July 19, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kendra Davis kdavis@hereford.org KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2018 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Grand Island, Neb. More than $30,000 was awarded to …
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2018 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Grand Island, Neb. More than $30,000 was awarded to deserving junior members to aid in their academic endeavors.
Prospect, Junior Golden Bull and Golden Bull Achievement Awards
The Prospect and Golden Bull Awards recognize individuals for their involvement in the Hereford industry, agriculture and their communities. The National Hereford Women (NHW) and the NJHA sponsor these awards. Prospect Awards go to students in fourth through eighth grades and Junior Golden Bull Awards to students in ninth through 12th grades. Prospect Award winners are given a leather halter with nameplate while the Junior Golden Bull Award winners receive a bronze Hereford bull statue. The Golden Bull Achievement Award is given to college-aged students. Like the juniors, these students receive a statue as well as a scholarship.
Junior Golden Bull Award
Ninth grade – Lauren Jones, Darlington,Wis.
10th grade – KayAnn Eck, Putnam, Okla.
11th grade – Lauren McMillan, Tiskilwa, Ill.
12th grade – Kalie Seagraves, Pocahontas, Ark.
Golden Bull Achievement Award
Annah Dobson, Johnson Creek, Wis., $1,875
Bailey Morrell, Willows, Calif., $1,875
Noah Benedict, Dewey, Ill., $1,875
Keayla Harr, Jeromesville, Ohio, $1,875
John Wayne Memorial Scholarship
John Wayne Memorial Scholarships are awarded to juniors who surpass the norm with their contributions to agriculture and the Hereford industry, as well as their moral character. The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and the NHW sponsor the scholarships annually.
Ed Bible Memorial Scholarship
The Ed Bible Memorial Scholarships are designed to help finance higher education for NJHA members who have a passion and talent for communication as well as stellar leadership skills and involvement in the Hereford industry. Bible joined the American Polled Hereford Association staff in 1973 and for 25 years supported the senior, junior and Poll-ette associations. Because of his positive influence on the Hereford industry, the NHW and the HYFA offer four annual scholarships in his honor.
National Junior Merit Award
The junior merit scholarship annually recognizes exceptional junior members for their dedication to bettering the Hereford industry. The scholarship program is designed to encourage individual and cooperative effort, enthusiasm, excellence, leadership and achievement among youth in order to develop reputable breeders for the good of the Hereford business and beef industry. The winner receives an expense-paid trip to a Hereford operation in the continental U.S. sponsored by American Livestock Inc. as well as a scholarship.
Hereford Herdsman Scholarship
Sponsored by the HYFA in cooperation with Hereford herdsmen, these scholarships recognize the value in NJHA members who take great pride in exhibiting their Hereford cattle and provide a scholarship to award their dedication to the breed.
Joe and Walter Lewis High Point Senior Award
This scholarship award honors junior members for overall achievement in various facets of NJHA. Junior members are selected based on a point system for NJHA programs and activities weighted heavily on leadership, teamwork, skills and competition.
Poll-ette Founders Scholarship
The HYFA funds the Poll-ette Founders scholarship and the award is managed through the NHW. It recognizes juniors who have made significant contributions to NJHA during their time as a junior. Additionally, the scholarship honors the women who laid the foundation for the National Organization of Poll-ettes, which combined with the American Hereford Women in 2009 to form the NHW.
Bud Snidow Award
NHW sponsors the the B.C. “Bud” Snidow Award is sponsored and the award is presented annually to a commendable NJHA member who demonstrates the characteristics most admired by Snidow. Those qualities include honesty, fairness, hard work, enthusiasm and dedication to the Hereford breed and its breeders. The recipient receives a hand-crafted belt buckle.
Charles E. Boyd Sr., Memorial Scholarship
Charles E. Boyd Sr., was a third-generation Hereford breeder who mentored youth in the agriculture industry. Throughout his lifetime, he was recognized on local, state and national levels for his accomplishments. He was a prominent beef cattle judge at all major livestock shows and exhibited several international and national champion Hereford cattle. He lived his life selflessly, giving to others without recognition. The Charles E. Boyd Sr., Memorial Scholarship will continue to help young people in the Hereford breed who plan to attend college and pursue a degree in agriculture.
Bluegrass and Buckeye Scholarship
The Ohio and Kentucky Hereford Associations along with HYFA sponsor the Bluegrass and Buckeye Scholarship through excess funds from the 2006 JNHE in Louisville, Ky. The scholarship’s goal is to provide recognition for one outstanding member of the NJHA. In order to receive the honor, applicants must first be nominated by their state junior association advisor.
Biographies
Noah Benedict, 18, is a 12-year member of the NJHA and was the 2017-18 president of his FFA Chapter. Noah won the 2015 and 2016 Premier Polled Hereford Herdsmen at the Illinois State Fair and was the 2017 champion intermediate showmen at the Illinois Preview Show. He will be attending the University of Illinois this fall. Noah won the Golden Bull Achievement Award.
