There are a few memories in a person’s life that never fade. Moments are fleeting and feelings can dull with time, but I know I will never forget sitting ringside at the 2025 National Show next to all of my friends, in a room so quiet I could literally hear my own heartbeat, as the numbers in the Senior Showmanship class slowly dwindled.

The judges had worked their way to the top five. They motioned for fifth and fourth to fall into line. Then they made their third-place decision and turned their attention to the final two showmen. What felt like an hour passed as they studied, talked, and compared. Finally, one of the judges stepped toward the two girls, held up a number two… and then held up a number one in the direction of my friend Olivia, a number one.

And we absolutely lost our minds.

Our group of friends was screaming with pure glee. Some of us were jumping up and down. A few of us were crying real, happy tears. It wasn’t just excitement, it was pride. It was watching someone we love accomplish a goal she had been working toward for a very long time. It was seeing late nights, early mornings, setbacks, and perseverance all come together in one unforgettable moment.

That moment of pure joy and love, all for our friend, reminded me of something so important: success may look individual, but it is almost always built by a community.

That is why one of the most important choices you will ever make, in the show ring, in JABGA, and in life, is choosing who you surround yourself with. Finding your people. The ones who stand by you, believe in you, and inspire you to be better. Those people can truly make you unstoppable.

Finding your people doesn’t mean finding the biggest, coolest group or the loudest crowd (although if you’ve met my sister, you may not think that’s entirely true). It doesn’t mean surrounding yourself with people just because they are popular or successful. Finding your people means finding the ones who genuinely want to see you grow and succeed. The ones who tell you the truth, even when it’s hard. The ones who celebrate your wins like they are their own and sit beside you when things get tough.

Your people are the ones who remind you who you are when you start to forget. They see potential in you before you see it in yourself. They push you to raise your standards higher and higher. Sometimes growth feels uncomfortable. Sometimes being pushed feels frustrating. But the right people don’t push you to tear you down–they push you because they believe in what you are capable of becoming.

The people around you have an incredible amount of influence over your mindset, your attitude, and your confidence. When you surround yourself with people who work hard, set goals, show up even on the tough days, smile in the small moments, and laugh every chance they get, that energy becomes contagious.

In the livestock industry, it is easy to think of showing as an individual sport. You walk into the ring alone. But anyone who has ever been part of this industry knows that nothing about it is truly individual.

It takes families who sacrifice time and money. It takes friends who wash goats in fifteen-degree weather at 4:30 in the morning. It takes friends who answer late-night phone calls, early-morning texts, and way too many FaceTime calls. It takes barn families who celebrate your wins and remind you that you’re still capable after a loss. Behind every exhibitor is a team.

That team is what makes this industry special. It is what makes JABGA special. We compete against each other, but we also cheer for each other. We want to win, but we also want our friends to win. We understand the work it takes to get there, and because of that, we respect each other’s journeys.

Being unstoppable doesn’t mean you never struggle. It doesn’t mean you never fail. It doesn’t mean everything always goes your way. Being unstoppable means that when you fall, you have people who help you get back up. It means that when you feel discouraged, someone reminds you why you started. It means that when you start to doubt yourself, someone else believes enough for both of you.

I know I wouldn’t be half the person I am without my friends and show family. They make the hard days easier, in and out of the barn. They make the wins sweeter and the losses easier to handle. They push me to be better, and they never — and I mean never — fail to put a smile on my face or laughter in my heart.

So to my people: Brian, Addy, Lyndsay, Jason, Handley, Haelynn, Mandy, Nathan, Addie, Debbie, Missy, Matt, Olivia, and so many more to count, thank you. I am forever grateful to call you my friends.

Thank you for being my biggest supporters, my loudest cheerleaders, and my constant reminders of what is possible.

Find your people. Hold onto them. Be there for them. Grow with them.

Because when you do, your life becomes elyte.