MADISON, Wis. — Young evaluators put their skills to the test during the livestock judging  and oral reasons contests at the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “The Hereford Masters in Madison,” held July 6 in Madison, Wis. With judging cards in hand, participants showcased their knowledge of animal evaluation and decision-making in one of the JNHE’s most competitive events. 

The National Junior Hereford Association board, along with the American Hereford Association  field staff, helped facilitate the livestock judging contest, sponsored by Central Life Sciences. Contestants evaluated classes of cattle and answered questions. The event promoted critical thinking and emphasized the importance of sound livestock selection practices in the beef industry.

Additionally senior participants could hone their public speaking skills by offering reasons on their class placings through the oral reasons contest. 

The 2026 livestock judging and oral reasons contest winners are:

Livestock Judging Contest Results
Peewee Division
Individual:
First place: Kinsley Mullinix, Manhattan, Kan.
Second place: Conner McQuaig, Danielsville, Ga.
Third place: Adalynn Grace Blankenship, West Burlington, N.Y.

Teams:
First place: Kansas: Kinsley Mullinix, Manhattan; Jaxen Birk, Gridley; Emmett Acheson, Wichita; and Reese Sandberg, Agenda.
Second place: Illinois: Hudson Humphrey, Dixon; Jake Kenady, Plainville; Mattie Melendrez, Dixon; and Olivia Young, Lexington
Third place: Minnesota: Thorstein Larson, Donnelly; Case Pressnall, Randolph; Ty Flower, Holloway; and William Neil, Pine Island.

Junior Division
Individual:
First place: Copeland Paulsen, Preston, Iowa.
Second place: Sydney Betes, Moses Lake, Wash.
Third place: Khloe Toelle, Burwell, Neb.

Teams:
First place: Kansas: Mason Mullinix, Manhattan; Chase Jones, Wamego; Lexi Schmidt, Blue Rapids; and Laynee Greenwood, Hamilton.
Second place: Nebraska: Khloe Toelle, Burwell; Chesney Prinz, West Point; Blair Buehler, Fairbury; and Hayden Hoffman, Thedford.
Third  place: Indiana: Ava Doig, St. Paul; Braxton Carper, Vevay; Wyatt Gunn, Greenfield; and Clayton Musser, Otterbein.

Intermediate Division
Individuals:
First place: Graden Forbes, Kearney, Neb.
Second place: Maggie Reed, Green Ridge, Mo.
Third place: W. Zeb Murphree, Hamilton, Texas

Teams:
First place: Texas: W. Zeb Murphree, Hamilton; Landry Allan, Nocona; Keeley Warnken, Schulenburg; and Kinleigh Guidry, Brenham.
Second place: Wisconsin: Elayna Aue, Auburndale; Max Klussendorf, Medford; Makenna Smith, Hubertus; and Ruby Fallos, Rib Lake.
Third place: Illinois: Addison Young, Lexington; Faith Benedict, Dewey; Lily DeAth, Indianola; and Tripp Rieker, Neponset.

Senior Division
Individuals:
First place: Collin Deatsman, Leesburg, Ind.
Second place: Mason Wurzbach, Seguin, Texas
Third place: Simona Shepard, Altamont, Ill.

Teams:
First place:  Kansas: Cally Miller, El Dorado; Tyree Figge, Onaga; Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids; and Dagan Murray, Auburn.
Second place: Illinois: Simon Shepard, Altamont; Tyler Cole, Roberts; Reed Naughton, Atlanta; and Kade Boatman, Rockford.
Third place: Indiana: Catie Musser, Otterbein; Carlee Musser, Otterbein; Collin Deatsman, Leesburg; and Matthew Elzemeyer, Richmond.

Oral Reasons Contest
First place: Augustus Sexton, Cost. Texas
Second place: Cally Miller, El Dorado, Kan.
Third place: Jorja Ebert, Polo, Mo.

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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^®. 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.