MADISON, Wis. —  Jase Beltz, Canton, Kan., was named the 2026 Junior Hereford Herdsmen of the Year at the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “The Hereford Masters in Madison,” July 10 in Madison, Wis. 

Jase is currently attending Oklahoma State University, where he is majoring in agribusiness with a minor in finance. After earning his degree, he plans to pursue a career in the agricultural finance industry with a focus on commodities trading. He and his family have worked to build their herd from the ground up after moving to Kansas. Seeing the quality of their cattle improve over time has been incredibly rewarding to Jase. He is grateful for the opportunity to be recognized for the dedication and commitment to building their Hereford program.

The Hereford breed has provided Jase with invaluable connections and lessons that he says are second to none. He looks forward to carrying those experiences with him as he pursues a career in agriculture.

Herdsman winners demonstrate knowledge of the Hereford breed and beef industry alongside a tremendous work ethic. Recipients are selected by their peers during the JNHE. . Beltz’s passion for the cattle industry, work ethic and commitment to the Hereford breed made him a standout candidate.

“Winning Herdsman showed me that by having big dreams and working hard to chase them, success is always within reach,” says Jase Beltz, champion senior showman and Junior Hereford Herdsman. 

The nominees are initially selected by a committee, then voted on by their peers throughout the JNHE. Beltz was awarded a $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America  and Sullivan Supply, along with a custom belt buckle.

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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.