Thursday, June 7, 2012

Thankful Thursday - Mentors

I have been wanting to do a weekly installment for quite sometime now. With my rededication to blogging and trying to do a better job at it, I thought this would be the perfect time. And then one day I came across this photo....



Then it dawned on me. Thankful. I will be the first to admit that sometimes I don't express what I am thankful for enough. But everyday, no matter what happened in your day or what your mood might be, we can find something we are thankful for. Sometimes its something serious and sometimes its something silly or even material. People, places, and even things that make our life a little easier or a little better.

So, for the first installment of Thankful Thursday.... (drum roll, please)

MENTORS

Aside from my wonderful parents, I feel very fortunate to have grown up in an industry that provided me some great mentors to look up to over the years. A few weeks ago, Drew and I had the opportunity to work with and learn from my biggest mentor over the years.



For as long as I can remember I have admired Christy Collins. Her photographs are known for capturing beautiful cattle and ads make a great statement. I always wanted to be just like her. As a young girl, I e-mailed Christy asking her for advice on how to get to where she was. She wrote me back discussing her career path, and her self-taught ways of photography and advertising. I was so appreciative that she took time for a young girl like me. Therefore, when presented the opportunity to attend a cattle marketing seminar featuring her - my bags were packed. As a group of young ladies talked about Christy's career at dinner one evening, you could quickly pick up that she was admired by many. Being a lady in the cattle industry was not always the easiest business to enter. Christy was a pioneer for women to be successful and respected in the cattle industry, and for that we are all forever thankful to her.



Some of you might know that Crystal (Young) Blin and I met at the 2000 Simmental Junior Nationals, but our dads have been friends for quite some time. Crystal has made quite the name for herself when she came to the U.S. to judge, then onto the American Angus Association, and now at SureChamp. Of course, she is quite the successful blogger with Crystal Cattle. Though Crystal is only a few years older than me, I consider her a mentor. If I have questions about blogging or videoing, she is always willing to help out any way she can. Her strong advocacy for the cattle industry and for agriculture are easy to admire. I value her friendship so much on both a personal and professional level.

In today's society many young girls look to celebrities as a mentor. I am lucky that the cattle industry has provided two women who are influential on both my personal life and professional career. No matter who your mentor might be, they will appreciate it if you let them know the significance they have had on your life.

What are you thankful for today?

2 comments:

  1. You are too sweet. I think the best part about us being friends is that we have learned a lot from each other. I would say as young business/agriculturists you and Drew are certainly making your mark.

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