American Royalty: Katie Jarboe and Charlotte Jackson
by Rebecca Lewis, posted Oct. 20, 2008
For 109 years people have been flocking to Kansas City, Mo., for the American Royal. During the 2008 American Royal, 10 college students from around the Midwest gathered in Kansas City to promote the American Royal and agriculture through the Royal Ten program.
MU and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources was fortunate enough to have two recipients for the 2008 Royal Ten program, Katie Jarboe and Charlotte Jackson.
The Royal Ten, an American Royal sponsored program is designed to provide college students interested in agriculture an opportunity to promote agriculture, leadership and the American Royal. Each selected individual receives a $2,500 scholarship.
"The Royal Ten collegiate leadership and scholarship program is just one of the many programs the American Royal sponsors in order to invest in our young people committed to agricultural excellence," said Al Davis, manager of education at the American Royal, in a recent press release.
Katie Jarboe is a junior majoring in agricultural economics-public policy. Jarboe is from Gallatin, Mo., and comes from an agricultural background. She grew up being involved in FFA, 4-H and showed swine for many years.
Jarboe is an active CAFNR student. She is the president of the MU Ag Econ Club and Mizzou Collegiate Farm Bureau Vice President. Jarboe is also a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority and Alpha Zeta Honor Fraternity.
Jarboe is honored to be a member of the Royal Ten.
"It's a great opportunity to educate others about agriculture and realize how vital the American Royal is to agriculture education throughout the United States," Jarboe said.
At the beginning of October, the Royal Ten group gathered in Kansas City for the 29th Annual American Royal BBQ. Jarboe, Jackson and the others spent time organizing the World Series of Barbeque competition and also were able to help with the kids barbecue competition.
Jarboe also had the task of handing out coupons for the Concert of Dancing Horses. The handler’s horse was more than 17 hands tall and “had more rhythm than I do,” said Jarboe.
Charlotte Jackson is a junior, majoring in agricultural education-leadership option with a minor in agricultural economics. Jackson grew up on a dairy operation in New Cambria, Mo., and went to Macon High School.
Jackson has been an active leader in CAFNR and the university. She is the president of Missouri Collegiate 4-H, Program Development Chair for Ag Ed Society, Education Chair for the Missouri Collegiate Cattlewomen and serves on the CAFNR Student Development Board.
Jackson is involved in 4-H and is currently the secretary for the Missouri State 4-H Council. With all of her MU organizations and 4-H activities, Jackson still relays a positive message.
“I don’t view the position as a responsibility, more like a great growing experience,” Jackson said.
Jackson realizes the Royal Ten has many opportunities to offer.
“It’s a great way to meet leaders from across the Midwest,” she said. She loves the fact that she can work in promoting agriculture that is geared towards children and further explains that working with kids is “close to my heart.”
The American Royal started out in 1899 as the National Hereford Show, the first nationwide event for the exposition and sale of purebred cattle. Today, the American Royal has grown into one of the largest livestock, horse shows and rodeos in the nation.
The American Royal prides itself on agriculture education and promotion. The American Royal’s vision is to be the Heartland's leading promoter of American agricultural education and values, according to the American Royal Web site.
