Calvin Student Crowned Cattle Queen

February 4, 2008 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Summary: A Calvin student earned a rare honor in January at the National
Western Stock Show.

Full story see
http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/bielema-hereford-queen.htm

A Calvin junior student recently attained royal status over a whole herd of
subjects.

Two weeks ago, Lindsay Bielema, 21, a Calvin history major from Ada, Michigan
studying to become a physician’s assistant, was crowned the 2008 National
Polled Hereford Queen at the National Western Stock Show held in Denver.

Bielema, running as the Michigan Polled Hereford Queen, was selected from a
field of 10 other state queens for this, the 34th national title.

Polled Herefords are a breed of cattle without horns, descendants of the
Hereford cattle originally bred in England.

“Basically, what it means to be the National Polled Hereford Queen is that I
am the ambassador for the Hereford breed both within the Hereford community
itself and to those outside of it,” said Bielema, who is the first Polled
Hereford Queen from Michigan.

Bielema and the other contenders were judged based on interviews, interactions
with Hereford breeders, behavior in the show ring and at ringside, and how they
led in classes (groups of cattle shown together) and handed out awards.

Along with snagging the national crown, Bielema was also named Miss
Congeniality in the contest.

Bielema and her family have been raising cattle since she was in the eighth
grade.

“One of the big things that I enjoy about it is the responsibility that it
teaches you. It teaches you to be accountable,” she said. “And I enjoy the
time I can spend with my family because of it. We’re all very involved with
it, and it’s very much a team-oriented effort.”

Though it will make her busier, Bielema is welcoming the additional
responsibilities that come with being a cattle queen.

And she is still laughing over the memories of her win, including this
anecdote: “Upon the conclusion of the show, they gave me a box for my crown
and a gun case. We carry our national sash, our banner, in a gun case. So, we
carry the gun case in the airport, and everyone is like, ‘Ma’am, is that a
firearm?’ and I say, ‘No, it’s a sash.’ They’re reading it through
the X-Ray machine and saying ‘You’re the national what again?’”

Contact Bielema at lab22@calvin.edu

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Received on Sun Feb 3 22:35:25 2008