LOUISVILLE, Ky. – More than 775 juniors were entered into the 2022 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), gathering in Louisville, Ky., July 16-22. In addition to showing their cattle projects, juniors competed in educational and leadership events in and out of the showring. 

Juniors competed in hybrid skills-based contests including illustrated speaking, extemporaneous speaking, sales and the Hereford bowl trivia contest. These contests allow the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) to carry out their joint mission of promoting leadership and education. The 2022 contests had a mixture of both virtual and in-person presentations to be judged in their respective contests. 

Illustrated Speech 

The National Hereford Women (NHW) sponsored the contest. 

Peewee: 

1. Grant Waters, Norborne, Mo.
2. Quinn Breiner, Pratt, Kan. 
3. Landon Pesek, Western, Neb. 

Junior: 

1. Cierra Collins, Frederick, Okla. 
2. Kristin Waters, Norborne, Mo. 
3. Wynn West, Sheridan, Wyo. 

Extemporaneous Speech 

The extemporaneous speaking contest is designed to encourage interest in promoting the beef industry and projecting Herefords in a positive image through public speaking. The NHW are the sponsors of the contest. 

Intermediate: 

1. Taylor Marrs, Macomb, Okla.
2. Emma Grace Ballinger, McKee, Ky. 
3. Devon Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas

Senior: 

1. Megan Underwood, Campbellsville, Ky. 
2. Dellana Muck, Caledonia, Ill. 
3. Grant Helsinger, Germantown, Ohio

Individual Sales 

Sponsored by the NJHA, individual sales allows an individual to sell a product to a panel using visual aids and salesmanship skills. This contest gives juniors experience with selling an animal, semen, embryo package or any agricultural related product. Held virtually this year, contestants submitted a video of them illustrating their sales abilities and judged by professionals in the agriculture industry. 

Junior: 

1. Joseph Schohr, Oroville, Calif. 
2. Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas
3. Makenna Smith, Hubertus, Wis.

Sales Academy 

New to the list of contests at the JNHE and sponsored by the NJHA, sales academy allows intermediate and senior division contestants a glimpse at real-world sales, including communication and marketing prior to the live sale with an understanding of performance and pedigree information. Contestants submitted marketing materials for their animal prior to the JNHE and gave a sales pitch to a panel of judges at the event. 

Intermediate: 

1. Kade Boatman, Rockford, Ill. 
2. Kendall Boatman, Rockford, Ill. 
3. Aidyn Barber, Channing, Texas

Senior: 

1. Madison Sifford, Goldvein, Va. 
2. Dellana Muck, Caledonia, Ill. 

Hereford Bowl 

The primary objective of the Hereford bowl is to provide an opportunity for NJHA members to demonstrate their knowledge of Hereford beef cattle. The Hereford bowl competition allowed contestants to demonstrate good sportsmanship and it is hoped that this contest will provide an educational experience for both participants and spectators. 

Junior Winning Team: Texas

Team members include Aubrey Lockhart, Somerville; Kinleigh Guidry, Brenham; Gage Creamer, Waxahachie; Jarrett Worrell, Mason.

Junior Second Place Team: Illinois
Team members include Cora Chapman, Seneca; Addison Duis, Petersburg; Daniel Richardson; Caprine; Ella Bane, Towanda.

Junior High Individual Written Test: 

Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas and Ella Bane Towanda, Ill., tied for first in the contest. 

Senior Winning Team: Illinois 

Team members include Molly Biggs, Dixon.; Morgan Richardson, Capron.; Kira Sayre, Arenzville; Nick Torrance, Media.

Senior Second Place Team: Indiana 

Team members include Dylan Kottkamp, Clayton; Logan McFatridge, Otterbein; Carlee Musser, Otterbein; Bailey Landrum, Huntington.

Senior High Individual Written Test: 

Nick Torrance, Media, Ill.

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The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is one of the largest, strongest and most active junior cattle programs in the country. Over the years, members of this association have gone on to earn international and domestic respect as models for youth organizational success. The NJHA, through its extensive educational programs, continues to lay the foundation for the beef industry’s future leaders. The traditions of the past coupled with the energy of today’s board of directors have created a progressive approach to further develop a meaningful and educational association focus.