When Tom Wells entered the first National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest at the age of 14, there were no stadium lights, hype music or grandstands. No, that first event was held out on a horse racetrack, in an open field surrounded by trees. 

Two years later, Wells came back again to compete. 

“He was maybe the only person that ever showed twice,” adds Merridee Wells, Tom’s wife. 

She jokingly says the Association then passed the “Tom Wells rule,” where it was outlined that National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members could only represent their state in the contest one time. 

It’s just one of many stories that showcases Tom’s rich history with The Business Breed. He spent his life, before and after marrying Merridee, serving the beef industry.  As breeders, Tom and Merridee appreciated what the Angus cow could do. As parents, they were touched by what the Association has done to help their children grow and succeed. As individuals, they were determined to give back to the breed. 

Sadly, Tom lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last year. 

“We contacted [Jaclyn Boester] after he passed and wanted to do some kind of endowment,” Merridee explains. 

They came up with the opportunity to add a $500 scholarship award to pair with the Junior Herdsman of the Year award, announced at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS).  The award is now called the Tom Wells Junior Herdsman of the Year. 

“It is a huge honor to remember Tom in this way and for the Wells family to give back to the organization,” says Boester, executive director of the Angus Foundation. 

For the Wells family, it’s exactly what Tom would have wanted. 

“We said we wanted to sponsor some award at the junior show. We felt like that would be the best use of our funds,” Merridee says. “You recognize how important the junior Association has become to kids, particularly that are moving out of the juniors and into college. We felt like that was certainly a worthy thing to do.” 

The start of something great

When Jayce Dickerson’s name was announced in Madison, Wis., July 5 during the Awards Premier at the 2024 NJAS, the Kansas junior was actually doing just what he says a herdsman should be known for — working hard. 

“I was taking [cattle] out to tie outs,” he explains. A friend was playing the livestream on her phone, “So I heard my name called, but I wasn’t up there.” 

When he arrived ringside, Merridee and the Wells family were waiting with smiles. 

“I was so tickled that Jayce won,” she says. 

For the 21-year-old himself, he remembers the moment with a deep sense of pride. 

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

NJAA members in their last year of eligibility are voted on by their peers, selected for their work ethic, dedication to their animals and ability to prepare their animals for the showring.  As Dickerson revels in the gratitude he feels, there’s a few people he thanks for helping shape him into the type of young man worthy of the herdsman award. 

“It’s always been my mother and I doing all the work and putting in all the effort to get to where I’m at today…being successful in the showring and out of the showring,” he says, naming mom, Stephanie, as his biggest role model. 

Friends Brad and Cindy Worthington are also given a callout. 

“Ever since I’ve met them, they’ve always been teaching me new things,” Dickerson says. 

Looking forward to his years outside of the NJAA, Dickerson has hopes to serve in the same role for other juniors. 

“There were always some people that I grew up around that were always real passionate about teaching me, so I figure that it’s my time to step in,” he explains. 

Dickerson currently works at home on the family ranch but expresses a deep interest in continuing their show barn. As he sells show prospects to other young cattlemen and women, the Angus enthusiast hopes to offer his own advice to push them to success. 

For now, he offers this advice to up and coming leaders in the NJAA:

“You’ve got to just go around and help the kids out,” he says. “Whether that’s helping them lead a heifer out to tie outs or tailing them to the wash rack, just always being nice to everyone around you.” 

And that’s advice that Tom would have agreed with.