Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association Announces New Intern

The Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association (CICA) is pleased to announce Morgan Young of Loma, Colorado as the 2016 recipient of the the Joel Franz Memorial Internship.  Ms.  Young will receive $1,000 for her internship and invaluable experience and insight into the cattle industry.

Young’s Colorado ranching roots run deep in Paradox Valley where her family’s cow calf operation was started in the late 1800’s and continues today.  She purchased her own cow calf pair when when she turned 12 years old and has maintained a small herd since.  At the age of 10, she began raising and selling market steers from her family’s herd, winning many Grand and Reserve Championships at the Mesa County Fair.   Her passion for market steers led her to participate in the National Western Stock Show Catch-A-Calf.  It was there in 2011 that she won the Reserve Grand Champion Catch-A-Calf.  A request for her to volunteer the following year at the National Western, inspired her to become a 4-H leader for the Loma County 4-H Club.  She continues to help others pursue their dreams and goals by offering free beef clinics for all Mesa County kids each summer.

As a Fruita Monument High School student, Morgan was active in FFA and played varsity softball.  Following graduation, she attended Lamar Community College, studying General Agriculture while playing on the college’s softball team.  There she received the honor of Outstanding Freshman Student of the year in 2014, becoming a Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society member the same year.  Currently an Animal Science major at West Texas A&M University, Young plans to enter the Animal Science Master’s program in the fall of 2017 with an emphasis in Feeder Cattle Nutrition or Cattle Immunology.  She will be inducted to the West Texas A&M University Honors Society (the National Society for Leadership and Success) and is involved in the university’s Block and Bridle and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow clubs.

Her career plans are undecided at the moment, but she is leaning towards becoming a nutritionist or sale representative for a feed company or a nutritionist for a Colorado feedlot.  Ultimately, she would like to own a feed store in Fruita, Colorado and continue her family’s cattle operation.

A brilliant student, leader and advocate for the beef industry, the CICA is excited to welcome Morgan as the 2016 Joel Franz Memorial intern.  Her enthusiasm and work ethic will well serve and represent Colorado producers who proudly raise American beef and feed our nation.