Emma Graham: Sharing The Joy That The Industry Has Brought Her

Emma Graham, is from California. She has been showing ever since she could and is about to wrap up her show career. Emma has accomplished so much from Arizona Nationals Goat Show, to the Livestock Judging Contest. You know Emma focuses on sharing kindness everyday in and out of the ring. But through the joy and kindness Emma has had heartache. But she continues to go on!

“Hey y’all! My name is Emma Graham. I’m 18 years old, and a recent graduate of Galt High School. I am from Acampo, California.”Emma is like any other show kid. Her life revolves around the livestock industry. But she has tried other things. Emma played volleyball for a couple of years in high school but decided her love was for the industry and she couldn’t do both. “I really enjoyed it, but I always found myself wanting to spend more time in the barn. As the years went on, showing livestock became increasingly more important to me, and I wanted to dedicate more time and effort toward becoming successful in that area of my life.”Emma has proven herself in more ways than one. She has had the privilege of serving as a counselor for the YGB Showmanship Camp. “That’s where I have met lifelong friends and built relationships that I will always be grateful for.” While she was also recruited for her high school livestock judging team during her freshman year. “What started as another FFA activity eventually grew into something that has had a tremendous impact on my life and future.”In 2018, Emma started 4-H. Her mom had shown livestock as a kid and loved it, so she wanted Emma to have the same experience. “Originally, I wanted to show pigs, but my mom consulted with her friend Rita McPhee, who steered us toward goats because as she put it, “they’re easy and you can lead them around on your pinky finger.”Emma wasn’t too happy about not getting a pig at first. But after talking to Rita, Emma realized that the conversation they had would change her life. “I’m incredibly grateful for that small but significant conversation because my life would be completely different if it had never happened.” It didn’t take long for Emma to realize that showing goats involved a lot more than simply leading them around on your pinky finger. “I had absolutely no idea what I was doing with my first goat. I let it run wherever it wanted, climb on tables, come inside the house—the whole nine yards. By the time the fair rolled around, I was completely attached and nowhere near ready to walk into the ring with a properly trained show goat.” Even though she knew nothing Emma was first in her class, then she won her division, then she won the 4-H division, and she topped it all off by winning overall. “It was my very first year. To say I was shocked would be an understatement—I genuinely thought I had gotten last in class and started to walk back to my pen before the first drive. Considering how devastated I was on sale day, I’m not sure I would’ve continued showing if I hadn’t experienced that success right away.”Emma still remembers the judges words after the show. “This doesn’t happen every day, so cherish it now. Then go back to the barn, work harder, and come back to hit it again.” Ever since then she has learned to not take these experiences for granted.After Emma’s first year Rita and Megan Elwood continued to put goats in Emma’s show barn. That she continued to drag all over to jackpots around California. “With every show, my love for showing grew. I showed with J & J Livestock for a period of time. A plethora of people including family friends kept putting animals in my barn. I kept working, and my parents kept standing behind me, all ultimately leading to where I’m standing today and I couldn’t be more thankful.”Emma is finishing her last year of showing with a set of animals that she is “very excited about.” She is very grateful for the Falkensteins and Kempkers. “They’re amazing at helping me dial things in and be the most successful I can be.”In 2020, Emma won her first showmanship at the Double Down Jackpot in Utah. “I had always enjoyed showing before that, but when I won that class, everything clicked. That was the moment I realized just how much I loved showing livestock and how badly I wanted it to remain a part of my future.”Emma was involved with her high school livestock judging team. Which she has learned so much from the memories made and the lessons she has learned. “Going into high school and joining the livestock judging team was a tremendous blessing, but it certainly didn’t come without challenges. We were constantly struggling to find enough members to fill a full team, secure coaching, travel to competitions, and find opportunities to practice. At times, those obstacles made it difficult to stay committed.”In July of 2024, Emma received some of the worst news imaginable. “One of my best friends and my biggest inspiration and supporter in judging, Rhys Ludlow, passed away.”“After receiving that news, it became difficult to stay motivated in almost every aspect of the industry, especially livestock judging. At the time, late-night contest debriefs, 2 a.m. reasons phone calls, and countless conversations about terminology with Rhys were the main reasons I had stuck with judging in the first place. My plan was to quit and not return to the team……Then one day, I received a phone call that completely changed my perspective.”The person on the other end was tough on Emma; most people thought Emma needed sympathy and care. But she just needed to be reminded of what Rhys would want her to do. “He told me that I couldn’t blame quitting judging on Rhys being gone. In fact, if Rhys knew that was the reason I was walking away, he would be disappointed……..Why would I stop pursuing something I could build a future around simply because he was gone? Why not use that loss as motivation and continue pursuing it in his honor?”That conversation completely changed Emma’s outlook on the situation. Without it, Emma doesn’t know where she would be today or what direction her life would have taken because it has turned into so much more than just any hobby for Emma. It became one of the most important things in her life.