Limi Boosters Latest
A New Perspective
By Julie Ochsner, Limi Boosters president
Sometimes when we listen
closely to the perspective
of our NALJA members,
the reasons why we do
the things we do, become
perfectly clear. After a recent
experience at school, here are
some thoughts my middle
child posted on Facebook.
“A couple of days ago, a teacher
of mine had a question on the
board that every person in
the class had to answer. It was
nothing new, she had written
this to check attendance, but
this question stopped me in
my tracks. “If you could be a
different person for a day, who
would you be?” While many
before me had clever answers,
I couldn’t think of one reason
why I would want to be anyone
else. Now, I’m not saying my
life is perfect because most
days it feels like every plan
goes haywire. And, it’s not that
I don’t look at people around
me and think, why can’t I be
like them, because after all,
I am a high school girl. But, I
honestly do LOVE my life. A
big part of this is because I
have found something in the
agriculture industry that fills
me with pure joy and gives me
purpose. Because I have grown
up in the agriculture industry,
I wake up each morning
knowing I have something
to look forward to, someone
within the industry to look up
to and something that few are
blessed with. Growing up in the
cattle industry, you get unique
and exclusive opportunities.
You get to watch life begin at
calving time, your hard work
pay-off during weaning time
and your goals achieved when
those calves become mature
cows and bulls. You get to be
in junior breed associations,
4-H and FFA. The goal of these
organizations is to encourage
you to grow and become the
person you are supposed to be.
Success is not focused on your
GPA or your popularity, but
instead the focus is on helping
kids grow and learn through
experiences, the most valuable
way to learn. Industry leaders
are your teachers and your
friends are your classmates.
These friendships are built on
long hauls, intense card games
and a mutual set of values
that are second-to-none. To
sum up what I’m trying to say,
I am proud to be involved in
production agriculture and
all the opportunities and
friendships it has blessed me
with. Thank you to my parents
and family that have raised
me around cows, thank you to
those who have gone before
me and thank you, Jesus, for
letting me live the life I do!”
What a different world we would
live in if we could help every
young person in America find
something to do that fills them
with pure joy and gives them
purpose! While that seems like
a huge task, we can all certainly
start by helping those in our
circle of influence. The purpose
of the Limi Boosters is to do
just that, by supporting our
NALJA members with college
scholarships and through
positive activities like the beef
cook-off contest at the national
junior show. I’m thankful for
everyone in our Limousin family
that joins us in this noble cause.
During this season of
Thanksgiving, I’m forever
grateful our children have had
the opportunity to be NALJA
members. They are blessed to
have had many of you serve as
their mentors, role models and
encouragers over the years. You
are the people they look up to.
May you enjoy a wonderful
Thanksgiving celebration
with family and friends! I
LIMOUSIN Today | 47