High School Rodeo; as well as showed cutting horses. She showed “Bella”, a Registered
Wagyu heifer through 4-H and FFA in 2015-2016; her main reason for showing Wagyu wasthat she “wanted to be different from everyone else”. When asked what she liked most about Wagyu, Kylie said they are interesting from a genetic and meat product standpoint and completely different from other cattle breeds referring to marbling. Kylie told us she is glad thatmore people are “seeing the value of Wagyu” and the growth of people utilizing Wagyu in their herds is exciting.

Something that Kylie said that really stuck with us is when asked “What does being a cattle owner and breeder meant to you,” she replied with, “I always wanted to be a part of feeding America.” She went on to say she has always loved helping people and the traditional lifestyle, the lifestyle she grew up in is, “the best kind of life”. I think we can all agree with that! Kylie’s advice to the younger generation, if you are thinking of joining the Junior Association is this, “Everyone I have met has been more than willing to help me and goes out of their way to do it”.

It’s safe to say Kylie is a thriving cattlewoman in this industry and we wish her the best of luck for all that is to come in her bright future!

An Interview with Rachael Mendelsohn, Wesley Chapel, FL

We’d like to introduce you to one of our shining National Junior Wagyu Association members, Rachael Mendelsohn of Circle M Ranch. Rachael is a York peppermint patty and chocolate loving 13-year-old from Florida involved in competitive cheerleading, Varsity Golf and Tennis, and plays the violin. Not only that, but she is President of her schools’ National Junior Honor Society Chapter, shows Mini Rex rabbits and Old English Bantum chickens, and of course runs her Wagyu ranch with her family.

In our spotlight interview, Rachael told us the story of how she and her family got into the Wagyu business. It’s a story sure to make you smile! They bought their ranch in 2020 on 75 acres with 15 head of Angus cows. Rachael wanted to add in some colored cattle, so they quickly branched out from their original herd. Soon after, they started researching what is on the inside of cattle and what’s important – the meat. They heard about and became very interested in this “new and trendy” breed called “Wagyu” and chose to pursue it. She bought 2 cows to start and went with her dad, Lane, to get them. Over time they sold their Angus to buy more Wagyu. Rachael said, “We wanted one more, and then two more, and then more and more.” It’s safe to say Rachael loves her Registered Fullblood herd!

Rachael told us, “I love looking out and seeing my beautiful Wagyu cows and the landscape. It is so cool being a part of the process of beef especially and growing your own food and seeing how the meat economy works.” She told us a story of how her family to went to a restaurant and she asked the server if they knew the genetics behind the Wagyu – she is a girl who knows her stuff! She told us she enjoys knowing where her Wagyu comes from and which genetics they are.

Rachael also has amazing goals for her future. She specifically states she loves, “…having more knowledge and informing others and bragging about Wagyu!” One day she wants to be in house counsel for a company and is confident she will be a Wagyu breeder/owner “forever”! Her answer for what she would say to other kids thinking of joining the National Junior Wagyu Association; “You have to want to be a part of something and learn more.” She went on the say, “If you want it, you can be in it, and if you want to be in it, you can thrive in it.” It’s safe to say Rachael is taking her own advice and is thriving too.

Good luck to Rachael in all her endeavors!

An Interview with Jaye Collier, Boonville, IN

Jaye Collier, Boonville, IN, is a student at Oklahoma State University. She joined the National Junior Wagyu Association in 2022 after she spent a summer at Dr. Jerry Reeves' farm as an intern. She previously had no experience as a farm hand or even Wagyu. "I was really nervous", she said, "but Jerry really took his time in teaching me. He was very patient."

Jaye worked with Wagyu throughout the summer and learned a lot about the breed. She admittedly knew nothing about the breed before her internship. "I had never really been around Wagyu." She said. During her time at the Bar R farm in the summer, she was exposed to the full range of operations at a cattle farm. She started to feel more comfortable in the agriculture world and in the environment. "I feel like I can have really educated conversations with people about agriculture". She said. "Jerry made sure we were always learning."

Her outlook on Wagyu now? "They are so friendly and hardy. They are just so content." Her thoughts on the future of Wagyu, "The breed is going to grow a lot. It could also influence the show world too. I think the show world can be more meat focused and Wagyu will help it move that way."

We are so happy to have caught up with Jaye and wish her well on her future endeavors in the Ag industry and as a NJWA member!