Sam Birdsall, 13, is the son of Dennis and Heather Birdsall. He has been a member of the NJHA for 11 years and the New York Junior Hereford Association (NYJHA) for seven years where he serves as the vice president. Sam has competed at seven JNHEs and represented the NYJHA in the junior division of the public speaking contest at the 2018 JNHE. He was also the champion junior showman of all breeds at the 2017 New York State Fair. Sam won the seventh-grade Prospect Award.
Sarah Birdsall, 10, is the daughter of Denis and Heather Birdsall. She has been a member of the NJHA and the NYJHA for seven years. Sarah is the 2018 treasurer for NYJHA. She competed in the individual sales contest at the 2018 JNHE and was the 2016 champion peewee showman at the New York State Fair. Sarah won the fifth-grade Prospect Award.
Parker Cantrell, 19, is the son of Steve and Michelle Cantrell. He is studying animal science at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and has been a member of NJHA and the Junior Hereford Association of Oklahoma for nine years. Parker was very active in the Oklahoma FFA Association and served as his chapter’s vice president in 2016-17. He exhibited the reserve champion junior A.I. (artificial insemination) bull at the 2013 JNHE. Parker won the first place National Junior Merit Award.
Annah Dobson, 20, is the daughter of Roger and Rachelanne Dobson. She currently serves as the 2018 president of both the Wisconsin Junior Hereford Association (WJHA) and the University of Wisconsin River Falls Beef Management Team. She also served as the 2017 National Hereford Queen. Annah won the Golden Bull Achievement Award.
KayAnn Eck, 16, is the daughter of Sam and Rhonda Eck. She has been a member of the NJHA for 10 years and currently serves as secretary of the Junior Hereford Association of Oklahoma. KayAnn was reserve grand champion of the polled bred and owned show at the 2017 Oklahoma Youth Expo Reserve. In 2016 she had the grand champion bull at the Red Dirt Rendezvous and the grand champion heifer of the junior show at the Oklahoma State Fair. KayAnn won the 10th-grade Junior Golden Bull Award.
Evan Espenscheid, 18, is an 11-year member of the NJHA and served as an Iowa delegate from 2015-18. She exhibited the reserve bred and owned champion heifer at both the 2016 and 2017 Iowa State Preview Show and won reserve grand champion AI (artificial insemination) heifer at the 2013 JNHE. Evan received the Poll-ette Founders Scholarship.
Courtney Eudy, 22, recently graduated with a degree in animal science from North Carolina State University. She exhibited the reserve champion cow-calf pair at the 2018 JNHE and was named the 2016-17 AHA Southeast polled premier exhibitor. She also served as the 2014 North Carolina Junior Hereford Association Queen. Courtney won the Joe and Walter Lewis High Point Senior Award.
Chase Harker, 12, is the son of Dan and Jill Harker. He has been a member of the NJHA and the Indiana Junior Hereford Association for six years. In 2017, Chase won grand champion steer at the JNHE and grand champion Hereford steer at the Indiana State Fair with the same animal. He has also participated in the livestock judging, photography and Certified Hereford Beef® (CHB) Grill-Off contests. Chase won the sixth-grade Prospect Award.
Keayla Harr, 21, is the daughter of Jeff and Lou Ellen Harr. She served as the 2016-17 Ohio Buckeye Junior Hereford Association vice president and the 2014-15 president. She is majoring in animal science and industry at Kansas State University, where she has competed and won several awards on the meat judging team. She was a JNHE Herdsman of the Year nominee in both 2017 and 2018. Keayla won the Golden Bull Achievement Award, the John Wayne Memorial Scholarship, the first place Ed Bible Memorial Scholarship, the Hereford Herdsman Scholarship, the Charles E. Boyd Sr. Memorial Scholarship and the Bluegrass and Buckeye Scholarship.
Brooke Hinojosa-Sidwell, 20, is a 12-year member of the NJHA. She was elected to the NJHA board of directors in 2016, and was the 2017 leadership chair. Brooke served as the Colorado Junior Hereford Association president from 2015-17 and was the state Hereford Queen from 2011-13. She was also a 2017 Jack and Donna Vanier Family Scholarship recipient. Brooke won the fourth place Ed Bible Memorial Scholarship.
Lauren Jones, 14, is the daughter of BJ and Kim Jones. Lauren has been a member of the NJHA and WJHA for eight years. She is currently serving her second term as the WJHA membership secretary and is also a WJHA princess. Lauren was a member of the 2016 junior national planning committee and was a member of the 2017 JNHE Champion Fitting Team. Lauren won the 2017 eighth-grade Senior Prospect Award and received this year’s ninth-grade Junior Golden Bull Award.
