More than 1,179 youth and their families from 38 states gathered at the 20th Annual VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo in Denver, July 6-13, to compete in educational and leadership events in and out of the showring.
Juniors competed in more than 20 skill-based contests including extemporaneous speaking, team sales, fitting, livestock judging, photography, a quiz bowl and a cook-off. These contests allow the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) to carry out its mission of leadership and education.

Contest winners are as follows:

Team Fitting

Teams of three work together to fit an animal in 45 minutes and then parade the animal before the judges for evaluation. Sullivan Supply and Stock Show University, Dunlap, Iowa, sponsored the team fitting contest.

First-place team: Illinois — Stetson Storey, Stockton; Kade Boatman, Rockford; and Noah Benedict, Dewey

Second-place team: Nebraska — Kaisha Alber, Guide Rock; Matt Bruns, North Platte; and Jake Sellman, Crawford

Third-place team: Indiana — Maddox Gunn, Greenfield; Collin Deatsman, Leesburg; and Payton Farmer, Brownstown

Illustrated Speech

This is the final level of competition for members who have won their state competitions. The National Hereford Women (NHW) and the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) sponsored the illustrated speech contest.

Peewee participants:

Augustin Burwell, Cambridge, Ohio; Cora Belle Chapman, Seneca, Ill.; Ella Crane, LaSalle, Ill.; Carly Kolterman, Garland, Neb.; Layna Ottmers, Fredericksburg, Texas; Caden Perry, Tower Hill, Ill.; Sedona Sifford, Goldzein, Va.; Johanna Studer, Frankfort, Kan.; Parker Thomas, Richmond, Ky.; Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas; Kylee Gaston, Bridgeport, Texas; Brynn Kirkpatrick, Olympia, Wis.; Colby Jones, Wamego, Kan.; Wyatt Weaber, Wamego, Kan.; Ella Deford, Jarrettsville, Md.; Lauren Adkerson, Starkville, Miss.; Emma Helsinger, West Manchester, Ohio; Kashlyn Krebs, Gordon, Neb.; Nicholas Jones, Darlington, Wis.; Makenna Smith, Hartford, Wis.; Jayna Blume, Pierre, S.D.; Evlyana Burwell, Zanesvilee, Ohio

Junior:

1: Kaylee Lunsford, Fort Scott, Kan.

2: Kade Boatman, Rockford, Ill.

3: Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan.

Intermediate:

1: Wesley Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan.

2: Sheridan Chaney, Elwood, Neb.

3: Cade Harris, Saledo, Texas

Senior:

1: Bailey Kelton,Yerington, Nev.

2: Malina Lindstrom, Elm Creek, Neb.

3: Emily Bernard, Grand Ridge, Ill.

Extemporaneous Speech

Extemporaneous speech is designed to encourage interest in promoting the beef industry and portraying Herefords in a positive image through public speaking. Sponsored by the NHW and the NJHA, this contest helps young people improve their ability to think quickly and accurately before a panel of judges.

Intermediate:

1: Chesney Effling, Highmore, S.D.

2: Jacob Toombs, Fairplay, Mo.

3: Haleigh Ferguson, Smithton, Mo.

Senior:

1: Malina Lindstrom, Elm Creek, Neb.

2: Melanie Fishel, Kernersville, N.C.

3: Schelby Beach, Arlington, Ohio

Promotional Poster

The objective of this contest is for youth to create a poster promoting the current JNHE. The promotional poster competition is sponsored by the NJHA.

Peewee:

1: Chyloh Billman, Rigby, Idaho

2: Emma Helsinger, West Manchester, Ohio

3: Faith Perry, Onaga, Kan.

Junior:

1: Gavin Rhode, Stewartsville, Mo.

2: Tymber Billman, Rigby, Idaho

3: Blake Kirkpatrick, Olympia, Wash.

Livestock Judging

The judging contest helps youth learn to evaluate cattle through the ranking of four head of livestock based on phenotypic traits. Contest participants evaluated four classes of cattle and answered questions pertaining to two of those classes. Biozyme, Inc. sponsored the livestock judging contest.

Peewee individual:

1: Lauren Adkerson, Starkville, Miss.

2: Daniel Richardson, Capron, Ill.

3: Layna Ottmers, Fredericksburg, Texas

Peewee team:

1: Illinois – Daniel Richardson, Capron; Karson Sundberg, Mendota; Ryne Allen, Quincy; Stetson Storey, Stockton

2: Texas – Layna Ottmers, Fredericksburg; John Dauer, Panhandle; Raynee Schacher, Channing; Kylee Gaston, Bridgeport

3: Kansas – Addison Acheson, Hope; Faith Perry, Onaga; Colby Jones, Wamego; Cooper Weaber, Wamego

Junior individual:

1: Addison Koontz, Thomas, Okla.

2: Kendall Boatman, Rockford, Ill.

3: Collin Deatsman, Leesburg, Ind.

