October 22, 2021
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 2021 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting and Conference kicked off Friday, Oct. 22, at the Loews Hotel in Kansas City. The first day was filled with educational programs …
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 2021 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting and Conference kicked off Friday, Oct. 22, at the Loews Hotel in Kansas City. The first day was filled with educational programs and Hereford youth were celebrated on stage at the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Scholarship and Awards Luncheon.
In the opening session, Tom Field, Ph.D., agribusiness entrepreneurship director, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, kicked off the morning session and challenged Hereford breeders to confront change and adapt their mindsets in order to continue to strive for greatness. Field reminded those in attendance there will always be opportunities surrounding them as long as they continue to persevere in their life endeavors.
Following sessions included Kevin Good’s report of the industry’s economic outlook. Good currently serves as the vice president of industry relations for CattleFax. Scott Bennett, director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, gave a glimpse of current and future policies relating to the beef industry. The final session was led by Dr. Scott Nordstrom, director of new product development at Merck Animal Health, who discussed developing vaccine technologies that will continue to boost herd immunity.
As the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) celebrated the next generation, $150,000 in scholarships was awarded to 24 junior members, and the outstanding youth who participated in the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout contest were recognized for their efforts.
$2,500 MGM Memorial Scholarship – James Brody Rogers, Hamilton, Texas
$2,500 Gary Bishop Memorial Scholarship – Regan Mitchem, Vale, N.C.
$2,500 HYFA Scholarship – Katie Nolles, Spencer, Neb.
$2,500 Larson Polled Hereford Scholarship – Ralston Ripp, Kearney, Neb.
$2,500 Blin Family Scholarship – Karstyn Cantrell, Collinsville, Okla.
$2,500 Tennessee River Music Scholarship – Whitney Walker, Fayetteville, Ark.
$2,500 Whitehead Ranches Scholarship – Dylan Kottkamp, Clayton, Ind.
$2,500 Bob & Lucy Kube Scholarship – Kira Sayre, Arenzville, Ill.
$5,000 Ball/Cottonwood Springs Scholarship – Bryden Barber, Channing, Texas
$5,000 Bob & Dolores Call Scholarship – Isaac Rhode, Stewartsville, Mo.
$5,000 Perks Ranch Scholarship – Lauren McMillan, Tiskilwa, Ill.
$5,000 Bar One/George & Karen Sprague Scholarship – Abigail Spindle, Moriarty, N.M.
$5,000 EE Ranches Scholarship – JW Cox, Flemingsburg, Ky.
$5,000 EE Ranches Scholarship – Wesley Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan.
$10,000 National Hereford Queen Scholarship – Kaylee McInvale, Lockney, Texas
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Molly Biggs, Dixon, Ill.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Jacob Johnson, Ruth, Miss.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Trevor Johnson, Centerville, S.D.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Lauren Jones, Darlington, Wis.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Regan Mitchem, Vale, N.C.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Bailey Morrell, Willows, Calif.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Libby Rushton, Waverly, Tenn.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Madison Sifford, Goldvein, Va.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Tar Tut, Faribault, Minn.
$10,000 Vanier Family Scholarship – Rusty Wolf, Alexandria, Ky.
The NJHA Fed Steer Shootout focuses on teaching the next generation in the cattle industry the importance of good health practices, feedlot management and the complete beef production cycle. Contestants collect feedlot performance and carcass data during the contest and are given the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of the cattle feeding and packing industries as well as partake in a Fed Steer Shootout field day. Each year, awards are given to the juniors who have the highest placing carcasses as well as the juniors who participate in putting together a portfolio focused on the contest. This year’s results are as follows:
Overall Champion Steer – Nicholas Jones, Darlington, Wis.
Champion Pen of 3 Purebred Steers – Jayna Blume, Pierre, S.D.
Reserve Champion Pen of 3 Purebred Steers – Kora Hawkins, Jane Lew, W.Va.
Champion Individual Purebred Steer – Macy Reed, Green Ridge, Mo.
Reserve Champion Individual Purebred Steer – Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
Champion Pen of 3 Commercial Steers – John Dauer, Panhandle, Texas
Reserve Champion Pen of 3 Commercial Steers – Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas
Champion Individual Commercial Steer – Nicholas Jones, Darlington, Wis.
Reserve Champion Individual Commercial Steer – Judd Daniels, Dalhart, Texas
Highest Marbling Score Purebred Division – Bailey Morrell, Willows, Calif.
Highest Marbling Score Commercial Division – Elizabeth Pribil, Hennessey, Okla.
Highest Average Daily Gain Purebred Division – Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
Highest Average Daily Gain Commercial Division – Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
Largest Ribeye Area Purebred Division – Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
Largest Ribeye Area Commercial Division – Jake Drost, Klamath Falls, Ore.
Congratulations to these young people. The American Hereford Association welcomes all members and Hereford enthusiasts to Kansas City for the annual meeting held on Saturday, October 23 at 8 a.m.
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The American Hereford Association, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI) and American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers, while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth and research. For press releases and photos, visit Hereford.org/media.