Hissong earns titles, awards

Claudia Hissong of Greencastle is continuing to make lots of noise in the angus world.

Hissong, 17, daughter of Spencer and Regina Hissong, recently claimed championship honors in showmanship at a regional show on the heels of earning some high awards within the National Junior Angus Association.

Showmanship

Hissong competed at the March 8 and 9 Mid-Atlantic Junior Angus Classic (MAJAC) Regional Preview Show with 188 other exhibitors in Harrisonburg, Va. There were four levels of showmanship and Hissong was deemed by judge Paul Bennett as the best in the intermediate division.

Association honors

Hissong also recently earned the National Junior Angus Association Bronze and Silver awards.

The Greencastle-Antrim High School junior is a member of the NJAA and the Pennsylvania Junior Angus Association, where she has served as treasurer, historian and royalty. She also served on the fundraising, semen sale and welcoming committees.

She has participated in local, state, regional and national shows and showmanship contests. At the National Junior Angus Show, Hissong participated in the photography, prepared speaking and essay contests. She also attended the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development in 2012.

The Bronze and Silver awards are the first two levels in the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior angus breeders must apply for the awards, then meet point requirements in many areas of participation before receiving the honors. Applicants are evaluated in areas of junior angus association activities and leadership, participation in showmanship, contests and shows, using performance testing to improve their herd and their progress in producing and merchandising angus cattle.

The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising angus cattle, while also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for the nearly 6,000 active members nationwide.