Championdrive.com is pleased to present this week's “Beyond the Winners Circle” featuring Allison McGolden from Arapaho, OK. We invite you to read our interview with Allison below. Please continue to check back weekly for our next edition of “Beyond the Winners Circle”. 
Where do you live?
I grew up in the small town of Arapaho, OK, but after graduation from OSU, I moved 6 ½ hours to College Station, TX!
College/Major?
I graduated from Oklahoma State University in December 2009 with a bachelor’s in Health Promotion and Education.
What is your job/career?
I am an exercise physiologist in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at St. Joseph Regional Health System in Bryan, TX.
Has showing impacted your career?
Without a doubt! I would have never thought about packing everything up and moving to Texas if it wasn’t for my show career. Even though I am not working in the livestock industry, showing gave me the opportunity to travel, meet and help people, and my competitive edge! Showing also taught me leadership skills, time management, and many responsibilities which I use everyday in the health field.
What do you feel your biggest accomplishment is thus far?
I feel that I have accomplished a lot thus and it is hard for me to narrow it down to just one. First, I feel like receiving Champion Showman at the 2005 National Western is one of my biggest accomplishments in the show ring. Being a former FFA member and receiving the 2005 National FFA Sheep Proficiency was a huge accomplishment for both my family and I. Being a low man on the totem pole and becoming a successful club lamb producer and raising the Grand Champion Lamb at the 2010 Nation Western. And finally, graduating from Oklahoma State and being able to say, “I am an OSU alum!”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hmmm well, currently I am very happy with where I am and I just hope the next ten years are as good as the last.
What was your favorite show? Why?
My favorite show was the National Western! My life was a circus with basketball, softball, showing sheep, raising sheep, FFA, 4-H, and finding time to spend with friends and family. The week of the National Western was also the week of our West Central basketball tournament. I would play basketball Monday or Tuesday night and then drive all night to Denver to show and depending on how my basketball team did while I was gone, I might get to go ski or dad and I would drive back to OK after the Premium Sale, so I could play basketball that next night! So, why was this my favorite show? I always played really well before I left for Denver, I was able to see all of my show friends from many states, always had success at the show, and then traveled back home to win a tournament!
 What was your favorite lamb you showed? Why?
I would have to say, “M.” “M” was a sheep my uncle picked out for me to show when he was in Seagraves, TX at Miller Hampshire’s. I have always loved sheep that are super hampy and “M” was just that! “M” had a great personality (my sister even liked him). During the summer I kept all my show lambs on feeding floors and “M” would run back and forth when I was watering him and you could play with him like a dog! And we all know that the lambs that are pets are hard to show; however, when “M” walked into the ring he was a blast to show! “M’s” last show was at the National Western where he did well!
What did you enjoy the most about showing?
I am a people person! Being able to travel to all of the different shows whether it was in Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Colorado, Missouri, or Arizona I was always with family, friends, as well as making new friends! I also enjoyed the challenge of a new show lamb coming into the barn!
What do you miss most about showing?
Wow what do I miss the most about showing? EVERYTHING!!! I miss unloading the new show lambs from the trailer, the long hours spent in the barn and traveling with my dad, Chris McGolden, seeing all of my friends and meeting new ones, and finally having that sense of success after all the hard work put into a show season!
If you could go back and do one thing over (showing wise), what would it be?
Thinking back on showing I enjoyed everything I did and would not change anything, but I would love to be able to just walk back into any show ring with a lamb in my hands!
Who helped you along the way the most?
My dad was my biggest fan, my support, my motivator, and my mentor even though MANY tears were shed without him I would not be as successful as I have been. Ritson Urban was also a very big help with helping me improve the little things and become a successful showman.
What is one piece of advice for those looking to go into your career?
Well, for someone wanting to become a successful club lamb producer…It does not happen overnight, be patient, and believe in what you are doing. As far as someone who is looking to work in any patient care facility always stay positive even on the bad days and always have a smile on your face because you never know when you will make someone’s day!
If you had two lambs in the grand drive, who would you get to show the other one?
Well, it would kind of depend on who else was in the grand drive. But I would pick Kaylee Turner. She was an excellent showman, always at the same shows and a great friend!
Thank you Allison and best wishes in the future! |
