More Than Just Another Fundraiser: Building Opportunity, One Junior at a Time
- PacWest Showman
- Dec 21
- 3 min read
By the Oregon Junior Shorthorn Association
If you’ve spent any time in the livestock show world, you already understand this truth: fundraisers are the quiet engine behind everything we do.
Organizations like 4-H, FFA, and junior breed associations don’t operate on good intentions alone. They’re built on early mornings, long days in the barn, countless volunteer hours, community support, and yes—fundraising. Without it, there are no fitting clinics, no leadership conferences, no scholarships, no contests, and no trips to state fair or junior nationals. Fundraising is what turns a good idea into a real opportunity for young livestock exhibitors.
🐂 A Rebuilding Season for the Oregon Junior Shorthorn Association
For the Oregon Junior Shorthorn Association (OJSA), fundraising isn’t just important—it’s foundational. After being inactive for over a decade, OJSA is rebuilding from the ground up.
There was no guidebook passed down, no leftover funds, and limited direction to follow. What does exist? A motivated group of juniors, committed leadership, and a shared belief in the future of the Shorthorn breed. The goals are ambitious. The vision is inclusive. The membership reflects the diversity found across today’s show barns. But like every successful youth livestock program, none of it moves forward without community support.
🎯 A Place for Every Junior, A Path for Every Goal
As both a past member and current director, watching these juniors walk into the barn with different goals has been one of the most rewarding parts of the OJSA journey.
Some want to experience everything the livestock industry has to offer—leadership conferences, national shows, judging contests, and long-lasting friendships. Others focus on local jackpots and state fairs, refining their showmanship and cattle skills. And some just want to try something new, halter a calf for the first time, or see if this lifestyle fits them.
At OJSA, we stand firmly by our motto: “A place for every junior.” That belief shapes our fundraising approach. Because when your members have different goals, your fundraising needs to be flexible enough to support them all.
💡 Fundraising Teaches More Than Dollars and Cents
Finding fundraising ideas that actually work—and haven’t already been worn out—is a challenge that every youth livestock group understands. Add in coordinating members across Oregon and Washington, and the task becomes even more complex.
But that’s where the real growth begins.
Fundraising teaches:
Communication with breeders, businesses, and community members
Accountability and organization
Public speaking and leadership skills
How to work as a team toward a shared goal
These life skills matter just as much as what juniors learn in the show ring. As directors, we could easily map out plans and execute fundraisers ourselves—but that’s not the point. This is their opportunity to lead, learn, and build something of their own.
🗣️ Before You Scroll Past That Fundraiser Post…
The next time you see a junior livestock fundraiser online or at an event, don’t scroll past. Ask them why they’re fundraising.
What are you working toward this year?
What will this help you do?
What goals are you excited about?
You might be surprised by how focused and thoughtful their answers are. Even the youngest showmen—yes, the pee-wees can blow you away with their passion and determination when they believe in what they’re doing.
❤️ We've All Been There
So the next time you catch yourself thinking, “Not another fundraiser…” pause for a moment.
You were once that junior. You were learning to ask, to plan, to dream bigger. Someone supported you—maybe with a donation, maybe with advice, maybe just by listening.
For youth in agriculture, fundraising isn’t just about dollars raised. It’s about confidence built. It’s about doors opened. It’s about proving that yes—there is a place for every junior in the livestock show world.
And for organizations like OJSA, it’s not just how the lights stay on. It’s how the next generation gets their start.
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