Junior team:

1: Oklahoma – Addison Koontz, Thomas; Kamryn Oakes, Putnam; Kaylee Lunsford, Fort Scott, Kan.; Cierra Collins, Frederick

2: Illinois – Kendall Boatman, Rockford; Kesler Collins, Flanagan; Kade Boatman, Rockford; Trevor Crutcher, Montrose

3: Missouri – Atley Kleinman, Wentworth; Gavin Rhode, Stewartsville; Parker Sissel, Elkland; Jorja Ebert, Holt

Intermediate individual:

1: Alex Harris, Salado, Texas

2: Paige Lemenager, Hudson, Ill.

3: Julia Studer, Frankfort, Kan.

Intermediate team:

1: Texas – Alex Harris, Salado; Mason Allan, Schulenburg; Ashby Dauer, Panhandle; Brandon Adams, Aquilla

2: Nebraska – Blake Bruns, ; Fletcher Larson, ; Hannah Pearson, ; Paul J. VanDeWalle

3: Illinois – Paige Lemenager, Hudson; Morgan Richardson, Capron, Ill.; Ty Bickelhaupt, Mount Carroll; Emma Richardson, Capron

Senior individual:

1: Jackson Neil, Northfield, Minn.

2: Rachael Drumm, Winchester, Ky.

3: Walker Dunn, Cochranton, Pa.

Senior team:

1: Illinois – Emily Bernard, Grand Ridge; Trevor Bickelhaupt, Mount Carroll; Hailey Bickelhaupt, Mount Carroll; Nick Torrance, Media

2: Minnesota – Mallory Carlson, Mudrock; Wade Lawrence, Princeton; Jackson Neil, Northfield; Hannah Neil, Northfield

3: Kansas – Wyatt, Wade and Molly Minihan, Wheaton; Emily Rice

Open individual:

1: Chade Crane, LaSalle, Ill.

2: Danny Davis, Maple Hill, Kan.

3: Kyle McMillan, Tiskilwa, Ill.

Open team:

1: Illinois – Chade Crane, LaSalle; Kyle McMillan, Tiskilwa; Tom Boatman, Rockford

2: Kansas – Jarrod Gillig, Blue Rapids; Danny Davis, Maple Hill; Charlene Miller, El Dorado; Daniel Schmidt, Blue Rapids

3: Arkansas – Lauren, Brandon and Braylen Martin, Judsonia

Hereford Bowl

In the Hereford Bowl competition, each individual is given a written test consisting of 50 questions that cover anything in the agriculture and beef industries along with the Hereford breed. After completing the written test, those who score the highest are put to the ultimate challenge, team against team, in the buzzer round. The competition allows contestants to demonstrate good sportsmanship and provide an educational experience for both participants and spectators. The NJHA sponsored the Hereford Bowl contest.

Champion junior team: Illinois — Kade and Kendall Boatman, Rockford; Morgan Richardson, Capron, Ill.; Adian Knobloch, Buckingham, Ill.

Reserve junior team: Wisconsin — Mya Bevan, Platteville; Nick Jones, Darlington; Morgan Firlus, Mauston; and Jordan Lamb, Wilson

Champion senior team: Illinois — Nick Torrance, Media; Kira Sayre, Arenzville; Molly Biggs, Dixon; and Emma Richardson, Capron

Reserve senior team: Oklahoma — Parker Cantrell, Collinsville; Riley Huskey, Beggs; Terah Garcia, Tecumseh; and KayAnn Eck, Putnam

Junior written test winner: Kendall Boatman, Rockford, Ill.

Senior written test winner: Nick Torrance, Media, Ill.

Team Sales

Teams “sell” any product related to agriculture to a panel of judges by promoting the item in a creative way. This competition emphasizes the importance of communication skills, marketing technique and creative design skills in a real-life sales scenario. The NJHA sponsored the team sales competition.

First-place peewee team: Texas – Kylee Gaston, Bridgeport; Layna Ottmers, Fredericksburg; and Jarrett Worrell, Mason

Second-place peewee team: Kansas – Brinley Davis, Maple Hill; Colby Jones, Wamego; and Cooper Weaber, Wamego

First-place junior team: Kansas – Jase Beltz, Galva; Danica Davis, Maple Hill; and Cally Miller, El Dorado

Second-place junior team: Oklahoma – Addison Koontz, Thomas; Kamryn Oakes, Putnam; and Hannah Pembrook, Beggs

Third-place junior team: Missouri – Beau Anne Graves, Chillicothe; Emmalee Mueller, Perryville; and Kristin Waters, Norborne

First-place intermediate team: Wyoming – Jhett West, Sheridan; Braden West, Sheridan; Saige Ward, Laramie

Second-place intermediate team: New England – Ashlee Demolles, West Bridgewater, Maine; and Harrison Roberts, Williamsburg, Mass.

Third-place intermediate team: Kansas – Jalyn Davis, Maple Hill; Jordan Gatz, Fairview; and Lauren Gatz, Fairview

Individual Sales

Sponsored by the NJHA, individual sales allows an individual junior to sell a product to a panel using visual aids and salesmanship skills. A sister competition to Team Sales, this contest gives the junior a glimpse at a real life situation of selling an animal, semen, embryo package or any agricultural related product.

Peewee:

1: Claire Collins, Frederick, Okla.

