The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is gearing up to bring everyone together this summer in Wisconsin for “The Hereford Masters in Madison”. Thanks to a successful Sale of Champions, the 2026 Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) is shaping up to be a true Best of the Barns experience—and the NJHA is excited to reunite with the entire Hereford family.

Rules and health regulations for all JNHE contests and cattle are now available online. Be sure to visit the JNHE Resources page to stay informed and start preparing for this summer’s competitions.

Applications for Hereford Youth Foundation of America spring scholarships and other top awards, which will be presented at the JNHE, are due April 15.

Looking ahead, April also brings the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day on April 17–18 in Scott City, Kan. Be sure to RSVP by the end of today to help ensure accurate meal counts and event preparations.

EDUCATION IN THE FEEDLOT — JOIN THE MEET-UP

We’d like to welcome everyone to HRC Feed Yards in Scott City, Kan., April 17-18 for the 2026 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day. The field day will continue to offer an open house on Friday afternoon and evening, with time set aside for a one-on-one experience viewing your cattle on feed in the yards and plenty of time to ask questions. After the open house at the feed yard, we invite you all to join us in Scott City for a Certified Hereford Beef Burger fry and the chance to interact with other junior cattle feeders and industry friends. Saturday will be packed full of industry workshops, guest speakers and hands on learning about the cattle feeding industry.

The NJHA is excited to continue hosting the NJHA Meet Up — Powered by Sure Champ®, during the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day. The NJHA Board of Directors and our friends at Sure Champ® will be hosting a Meet Up for all the junior members in attendance. This will be a chance for all ages to build your networks as we Live It, Love It and Lead It at the NJHA Meet Up.

The RSVP for the event is available now, and we ask that you please RSVP by April 1 to ensure proper head counts for meals.

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP & AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

Don’t miss your opportunity to expand your educational opportunities through the HYFA spring scholarship program. Spring scholarship applications are due April 15 and will be awarded at the VitaFerm® JNHE, this year held July 4-10, 2026, in Madison, Wis. Applications for awards such as the Junior Golden Bull Award and Prospect Award are also available on Submittable.

Again this year the Livestock Marketeers Scholarship is hosted through HYFA and will be awarded to a college-age student interested in pursuing a career in the livestock marketing industry. Applicants must be affiliated with a beef breed or livestock organization.

New this year, is the application for the National Hereford Women (NHW) Faces of Leadership Scholarship. The NHW will sponsor the conference fee of 10 NJHA members to access life-changing leadership opportunities they might otherwise miss. This investment in tomorrow’s leaders will empower NJHA members to bring back friends, skills and inspiration to their associations, schools and communities.

ENTRIES ARE OPEN — ON PAR FOR THE 2026 HEREFORD MASTERS IN MADISON

We’re excited to welcome everyone to the 2026 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo, “The Masters in Madison,” happening July 4–10. Our favorite event of the summer is getting a golf-inspired twist as we come together as one Hereford family to celebrate the very best of the breed.

Entries are open and a tentative schedule is now available on the JNHE Resources page, along with the 2026 Rules & Regulations. All contest and award rules have been updated and are ready for review. Now’s the perfect time to start preparing your state and building excitement as we count down to July. Also do not forget to book your hotel room for the JNHE before it is to late using the group code.

SUPPORT THE JUNIOR NATIONAL HEREFORD EXPO

Get the chance to claim one of the final champion sponsorships of the 2026 JNHE by sponsoring one of the final division champions during “The Hereford Masters in Madison.” The JNHE is the summer showcase of a lifetime that provides competitive opportunities for both junior members and their cattle projects. Your support of the JNHE is vital to making this annual event a success and with the purchase you will have the opportunity to be recognized during the week-long event. Your farm, ranch or company name will be listed as a sponsor in the 2026 show program throughout the event. For more information or to claim a division sponsorship, reach out to Bailey Clanton at bclanton@hereford.org.

Advertising in the JNHE program gets your operation in front of a variety of audiences. Between spectators and attendees, the pages of the program are flipped through a countless number of times. Upon event check-in, each exhibitor’s family receives a copy of the show program. Included in the program is the schedule, judges, awards program, showmanship breaks, all cattle entered in the JNHE, exhibitor listing, etc. Additionally, it’s published online. For advertising specs, more information or to reserve your space, reach out to Bailey Clanton at bclanton@hereford.org.

DATES & DEADLINES

NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day RSVP Deadline 
April 1, 2026
RSVP Today

HYFA Spring Scholarship Application Deadline
April 15, 2026
Apply Today

Junior Golden Bull & Prospect Award Application Deadline
April 15, 2026
Apply Today

Livestock Marketeers Scholarship Application Deadline
April 15, 2026
Apply Today

NHW Faces of Leadership Scholarship Application Deadline
April 15, 2026
Apply Today

NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day
April 17-18, 2026
Learn More

Junior National Hereford Expo Earlybird Entry Deadline
May 15, 2026
Entries Now Open