LOUISVILLE, Ky.  –  Certified Hereford Beef ^® (CHB) and National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members took center stage in the Certified Hereford Beef Cook-Off. This unique competition allows junior members to showcase their culinary talents by preparing an original dish featuring Hereford beef. Participants submitted video entries of their home-cooked entrees before the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) officially kicked off in Louisville, Ky.Thetop-placing exhibitors were honored during the Wednesday, July 16, Buckle and Awards Ceremony.

The CHB Cook-Off encourages NJHA members to demonstrate their creativity, communication skills and proper beef handling practices as they produce their own Hereford beef-based cooking show. Participants earned points for showmanship, originality, recipe execution and overall presentation. Judges also evaluated each exhibitor’s ability to effectively explain CHB products, demonstrate food safety knowledge and incorporate CHB cuts into their recipes, while  showcasing both culinary skill and product understanding. 

Each participant prepared a unique dish featuring CHB. The senior division winner is Devon Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas, with her beef ravioli dish. A winning combination of product knowledge and a show-stopping presentation set her apart and secured her the top spot. 

Other results are as follows:

Peewee

1st place: Mila Perez, Canyon, Texas

2nd place: Cooper Acheson, Wichita, Kan. 

3rd place: Hogueland Wade Goldizen, Petersburg, W.Va. 

Junior

1st place: Braxton Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas

2nd place: Madelyn Beaver, Grandview, Texas

3rd place: Sedona Sifford, Goldvein, Va. 

Intermediate 

1st Place: Nick Jones, Darlington, Wis. 

2nd Place: Brogan Keltner, Pearl City, Ill. 

3rd Place: Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas

Senior

1st Place: Devon Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas

2nd Place: Brooke Aue, Auburndale, Wis. 

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The 2025 VitaFerm^®Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “Live from Louisville,” was sponsored in part by BioZyme^® Inc., St. Joseph, Mo., and their brands VitaFerm^® and Sure Champ^®. The VitaFerm^® 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 (NJHA) 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 images here.