MADISON, Wis. — National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members showcased their public speaking talents in the illustrated and advanced speech contests during the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “The Hereford Masters in Madison” in Madison, Wis. Hosted by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA), alongside the NJHA and National Hereford Women (NHW), these speech contests highlight their ongoing commitment to leadership development and education. 

Illustrated speech

NJHA members fine-tuned their public speaking and leadership skills through the illustrated speech contest. This competition helps young people find their voice, while promoting the beef industry and the Hereford breed. The illustrated speech contest is proudly sponsored by the NHW and the NJHA. 

This year’s top placings in the illustrated speech contest are as follows.

Peewee:
First place: Olivia Jones, Blue Mounds, Wis.
Second place: Whitten Scarpinato, Mason, Texas
Third place: Kinsley Mullinix, Manhattan, Kan.

Junior:
First place: Libby Pérez, Nara Visa, N.M.
2nd place: Quinn Breiner, Pratt, Kan.
3rd place: Landon Pesek, Western, Neb.

Advanced speech 
Much like the illustrated speech contest, the advanced speech contest challenges NJHA members to use their public speaking skills to advocate for the Hereford breed and the agricultural industry. Designed for more experienced speakers, this contest encourages confidence, broader industry knowledge and leadership. The NHW proudly sponsors this event, continuing their support of youth development. 

This year’s top placings in the advanced speech contest are as follows. 

Intermediate:
First place: Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas
Second place: Emma Hackbart, Milford, Neb.
Third place: Faith Benedict, Dewey, Ill. 

Senior:
First place: Rebecca VanCamp, Marion, N.Y.
Second place: Devon Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas.
Third place: Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan.

HYFA upholds its educational pillar by supporting the JNHE’s educational contests and events. These programs provide Hereford youth with the opportunity to develop valuable skills that prepare them to become knowledgeable, self-driven leaders in today’s world, compete outside of the showring and connect with fellow NJHA members. 

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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 the press release and photo here.