06/10/2026
⚾ Put me in, coach!
The future of the game starts here. We’re proud to welcome an outstanding lineup of leaders to the 2026 NJAS National Junior Angus Association Showmanship Contest ring! Leading off theis steller line up is our Novice and Junior judges, Cole and Shirley Kaufman.
Cole Kaufman – Livingston, Tennessee: Cole Kaufman of Livingston, Tennessee, grew up in Staunton, Virginia, where he was active in showing Angus and Hereford cattle and competing in livestock judging through 4-H and FFA. He continued judging at Northeastern Oklahoma College, earning an associate degree in animal science while competing on a top-ranked national team, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in agricultural business from the University of Tennessee.
Today, Cole manages Oakley Farms, an Angus show cattle operation that hosts three annual sales and has exhibited nationally competitive females. He also judges shows across the country and is dedicated to mentoring junior exhibitors in the show ring.
Shirley Kaufman – Mount Sidney, Virginia: Shirley of Mount Sidney, Virginia, grew up on a diversified farm in Manitoba, Canada, and earned degrees in animal science from North Dakota State and South Dakota State Universities. She has spent over 30 years as an agriculture instructor at Buffalo Gap High School. A dedicated youth mentor, she has coached Augusta County 4-H livestock teams for 35 years and led numerous FFA teams across a wide range of competitions. She remains actively involved in agricultural education through hands-on projects, maintaining Angus cattle and supervising school livestock programs, impacting generations of young agricultural leaders.
