Twenty-two-year-old Quinn Carter, of Haines City, Florida, not only is an active member of the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA), she is, also, a student at the University of Florida. She is pursuing a degree in food resources and economics. Quinn has been an IJBBA member for eight years. Her future plans include staying in the agricultural community, and she is considering a future in animal nutrition.

Quinn’s involvement with the Brangus breed started when she was in high school, and she became involved with FFA. She started showing pigs and poultry. After her first county fair Quinn knew she wanted to start showing cattle. Her family had raised commercial cattle up until that point. A friend and neighbor, Lindsey, had a family who raised and showed Brangus. Carter’s journey with Brangus cattle began when they offered to take her to a Brangus show.

“By the end of the night, I was walking calves into the show ring,” Quinn said, “and that was the moment I developed a love for not just showing, but for the Brangus breed. I came home that night and asked my parents if I could show Brangus and two weeks later I bought my first bull. It wasn’t long when my dad sold all our commercial cattle and I replaced them with registered Brangus.”

The Carter homestead is a family-owned operation. “Both of my parents have sacrificed to take me to several Brangus events and shows,” Quinn mentioned. “I have two older brothers that help me at home working the ranch. Me and my family are involved with Southeast Brangus Breeders Association, and both of my parents are on the Southeast Regional Junior Brangus Show (SRJBS) board.”

Over the years as a Brangus breeder, Quinn built her herd to not only suit the show ring, but to, also, produce in the pasture. “I have learned so much in, and out of, the show ring with my cattle, but now I’m eager to help the juniors,” Quinn said. “I have enjoyed helping the southeast juniors the past four years and watching them grow. I hope to be the role model that my predecessors have been for me and to keep representing and supporting the juniors as they continue to achieve great things.”

An anonymous spectator at the 2017 SRJBS said, “This young lady was such a delight to watch. Not only did she take care of her own animals, but I watched her help other kids showing. I met a gentleman who said this was his grandson’s first time showing, and this young lady helped him more in that short time than he did all summer at home. She helped the adults who were putting on the show and just made an impression on me that I won’t forget.”

Quinn’s favorite junior program event that she participated in was the board’s attendance at the annual Houston Livestock show. “It’s a stressful few days for us with working the show and selling tickets for the Legacy heifer,” Quinn commented, “but even with all the craziness that can happen during our time there, the Junior Board always knew how to make the best of it.”

Carter recalls her IJBBA experiences fondly. “My time on the junior board the last four years was a time I will always remember and cherish,” she said. “I learned a lot about the cattle industry and met many people who have impacted my life. I got to experience many things, such as traveling, being part of an amazing group and making many friends. I got to advertise the Brangus breed and support our juniors in many levels, but the one thing I am most proud of is the growth of our junior association within the southeast and at NJBS.”

“My advice to the juniors in the show ring is to have fun. My time showing, I always stressed about making a mistake or my cow not cooperating with me. At the end of the day, winning or losing, take a second, even if it’s while you are washing your cows or in the makeup arena,” Quinn advised, “take a moment to breathe, and enjoy that you have great cattle, friends and family in and out of the show ring and enjoy it.”

“My advice [regarding participation in IJBBA] is don’t be afraid to take chances.” Quinn added, “I’ve always felt that helping the kids at any event has always been a good way to be a mentor. If you really want to get involved as a junior, apply for the junior board. It’s a great way to be involved. You get the opportunity to travel, meet Brangus breeders, promote the Brangus breed and the junior organizations. During my time as a director, I hope I was able to leave an everlasting impression, with not only the breeders, but the junior exhibitors that I met, as well. I may no longer be a director or a junior exhibitor, but I will always be a supporter to the junior programs.”

Some of Quinn’s other hobbies include being a member of the Polk County Cattlewomen’s Association, Florida Cattlewomen’s Association, Polk County Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and Florida Junior Cattlemen’s Association.

Quinn stays very busy with her involvement with different organizations and committees. Currently, Quinn is the chair on the Florida State Fair Beef Committee for the Brangus breed. She, also, serves on the Polk County Youth Fair Steer Committee.

“I met Quinn Carter for the first time at the old [International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA)] office in 2015, she was the IJBBA president at the time,” said Dianne Parker, of Parker Brangus. “I was very impressed with how she conducted herself in a very professional and respectful manner that made me proud of our future IBBA breeders. I saw her again in Houston, March 2016, Quinn conducted herself in a very professional and respectful manner, as well as her appearance. I am very proud of Quinn and her accomplishments to the point of having her come show my cattle at Arizona Nationals in December 2017. She is a young lady that is very driven and will be successful in everything she decides to do through out her life.”

“We have often heard that leadership is about unlocking someone’s potential to become better, and that is exactly what I think of when I hear Quinn Carter’s name,” says former IJBBA president, Laura Lee Taylor. “She is by-far one of the most ‘go-getter’ IJBBA members that I have seen in a very long time. She is persistent, hard-working, and looks for ways to move the ball forward and accomplish goals for the greater good. She loves the kids, and the kids love her. Quinn’s leadership is one of the reasons I wanted my eight-year-old daughter to get involved in the IJBBA; not to mention, Quinn would send me letters about sponsoring the National Junior Brangus Show that finally prompted me to get back involved. Quinn is a great role model and has definitely left her mark and legacy on the IJBBA, Brangus breed, and beef industry, and she is one that you positively want to replicate.”

 

This “Junior Member Spotlight” is comprised of interview feedback from Quinn Carter, quotes from Dianne Parker, Laura Lee Taylor, and an anonymous source. IBBA’s Yvonne “Bonnie” Ramirez compiled these sources.

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