“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that not everything is within your control.”“In the show industry, you can do everything right and still not get the outcome you hoped for.” Emma has had to learn to stay positive by focusing on what she can control. “My work ethic, my preparation, and how I handle both success and setbacks.”“I try to view every disappointment as a learning opportunity and remind myself that one show doesn’t define me or all the work I’ve put in. The people I’ve met, the lessons I’ve learned, and the experiences I’ve gained are worth just as much as any banner or buckle. At the end of the day, staying positive comes from remembering why I started and continuing to enjoy the process.”Emma’s biggest supporters have been one of her best friends Rhys and her parents. “Rhys was much more than a friend—he was someone who genuinely changed the course of my life. He introduced me to livestock judging and helped me discover a passion that has become a huge part of who I am. Beyond judging, he taught me how to carry myself with positivity, how to enjoy the process, and how to be the kind of friend who always shows up for others. Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned didn’t come from a classroom or a contest. They came from conversations, road trips, practices, and simply watching the way he treated people. Losing him was incredibly difficult, but the impact he had on my life continues to guide me every day. Whenever I step into a judging contest or face a challenge, I carry those lessons—and a piece of Rhys with me.”My parents have been the foundation behind everything I’ve been able to accomplish. They’ve been there for every early morning, every late night, every mile traveled, every success, and every disappointment. They’ve never asked for recognition—they’ve simply shown up, time and time again, making sacrifices so I could pursue my goals. They’ve taught me that commitment isn’t just about working hard when things are going well; it’s about showing up even when things are difficult. Their belief in me has carried me through moments when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.When I look back on my journey, so much of who I am today is because of them. Rhys taught me passion, positivity, and friendship. My parents taught me dedication, resilience, and unconditional support. I wouldn’t be where I am without any of them, and I’m grateful every day for the lessons they’ve taught me and for the example they’ve set.”-Thank YouEmma will never forget the 2021 Arizona National. She won my first ever national showmanship contest with her favorite doe, Pepper, “who really put me on the map in the industry. Pepper was the first animal that would consistently win showmanship and win shows. That Arizona win was just the icing on the cake and I will never forget the moment when the number one was pointed at me that day.”“Snickers”“I knew she was pretty special but I never knew how good she really was until that moment.”Arizona Nationals in 2022 was another one for the books. “I loved Snickers until it was time to put a chain on and work with her because she was very difficult to get along with.”She loved the show goat life when it came to laying in new shavings in her pen or being on the stand to get her hair worked but other than that it was a fight. “All that time, effort, and difficulty paid off in the end when I saw the Reserve Grand Doe handshake coming my way. There were immediate tears and meeting up with my family and friends outside the gate after that special moment was absolutely unforgettable.” Arizona has created so many memories for Emma including this past year. “I flew out specifically for the livestock judging contest, and I was incredibly nervous. During the flight, I spent as much time as possible working through classes and preparing myself mentally. When I arrived, I was immediately intimidated. There were so many competitors whom I had watched succeed before, and everyone seemed focused and prepared for what lay ahead. As I worked through the contest, I kept reminding myself of my priorities and thought about what Rhys would do. When it came time for critique, I had no idea what to expect, but by the end I had only dropped five points off the floor. When they began announcing the Top 10 individuals and eventually reached second place, my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe I had just won the Arizona National livestock judging contest.”The best part of that day for Emma was the ability to hug her parents and relive that moment with them. “Talk through the contest, and share that hug was the best part of the entire day.”“It’s a memory I’ll cherish forever, and Rhys will always be connected to it.”If Emma could give a young showman one piece of advice, it would be: To never let a bad day, a tough loss, or a setback make you forget why you started. “The livestock industry can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging. There will be times when things don’t go your way, when all your hard work doesn’t produce the outcome you hoped for, and when quitting seems easier than continuing. Those are often the moments that shape you the most. Looking back, some of my greatest lessons didn’t come from winning. They came from the times I struggled, had to start over, or had to keep believing in myself when things weren’t going according to plan. The banners and buckles are great, but what lasts far longer are the friendships you build, the mentors who invest in you, and the character you develop through the process. Most importantly, enjoy every moment. The early mornings, long drives, late nights in the barn, and time spent with family and friends may seem ordinary now, but one day they’ll become the memories you cherish most. The banners and buckles eventually collect dust, but the people, lessons, and experiences stay with you forever. Success in this industry isn’t measured solely by what you win—it’s measured by who you become. And when the time comes for you to help someone who is just beginning their journey, don’t hesitate to turn around and give back. Someone once did that for you, and that investment can change a life.” -Emma Graham