July 24, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Holly Martin, director of communications

816-383-5143

hmartin@angus.org

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Cutline: The Tom Well’s family presents Jayce Dickerson of Paradise, Kansas, the 2024 Herdsman of the Year award, along with a belt buckle and scholarship in his memory, at the National Junior Angus Show on July 5 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dickerson receives Tom Wells Junior Herdsman Scholarship

Kansas junior receives 2024 Junior Herdsman of the Year

Jayce Dickerson describes a herdsman as someone who can “talk cattle” confidently, puts in the work at home and is willing to share their knowledge with others. He proved to exemplify these qualities himself, as he was named the 2024 Junior Herdsman of the Year during the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 5, in Madison, Wisconsin.

“It’s just been a goal forever,” he said. “To get that award and to know that all of the juniors vote on it makes it even better.”

The award recognizes an outstanding member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) in their final year of eligibility. Individuals must display a strong work ethic, dedication to their animals and exhibit skills in preparing their animals for the show ring. 

This year, the award climbed to a new level of prestige. After Tom Wells, an iconic name in the industry and supporter of the NJAA, lost a battle to cancer last year, his family established the Tom Wells Junior Herdsman Scholarship to pair with the belt buckle the award winner receives. The 2024 scholarship was presented in the amount of $500.

“The Wells family was very active and supportive during their time in the NJAA,” said Jaclyn Boester, executive director of the Angus Foundation. “It is a huge honor to remember Tom in this way and for the Wells family to give back to the organization.”

Wells’ career in the breed was marked with many accolades and leadership roles. He was recognized in 1976 as the Herdsman of the Year, was a member of the Texas Angus Association Board of Directors and served as an advisor for the Texas Junior Angus Association.

“We contacted [Jaclyn] after he passed and wanted to do some kind of endowment,” said Merridee Wells, Tom’s wife. “It is a great way to honor him, as well as highlight something that he was very passionate about.”

Dickerson exhibits the same passion Wells had for the breed. The 21-year-old currently works on his family’s ranch in Paradise, Kansas, where they run about 900 head of cattle. His duties include managing the animals’ nutrition plan, feeding, doctoring and haying.

Written by Megan Silveira, Angus Journal

About the National Junior Angus Association

The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle while also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for more than 4,500 active members nationwide.

About the Angus Foundation 

Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth, and research. The organization has distributed more than $4.2 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research in the past decade.  

For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100. 

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.