Ponder student is new Texas Hereford Queen

By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

Sjonica Robinson, a 16-year-old Ponder High School student, was voted Texas Hereford Association Queen in late June. Sjonica is the 36th young woman to hold this title. -Staff photo by Kramer

July 15, 2004 - A new Texas Hereford Queen has been chosen.

Sjonica Robinson, a Ponder High School student, was recently crowned as the 36th Texas Hereford Queen following voting by members of the Texas Hereford Association, Texas Women's Auxiliary, and the Texas Junior Hereford Association. The associations met in late June for their state convention.

Sjonica will attend several mandatory and optional events during her reign as the Texas Hereford Queen.

"Being crowned, it's amazing. I cried like a baby. I was so excited. It made my great-grandfather's day and that made my day," said 16-year-old Sjonica, who resides in Denton County.

Sjonica is active in several Hereford groups including the National Junior Hereford Association, Texas Junior Hereford Association, Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association, and the Texas Club Calf Association. She is currently serving as the Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association director, and as the Texas Polled Hereford Sweetheart. She is also an FFA officer and is a member of the equine and judging teams at her school.

Alise Nolan, coordinator of the Texas Hereford Queen crowning, was happy to see Sjonica receive the honor.

"Sjonica is a beautiful young lady who carries herself with a level of poise and character found too little in today's young women. She is a very skilled Hereford herdsman and has won numerous shows at the state level and has also placed very well on the national level with her heifers. Sjonica not only shows her cattle, but helps to fit and maintain them on their family ranch as well," said Nolan, who also represents the Texas Women's Auxiliary.

According to Nolan, Sjonica will have a busy schedule representing Texas Hereford producers at an array of events across the country.

Sjonica feels she is prepared for what is ahead.

"I feel that I have the energy and enthusiasm about the Hereford breed with which I can meet each challenge and each day ahead of me."

Since being crowned on June 25 Sjonica said she has had the opportunity to meet many new people, not just statewide from throughout the nation.

"The experience has made me more realistic about life," she added.

Next year Sjonica plans on competing for the Texas Polled Hereford Queen crown, and then for the National Polled Hereford Queen. A national win would come with a college scholarship.

The queen also has hopes for her future with Herefords when her reign is over. "My goals for the future are to breed better Hereford cattle through my A.I. program and the use of EPDs and genetics. The Hereford business has and will always be a major part of my life and I look forward to a successful, continuously improving future for me and the breed."

Sjonica said she is looking forward to traveling with her father and grandmother. She says the highlight of her duties as queen will be traveling to Denver, Colo., a place she has always wanted to visit.