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Annual Meeting Highlights Hereford's Success

Annual Meeting Highlights Hereford's Success

October 23, 2022

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting continued Oct. 22, 2022, at the Loews Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. During the Annual Meeting the AHA inducted Don Birk of Missouri …


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting continued Oct. 22, 2022, at the Loews Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. During the Annual Meeting the AHA inducted Don Birk of Missouri and Dale Stith of Kentucky into the AHA Hall of Merit for their influence in marketing the Hereford breed. Three leaders in the Hereford breed and beef industry were inducted into the AHA Hall of Fame. The 2022 inductees are Odell Gelvin of Oklahoma; Loyd Whitehead of Texas; and Bill King of New Mexico. 

Integrity is a word often associated with the Hereford breed. The AHA recognizes operations who are dedicated to the industry and have raised Hereford cattle for 50 years with the Golden Breeder title. The following breeders were recognized:

Golden Breeders:

The annual meeting reports, presented by committee chairs of the AHA Board of Directors, boasted the many accomplishments of the Hereford breed during the last fiscal year and illuminated future plans to continue bolstering the demand for the Hereford genetics. At the conclusion of the meeting, Austin Snedden, Maricopa, Calif.; Hampton Cornelius, LaSalle, Colo.; and Jim Coley, Lafayette, Tenn., were elected to serve on the AHA Board of Directors. Bill Goehring, Libertyville, Iowa., will serve as president of the AHA Board of Directors and Wyatt Agar, Thermopolis, Wyo., will serve as vice president of the association.  

Hereford breeders were recognized during the national and regional show award winners presentation prior to the Ladies of the Royal sale. Hereford breeders across the nation take pride in selecting exceptional bulls and females that succeed in the showring and will better their respective breeding operation. 2022 National Show Award Winners are as follows:

To kick off the Ladies of the Royal Sale, the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) auctioned off the prestigious street sign that resides at the AHA headquarters and the pick of sponsoring the horned or polled show champions at the 2022 Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE). Barnes Herefords, Marietta, Ga, purchased lot No. 1 for $12,000 and chose to sponsor the champion polled females at the JNHE. C&L, Ixonia, Wisc., purchased the champion horned female sponsorships for $5,000. Their sponsorships will tremendously support the NJHA’s effort in planning the 2023 JNHE, Mad Dash to the Hereford Bash in Madison, Wisc.

Hereford juniors rounded out the action-packed day in Hale Arena for the American Royal Junior Hereford show. The grand champion female, Hawk Myla 39J ET, was exhibited by Paige Lemenager, Hudson, Ill. Maddie Jenkins, Athens, Texas, exhibited the reserve champion female, BACC 228Z Tara 108 ET.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct 23 the National Hereford Show will be hosted at the American Royal. Join the AHA ringside tomorrow to see the selection of our champions and the 2022 National Hereford Queen.