MADISON, Wis. — The top five selection of bred-and-owned females at the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) is embedded in the fabric of the event. BKMT GHC Maternal Treasure ET, shown by Grady and Hudson Carter, Stratford, Okla., was named the grand champion female by judges Randy Mullinix, Toulon, Ill., and Jake Bohnsack, Taylor Ridge, Ill., July 8 in Madison, Wis., during “The Hereford Masters in Madison.”

“With what they (the National Junior Hereford Association) have put together here, you guys have absolutely every club in the bag,” Mullinix said in his bred-and-owned female grand drive comments. “You have an opportunity to learn every part of the business — an opportunity to expand in every part of the business. And what a great time (to do it). Don’t limit yourself to this showring. There’s a great big world in the cattle business, and there’s so many opportunities. We need you guys.” The top-five bred-and-owned females are selected annually thanks to the GKB Cattle Youth Endowment. The Carter and Lowderman brothers both won custom trailers, and third- through fifth-overall received semen tanks.

The Carters’ female is an Oct. 10, 2024, daughter of BK Red River H18 ET. She also won division X. “When you walk in, you hear the music and you hear everyone cheering — it’ll send chills down your back,” Grady said. “It’s definitely a blessing to be able to win the bred-and-owned show. Obviously, you bred and raised her, so that’s pretty special for me and my family.”

Tuck and Nash Lowderman, Macomb, Ill., showed the reserve grand champion and champion division III bred-and-owned female, L2 LCC K001 Fancy Pants 49N ET, an Oct. 27, 2025, heifer by BK CMCC Kool Profit K001ET.

Ella Sasha 5013 ET, shown by Ella Weldon, Piedmont, Okla., received third-overall honors. Weldon’s entry is an April 19, 2025, daughter of BK Jet Smooth J18 ET, from division VI.

Aidyn Barber, Channing, Texas, and BR GKB Chilton N153 ET, a May 1, 2025, daughter of KLD RW Marksman D87 ET, were named fourth-overall and champion division V.

The fifth-overall female and final banner of the day went to YB Bambi 2108 5102, a Nov. 6, 2025, daughter of HL Stimulus 2108 ET, exhibited by Paislee Young, Springville, Tenn. Her female also won division II.

Mullinix and Bohnsack sorted through 270 females to name their top five.

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The 2026 VitaFerm^®Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “The Hereford Masters in Madison,” was sponsored in part by BioZyme^® Inc., St. Joseph, Mo., and their brands VitaFerm^® and Sure Champ^®. The JNHE provides educational and leadership opportunities for junior members and their cattle projects, along with plenty of events for the entire family. The National Junior Hereford Association is one of the most active junior programs in the country with more than 4,200 members. For more information about the JNHE, visit Hereford.org/youth.

Find photos and press release here.