Lauren McMillan, 16, is the daughter of Kyle and jodi McMillan. She is a 10-year member of the NJHA, as well as the Illinois and Wisconsin Junior Hereford Associations. In 2017 Lauren was re-elected to serve a seventh term on the Illinois Junior Hereford Association board of directors. She has competed in more than 40 showmanship contests and 20 livestock judging contests. Lauren won the 11th-grade Junior Golden Bull Award.
Bailey Morrell, 17, is an 11-year member of the NJHA and the California-Nevada Junior Hereford Association. She has served as the president, vice president student advisor of her FFA chapter and won the 2018 Superior Region Star Farmer Award. Bailey exhibited the grand champion polled Hereford female at the 2017 Western Nugget National Hereford Show and was the champion junior showman at the 2013 JNHE. Bailey won the Golden Bull Achievement Award.
Brianne Nelsen, 20, is a nine-year member of the NJHA. She served as the Kansas State Hereford Queen from 2014-16 and received the Jack and Donna Vanier Family Scholarship in 2016. She also served as the president, vice president, reporter and greenhand president of her FFA chapter. Brianne won the Poll-ette Founders Scholarship.
Katie Nolles, 21, is the daughter of Mike and Trudy Nolles. She has been a member of the NJHA and Nebraska Junior Hereford Association for 11 years. She served as the 2015 National Hereford Queen and has served as the vice president, secretary, historian and director of the Nebraska Junior Hereford Association. Additionally, Katie served as the 2015-16 vice president of the Nebraska FFA Association. She is majoring in agricultural education and competes on the livestock judging team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Last year Katie was named the Walter and Joe Lewis Memorial High Point Senior. Katie won the Hereford Herdsman Award this year.
Cady Pieper, 13, is the daughter of David and Dana Pieper. She is an eight-year member of the NJHA and a seven-year member of the Kansas Junior Hereford Association. In 2015 Cady won the Junior Herdsmanship Award at the Kansas State Show. She was also part of the winning team of the CHB Grill-off at the 2017 JNHE. Cady won the eighth-grade Prospect Award.
Ralston Ripp, 18, is a 10-year NJHA member and is this year’s Nebraska State Hereford Queen. She is currently serving as reporter on the Nebraska Junior Hereford Association board of directors. Ralston has also held an officer position of her 4-H club every year since 2009, and served as president in 2017. She was the reserve intermediate showman at the Nebraska State Junior Hereford Show (NSJHS) and exhibited the reserve champion cow-calf pair at the 2015 NSJHS. Ralston won the second-place Ed Bible Memorial Scholarship.
Harley Rogers, 19, is the daughter of Keith and Cindy Rogers. She has been involved in the NJHA for 17 years and the Texas Junior Hereford Association (TJHA) and Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association (TJPHA) for 15 years. She served as the 2014-15 president of the TJPHA. Harley has participated in four PRIDE Leadership Conventions and has shown at every Texas state Hereford show and JNHE since 2004. In 2016 she won the grand champion polled Hereford at both the Fort Worth Junior Show and the San Angelo Junior Show. Harley won the Golden Bull Achievement Award.
Kalie Seagraves, 18, is the daughter of Shawn and Anita Seagraves. She has been a member of the NJHA for nine years and the Arkansas Junior Hereford Association (AJHA) for five years. Kalie was the 2016-17 Arkansas Junior Hereford Queen and was the AJHA secretary and reporter from 2014-15. At the 2017 Arkansas State Fair Kalie exhibited the grand champion Hereford heifer and the grand champion bred and owned Hereford heifer and won champion senior showman. She was also named the 2017 JNHE reserve champion intermediate showman. Kalie won the 12th-grade Junior Golden Bull Award.
Lucas Stumpf, 21, is the son of Gene and Lori Stumpf. He has been a member of NJHA for 13 years and was a board member of the Illinois Junior Hereford Association. He also served as treasurer, secretary, vice president and president of his 4-H club. Lucas won the Bud Snidow Award.
Kristin Waters, 9, is the daughter of Glen and Kyla Waters. She has been a member of NJHA since 2012. She has been involved in several leadership activities and has participated in peewee judging and speech contests at JNHE. Kristin was a peewee showmanship national semifinalist at the 2017 JNHE. She won the fourth-grade Prospect Award.
Hannah Williams, 19, is a 10-year member of the NJHA and studies at Kansas State University. She exhibited the champion horned heifer at the 2017 Nebraska Junior Hereford State Show. At the 2016 Nebraska State Fair, Hannah was named champion elite showman and the premier beef exhibitor and won champion heifer. Hannah won the third place Ed Bible Memorial Scholarship.
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The 2018 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo was sponsored in part by Biozyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The NJHA is one of the most active junior programs in the country with approximately 3,000 members. The NJHA’s mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit jrhereford.org.
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