Months before Missouri State University purebred Hereford cattle enter the show ring, students are behind the scenes feeding, washing and walking them.

Journagan Ranch makes much of that work possible. In 2010, Leo Journagan and his family donated the 3,300-acre cattle operation to Missouri State. All show cattle are bred and raised on the ranch.

Since then, the Beef Cattle Show Team has represented the university at regional, state and national livestock shows. This summer, the show team competed at the Ozark Empire Fair and Missouri State Fair. While the cattle grow, so do the students caring for them.

For Garrett Kirk, team coach and farm operations manager, showing cattle also means representing Missouri State.

“You work for the brand and reputation. When you go in public, you’re the face of the team,” he said.

Taking care of the cattle

As of this year, Darr College of Agriculture students can apply for a show cattle internship for college credit and hands-on experience. For every credit earned, students complete 80 hours of work.

One of those students, Isabelle Miller, completed 240 hours this summer.

Miller grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. She discovered Missouri State’s animal science program while searching for a college. Two calving seasons on a ranch in Montana sparked her love for livestock.

Now a senior, she is building on that experience.

Each morning from 6:30-8 a.m., Miller worked at the Darr Agricultural Center. She fed, rinsed, blow-dried and walked the cattle selected for the fair show season. Her favorite task was practicing showmanship.

Showmanship is how competitors lead and present cattle in the ring. Miller practiced with Nelly, the heifer she showed, and the two formed a close bond. She even spent time lying beside Nelly and taking naps.

While Miller joined the team with livestock experience, not every student does. That makes coaching essential.

Kirk helps prepare students for the show ring.

He sees the most growth in students who join with little experience. Beyond showing cattle, they develop self-discipline, time management and teamwork.

“Students also learn how to have an open mind because there are different ways to accomplish the same goal,” Kirk said.

Finding success at the fairs

After months of preparation, show day starts before dawn. From as early as 4 a.m., students wash and dry the Herefords.

Next comes “fitting” the cattle. Students groom the animals and use products to shape and color their hair. They even style the tail hair into what Miller describes as a “mohawk.”

Kirk likes to call the process “playing cosmetology with cows.”

Once the cattle and students are ready, it’s game on.

At the Ozark Empire Fair from July 30-Aug. 8, one bull stood out. Dexter, shown by agriculture graduate student Grace Manning, earned Reserve Grand Champion. He first won his class before earning second place among all Hereford bulls. Dexter went on to earn Reserve Division Champion Hereford Bulls at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia from Aug. 13-23.

“This achievement shows the community that Journagan Ranch and Missouri State can raise good, quality animals,” Miller said.

According to Kirk, the titles validate the team’s hard work. The recognition can also draw more people to the ranch’s annual sale from Oct. 2-3.

More than a competition

The ribbons and titles are rewarding, but the experience goes beyond the show ring. Students spend hundreds of hours learning to care for livestock, work as a team and prepare for competition.

The cattle aren’t the only ones growing — the students are, too.

Kirk is proud of the team. He believes the reputation students build at the ranch will follow them after graduation.

“You’re not going to find a set of harder working students,” he said.

For Miller, that experience has already helped shape her future. She plans to pursue opportunities as a ranch manager and show team coach after graduating in May 2027.

She encourages other students to take advantage of the opportunity.

“Be willing to put in a lot of effort, jump in where needed and get your hands dirty — metaphorically and for real,” she said.

Learn more about Competitive Teams