ABOUT THE EVENT
LEADIN' FOR A CURE
In 2017, American Hereford Association staff and friends held the first Leadin' for a Cure – a joint effort with the Department of Philanthropy at Children's Mercy Kansas City. The goal of the event is to make a difference for kids suffering from Cancer and Crohn’s Disease and now eight years later, more than $25,000 has been generated to support the Gastroenterolgy Operations Fund at Children’s Mercy.
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We hope you can meet us in Missouri for Leadin’ For a Cure hosted with the NW Missouri Prospect Group.
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10780 Liv 235, Chillicothe, MO 64601
2025 JUDGES
JON SWEENEY
Cedarville, Ohio
Steer & Heifer RIng 1 Judge
Jon Sweeney, Cedarville, Ohio
Leadin' For a Cure welcomes Jon Sweeney, Cedarville, Ohio, to judge the steers and heifers in Ring 1.
Sweeney is a senior beef sales representative at Elanco Animal Health and has been with them for nine years. He is a graduate of Iowa State University where he received his agriculture business degree in 2011.
Currently he lives his wife Kayla, and their family in Ohio, where they raise Angus cattle.
RYAN JOHNSON
Mitchell, S.D.
Steer & Heifer RIng 2 Judge
Ryan Johnson, Mitchell, S.D.
Ryan Johnson is the owner/operator of RJ Cattle Co., alongside his wife Samantha and their young son Rhett. They run a first-class operation from top to bottom, emphasizing helping junior exhibitors at ALL LEVELS excel both in and out of the showring.
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2023 was a big year for RJ Cattle Company, including the 2023 Supreme Champion Heifer at NAILE and the American Royal and the 2023 Best of the Barns, Best Cattle Operation.
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Ryan has judged at multiple national shows across the country including NAILE and the American Royal, and we're excited to have him joining us in Chillicothe.
KANE AEGERTER
Kansas City, Mo.
Showmanship Judge
Kane Aegerter, Kansas City, Mo.
Originally from Seward, Neb., Kane Aegerter has recently taken on the role as director of seedstock marketing for the American Hereford Association. Previously he served as a beef sales specialist at Boviteq and completed two summer internships with the company.
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Growing up Aegerter was highly involved in the American Shorthorn Association, helping to manage Aegerter Cattle Co., a seedstock Shorthorn operation, and Aegerter Marketing Services, a family-owned sale management business, since 2014.
He grew up exhibiting cattle and served on the American Junior Shorthorn Association board of directors. Kane has a passion for the next generation and has judged showmanship at a national level, including the Junior National Hereford Expo, the Blackout 8, the South Dakota Summer Spotlight and more.