Name: Jeana Sankey

Home State: Kansas

Your Job Title and Employer: Director of Youth Activities, American Maine-Anjou Association

What do you do on a typical day? Every day is different, some days I help Kyla with the Maine-Anjou Voice, in the fall I spend a lot of time preparing for national shows. The summer days are spent preparing for the Junior National and Leadership Conference.

What is your favorite thing about your job? I really enjoy working with the junior department. I enjoy the AJMAA youth, they are a great group and all have very bright futures. I enjoy putting on the National Junior Show each year, then the Leadership Conference. It gives me an opportunity to really get to know the youth.

Do you get to travel a lot, or mostly spend time in the office? Which do you prefer? I travel quite a bit; spend a lot of time a shows, sales and industry activities. I enjoy being on the road and seeing good cattle, getting to meet new people and see old friends.

How did you get interested in this career? Growing up in a family that "eats, sleeps, and breathes" the cattle industry, led me to want to pursue a job in the livestock industry. Then being very active in the junior associations and serving on two national junior boards gave me a better feeling for wanting to become a junior activities director. I love going to shows, helping kids and being around cattle. This was a perfect fit for me.

What was your college major, and do you think that degree was crucial in helping you get to the career you are at right now? My major was agriculture communications, and I do think it helped me with the job that I have. I help with a bimonthly magazine; my degree helps me understand the process of putting it together!

What advice would you have for someone who is searching for a college and trying to choose a degree? Have an idea of the degree you would like to get. Then set out and find the college that best supports what you would like to do.

If you were hiring an employee, what are the top three skills you look for and why? Communication, team work, and responsibility. I think those three are very important when working. Good communication among you and your co-workers makes things run so much smoother, being able to work together also helps things move along and run successfully. I think they need to be responsibile and be able to handle things on their own, without checking in all the time.

Does someone's college GPA have a big factor in whether you would hire them? I don't think so. I think as long as they appear to be the type of person that you want in your job, and have the knowledge to help your business out, I don't think GPA should play a role.

If you could have any other dream job besides the one you have now, what would it be? Oh wow! This has always been my dream job; a junior activities director. I would say I would change professions some and go more into the creative world of things designing ads, sale catalogs and web sites!

Who is someone you admire professionally and why? James Fisher. He is someone whom I have the upmost respect for. He was my junior director growing up in the Angus Association and I spent two years getting to know him while I served on the NJAA Junior Board. He is somebody who worked hard, was very professional, knew all of the kids and never met a stranger. He is somebody who I really enjoyed working with. He taught me a lot about being a good junior director.

Have you had any mentors who have helped you in your career? If so, who? Do you think mentors are important? Yes I think mentors are very important. Those are the people who you can go to when you have questions or need help. I have had many mentors; James Fisher, Chris Stephens and Molly Mader. These people have always been around to help me and when I was first getting started in this career.

Who's the person you go to "bounce ideas around with"? Usually my parents, they are always great supporters of my brother and I. We are a family who will analyze everything until no more analyzing can be done.

Is your job directly involved with agriculture? If not, how do you still get your "fix" of still being involved in the agriculture industry? Yes, my job is directly involved with agriculture.

What are your thoughts about young people's profiles and photos being on Facebook/Myspace while trying to find a job? I think Facebook/Myspace are great ways to stay in touch with friends from all over the U.S. and maybe even abroad. But I do strongly suggest that when applying for jobs that they keep their profiles clean and professional. They never know who is looking at their page, and I would hate to see that one page keep them from getting their dream job.

Which of these would you rather be? The judge of the Denver Steer Show, the breeder of the Grand Champion Steer, the exhibitor of the Grand Champion Steer, or the person who fit the Grand Champion Steer? Why? I would like to be the breeder of the steer. To me that is the most important part of the scenario. That means you have the quality and genetics to participate at a high level of competition. Also, it shows that you have knowledge of being able to select the bulls to mate your cows to, to produce champions.

Did you grow up showing livestock? If so, what? Yes, my family raises registered Angus and Brangus cattle, and my brother and I showed those while growing up!

Favorite Stock Show: Why? National Western Stock Show; A lot of great cattle are shown in Denver, which makes it fun to watch a lot of the shows! Plus most of my friends are out there, so it is great catching up with them!

You just won a free dinner at the best steakhouse in town and you get to invite 3 other people from the stock shows. Who would you take and why? My dad Chris, mom Sharee and brother Cody. Nothing like going out and spending quality time with the rest of the Sankeys!