Illinois junior selected to serve the Angus breed for the upcoming year.
In a notebook holding dreams penned by a younger version of herself, 18-year-old Lauren Wolter, Aviston, Illinois, now makes a check mark next to an important goal after being named the 2023-2024 Miss American Angus. Wolter was crowned during the annual American Angus Association Awards Dinner and Reception Sunday, Nov. 5.
While Wolter has had hopes of wearing the red coat since she met former queens like Keegan Cassady and Maddie Butler-Mosiman, serving as Miss American Angus means so much more than just an item crossed off her lofty to do list.
“Ten-year-old Lauren is very happy — she’s definitely beaming,” the newly crowned queen said. “But for me Miss American Angus has always just been somebody that inspires. This title is being a role model.”
Wolter’s parents, Bradley and Kimberly, are first generation Angus breeders, and the entire family is thankful for the many people who’ve offered both help and support during those initial years in the beef industry.
It was friends in the Illinois Junior Angus Association that first gave Wolter the inspiration to lend a helping hand to her younger peers. She said she has hopes of empowering “little girls from coast to coast” during her term.
Wolter’s seen first-hand how confidence and hard work can pay dividends for those involved in the breed. She has plans to remind young breeders of that truth during the next year.
“I’m just very thankful that the judges and the committee trusted me with this position,” Wolter said. Her hope is to carry out the Miss American Angus role to the fullest, being an advocate and setting the right example for young Angus enthusiasts. “I just hope that I’m someone that is like what Maddie Butler was to me.”
Wolter will balance her year of service with her studies at Kansas State University, where she is perusing a degree in animal science and industry with a focus in animal products. She has plans to continue her education and obtain a Ph.D. in meat science.
Look for Wolter in the crown, red coat and sash during her travels this year. For more information about the American Angus Auxiliary sponsored contest, visit www.angusauxiliary.com.
Written by Megan Silveira, Angus Journal
