2026 RAYE Professional Development Contest

Contest rules:

The purpose of this contest is to help JRA members build a résumé and improve their interviewing skills. Job preparation and interviewing skills are important life skills and through participation in this contest, junior members can learn organizational skills, communication skills, and networking skills.

1. Must sign up through the REDSPro online entry system, but contest material must be submitted here.
2. If an individual is not bringing animals but wants to compete, they must sign up through the REDSPro online entry website and submit material here.
3. Individuals must check in during the contest check-in period.
4. This contest is only open to Intermediates (13-16) and seniors (17-21).
5. All ages are as of Jan. 1 of the current year.
6. This contest will be judged based on an individual's cover letter, resume, and interviewing skills.
7. Each division will compete using the below descriptions:
   1. Intermediate Division: contestants will compete as if they are interviewing for an internship, scholarship, or educational program of their choice. The contestant must submit a detailed description in 150 words or less describing the internship, scholarship, or educational program either existing or fictitious for which they intend to interview.
   2. Senior Division: contestants will compete as if they are interviewing for a job or internship. The job/internship will be of the contestant’s choice. The contestant must submit a detailed job description in 150 words or less describing the job or internship, either existing or fictitious for which they intend to interview.
      1. Please note these job descriptions are not part of the judging criteria. They are to be utilized by judges to know how to direct interview questions. The job, internship, scholarship, or educational program can be fictitious or real.
8. Individuals are required to submit their cover letter, resume, and description during the early contest submission deadline of May 27.
9. The cover letters and resumes will be looked at prior to the Red Angus Youth Expo. Individuals must check in during the contest check-in period to be given a time slot for their interview.
10. **NEW** Interviews will be limited to 10 minutes.
11. After the interview is completed, judges will evaluate the applicant’s cover letter, resume, and interview.

Professional Development Submission Instructions

• Individuals are required to submit their cover letter, resume, and description during the early contest submission deadline of May 27.
• Must be submitted electronically through the online link found on the contest page on the RAYE website.
• You must Label materials the way it is stated on the submission link. I.e.
• Description_Division_EntrantName and Resume_Intermediate_JohnDoe.
  If submission issues arise, please email Taylor at youthexpo@redagus.org for assistance with your name, division and state in the message field.