We are kicking off a new year with the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) and Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA), and will be hitting the ground running in 2026.

Do you know a college student in the agriculture industry who is interested in working for a beef breed organization in the areas of junior national show and leadership events programming? Encourage them to apply for the 2026 AHA Youth Activities & Foundation Internship or the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) Ambassador Program. Applications are due Jan. 15^th to be considered for one of these amazing summer opportunities. Apply Today.

Additionally, national shows, applications for internships, the BOLD leadership conference, state leadership and education grants and many others events and applications are all at the forefront of these winter months. Read further into the January NJHA News Now for all of the details.

THANK YOU TO THOSE LEAVING AN IMPACT FOR THE FUTURE

Thank you to every supporter who gave so generously during the 2025 Hereford Season of Giving. Together, we raised $96,275 to invest in scholarship, leadership, education, research and the future of the Hereford breed — more than $745,000 in total since the start of the annual campaign. Your support is making a lasting difference. See a full list of donors and supporters from the 2025 Hereford Season of Giving below.

MEET UP IN OKC

During the 2026 Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City, Okla., the NJHA Board of Directors will host a crowd favorite: the NJHA Meet-Up — Powered by Sure Champ®. We are excited to offer the event during our Hereford juniors time in OKC as we come together to continue building on community and connections from across the country.

If you are a junior member, make sure to meet in the Performance Arena in the OKC Fairgrounds on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 3:30 p.m. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone come together.

INTERN WITH HEREFORD

Ready to learn, lead and achieve with the Hereford family? Apply now for either the full summer internship with the AHA Youth Activities Dept. or the mini-internship through the JNHE Ambassador Program, to provide the AHA with assistance in event planning and management, junior show coverage and leading the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Board of Directors and membership.

If you have a mind for marketing and communications the AHA and Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI), a subsidiary of the AHA, are offering a dynamic communications internship for college sophomores, juniors or seniors to assist the AHA communications team and the Hereford World staff in the production of communication pieces for the Association, Hereford World and Baldy Advantage magazine.

A new internship coming to the AHA focuses on research and herd improvement from the field. The Hereford Research Foundation internship will be hosted at Olsen Ranches in Colorado working with the National Reference Sire Program through the summer of 2026. More information about this internship is coming soon.

Applications due Jan. 15, 2026.

STATE ADVISORS APPLY TODAY

HYFA is excited to continue offering state leadership and education grants to state associations and thanks to generous supports has earmarked $15,000 to give back in 2025. These grassroot grants are available to all state junior associations based on application and will help us work together as we build the pipeline of leaders at the NJHA. 

HYFA and NJHA appreciate all of the state associations that help make the NJHA one of the best beef youth organizations in the world. Grant funding is to be used for any leadership or educational goals of the state’s junior members to participate on the national level. Funding can be used for, but is not limited to; travel expenses for BOLD or Faces of Leadership, travel for the JNHE, travel or transport for the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout contest, etc. Grant applications are available through the Submittable platform and due Feb. 1, 2025.

WHO IS READY TO BE BOLD?

NJHA members between the ages of 18-21, it is time to start thinking about building on your leadership development. Applications for the 2025 BOLD Leadership Conference are open now and NJHA hopes you will take advantage of this elite leadership opportunity held in Desdemona, Texas, at GKB’s Hi Point Ranch, April 3-6, 2025.

Applications are due Feb. 1, 2025, and those who are chosen to attend will be notified shortly after. Travel to and from the conference is the responsibility of the attendee, however, thanks to the GKB Cattle Youth Endowment, the conference, lodging and food are covered by acceptance into the program. Continue to grow as a leader within your state and national organizations, and well as prepare yourself for professional development and career opportunities for the future.

DATES & DEADLINES

Cattlemen’s Congress 
Jan. 3-10, 2026
Learn More

National Western Stock Show 
Jan. 10 – 17, 2026
Learn More

AHA Youth Activities & Foundation Intern/Ambassador Program Application 
Jan. 15, 2026
Apply Today

Fort Worth Stock Show   
Jan. 28 – Feb. 2, 2026
Apply Today

State Leadership & Education Grant Application 
Feb. 1, 2026
Apply Today

BOLD Leadership Conference Application 
Feb. 1, 2026
Apply Today