2: Kylee Gaston, Bridgeport, Texas

3: Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas

Junior:

1: Cade Harris, Salado, Texas

2: Marlyn Pecha, Meno, Okla.

3: Jhett West, Sheridan, Wyo.

Intermediate:

1: Karley Rayfield, Lubbock, Texas

2: Jacob Toombs, Fairplay, Mo.

3: Grant Helsinger, Germantown, Ohio

Senior:

1: Melanie Fishel, Kernersville, N.C.

2: Malina Lindstrom, Elm Creek, Neb.

3: Madison Katzenberger, Monroe, Wis.

Outstanding State Junior Member

Each state with participants at the JNHE can recognize one member with this award.

Alabama: Carter St. John, Pell City

Colorado: Jason Dias, Fort Morgan

Georgia: Dru Hunt, Madison

Illinois: Noah Benedict, Dewey

Indiana: Payton Farmer, Brownstown

Iowa: Abby Anderlik, Dayton

Kansas: Wade Minihan, Wheaton

Kentucky: Taylor Belle Matheny, Mays Lick

Maryland: Alexis Winkler, Woodbine

Minnesota: Wyatt Lawrence, Princeton

Mississippi: Emily Adkerson, Starkville

Missouri: Jacob Toombs, Fairplay

Nebraska: Hannah Williams, Kearney

New Mexico: Holly Pérez, Nara Visa

North Carolina: Melanie Fishel, Kernersville

Oklahoma: Parker Cantrell, Collinsville

Oregon: Cody Morrell, Eugene

Pennsylvania: Walker Dunn, Cochranton

South Carolina: Harrison Hutton, Liberty

South Dakota: Sydney Dvorak, Brookings

Tennessee: Mason Collins, Lewisburg

Texas: Ashby Dauer, Panhandle

Virginia: Sedona Sifford, Goldzein

Washington: Lauren Balmelli, Chehalis

Wisconsin: Matt Bowman, Bryant

Certified Hereford Beef® Cook-Off

The Certified Hereford Beef Cook-Off is an event in which each state assembled a team of six members and presented a recipe to a panel of judges. The purpose of the Cook-Off is to promote Certified Hereford Beef and the benefits beef provides to a healthy diet. The NHW, Certified Hereford Beef and the Indiana Junior Hereford Association sponsored the Cook-Off.

First-place team: Kansas 3 – Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids; Dakota Gillig, Blue Rapids; Kinsley Gillig, Blue Rapids; Will Meinhardt, Marysville; and Callie Schmidt, Blue Rapids

Second-place team: Texas 2 – Kayce Lopez, Fort Worth; Keyser Ottmers, Fredericksburg; Layna Ottmers, Fredericksburg; Jarrett Worrell, Mason; Fisher Bradley, Mason

Third-place team: Indiana – Zach Strueh, Zionsville; Maddox Gunn, Greenfield; Dylan Kottkamp, Clayton; Colin Deatsman, Leesburg; Kylie McFatridge, Otterbein

Photography

Juniors submit photos to a panel of judges for review. The NJHA and Hereford Publications Inc. co-sponsor the photography contest.

Peewee

Hereford Cattle

1: Cora Belle Chapman, Seneca, Ill.

2: Brinley Davis, Maple Hill, Kan.

3: Caroline Lee, Wellington, Ill.

Enhanced

1: Ella Crane, LaSalle, Ill.

2: Cora Belle Chapman, Seneca, Ill.

3: Kian Morris, Wilber, Neb.

People

1: Caroline Lee, Wellington, Ill.

2: Kylee Gaston, Bridgeport, Texas

3: Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas

Junior

Hereford Cattle

1: Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan.

2: Kendall Boatman, Rockford, Ill.

3: Piper Colyer, Bruneau, Idaho

Enhanced

1: Nolan Lee, Wellington, Ill.

2: Waylon Lee, Wellington, Ill.

3: Piper Colyer, Bruneau, Idaho

People

1: Waylon Lee, Wellington, Ill.

2: Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan.

3: Trevor Crutcher, Montrose, Ill.

Intermediate

Hereford Cattle

1: Jalyn Davis, Maple Hill, Kan.

2: Abigail Billing, Greendell, N.J.

3: Garrett Markey, Watkinsville, Ga.

Enhanced

1: Rianna Chaney, Elwood, Neb.

2: Abigail Lewis, Palmyra, Neb.

3: Molly Biggs, Dixon, Ill.

People

1: Kiley Allan, Lemars, Iowa

2: Sydney Mitchell, Waterville, Minn.

3: Rhett McMillen, Walnut Grove, Mo.

Senior

Hereford Cattle

1: Hannah Tremaine, Oconomowoc, Wis.

2: Schelby Beach, Arlington, Ohio

3: Wyatt Minihan, Wheaton, Kan.

Enhanced

1: Wyatt Minihan, Wheaton, Kan.

2: Blair Steele, Mercer, Pa.

3: Abby Anderlik, Dayton, Iowa

People

1: Molly Minihan, Wheaton, Kan.

2: Calah Covey, Hamill, S.D.

3: Ashton McMillen, Walnut Grove, Mo.