Next up in our Meet the Staff blog series, meet Amanda Holt, one of our very first hires at Focus Marketing Group. Amanda is well known in the show ring and is the best of the best at getting animals ready, but she is also incredible at graphic design. She has masterminded some of our most memorable design projects including ads, logos and catalogs.
FROM AMANDA —
Hello everyone! I’m originally from Northeast Nebraska, always having roots in the livestock industry. I moved to South Dakota in 2012 and started working for FMG shortly after. Now I’m married to Jordan Holt, we operate as Holt Cattle Co & Aussies along with our girls Haleigh and Maggie. We run 120 registered, club calf and commercial cows along with our growing herd of Australian Shepherd dogs. We enjoy running the country to as many cattle shows as we can in multiple breeds. My favorite place to be is in our pasture checking cows and I can typically be found in the barn, depending on the season, working on a show heifer or calving a cow, with at least one dog keeping close watch of my every move. I love the agricultural industry I get to be a part of, no matter how simple or difficult, and am humbled by the life I get to live in remote South Dakota.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT AMANDA:
We caught you belting it out, car karaoke style – what’s your go-to song? Probably anything 90s country – Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless, Reba
Favorite color. Black – for cattle anyway
Do you have any hidden talents? I love decorating, crafting and sewing, but have been diving more into raising dogs – purebred Aussies!
What motivates you to work hard? Happiness and Success for my family, friends and customers.
Road trip snacks, what do you get at the gas station? Beef jerky, cheese sticks and definitely pickles!
If you could see any band or performer in concert, who would it be? Good question, no idea – Gary Allen maybe?
What is your favorite part about your job? As the saying goes ‘If you love what you do, you won’t work a day in your life.’ Not sure if that is exactly true, but I sure do love what I do! From the team I work with, to the clients around the country — they are some of the best people I have had the privilege of getting to know and easily the best part about the job.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Introvert – that’s why I’ve handled Covid-19 so well.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Graphic Designer – I always loved looking through the National Livestock Exhibitor magazine! Actually I wanted to be a vet first, until I realized I didn’t like seeing animals sick … then a graphic designer.
If you were to describe yourself as an animal, which would you choose? My husband Jordan says a dog – loyal and hard working.
On show day, what’s your job? The list of what my job isn’t is probably shorter. Feed, wash, blow, clip/fit … and tell the rest of the family to get moving!
What’s the most unusual item on your desk or in your car? A heifer’s lost bangs clip.
Sunni in “her Ranger” checking cows. 
Amanda’s husband Jordan showing at the SD State Fair. 
Haleigh and Maggie Holt at the SD Summer Spotlight. 
Storme keeping cool and keeping watch. 
Amanda and Jordan Holt preparing a heifer to show. 
The Holts ready for show day.