Spring is right around the corner and the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) has multiple upcoming deadlines and updates to be aware of. Along with that, the months of March and April are full of exciting events for junior members to participate in. The rules and updates for all JNHE contests and shows are also readily available on the JNHE Resources page. Make sure to go check out https://hereford.org/youth/junior-national-hereford-expo/resources/ to stay up to date and start practicing for the contests this summer. Additionally, make sure to apply for the Spring Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) scholarship’s due on April 15, and other awards such as Junior Golden Bull and Prospect Awards that will be presented at the JNHE.

The NJHA is also proud to announce the 20 individual NJHA members who were selected to participate in the 2025 BOLD leadership conference. This elite leadership opportunity strives to develop leaders who will continue to make an impact at both their state, regional and national level, while setting the Hereford breed up for success in the years to come. We’re excited to be bringing this group of 20 juniors, representing 12 different states to the conference.

A MEMORABLE SALE OF CHAMPIONS

From the Hereford Youth Foundation of America, the National Junior Hereford Association and the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), we can’t thank the donors, supporters and buyers enough for one of the most successful Sale of Champions to date. Again, we thank everyone for the support and we can’t wait to be “Live from Louisville,” July 12-18, 2025!

REPRESENT TEAM USA

A rare and exciting opportunity for Hereford juniors and even young adult American Hereford Association (AHA) members is coming right around the corner. The World Hereford Conference takes place once every four years, and this year will be coming to Kansas City, Oct. 22-26, in conjunction with the National Hereford Show at the American Royal Livestock Show. Alongside this conference is the Young Breeders Competition, hosted in Manhattan, Kan., and gets underway on Oct. 19.

Within the Young Breeders Competition, countries have the option of sponsoring a team that will represent their knowledge and skills in the Hereford breed and agriculture industry. Team USA will represent the most talented youth our country has to offer and thanks to grants made possible by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America, applications to be a part of this global competition at Kansas State University are being accepted now.

Contestants must be between the ages of 18-26 years old and be a member of either the NJHA or the AHA, and teams will be made up of four competitors. Apply to be on Team USA by April 15, and represent the country in a global competition. If you do not wish to compete, but still want to attend the World Hereford Conference and the accompanying tours and events, you can learn more at https://www.worldherefordconference.com/.

HANDS ON IN THE FEED YARD – SAVE THE DATE

The 2025 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day is scheduled for April 11-12, in Scott City, Kan., at HRC Feed Yards. For the second year, the event has expanded to offer an open house on Friday afternoon and evening, with time set aside for a one-on-one experience viewing your cattle on feed in the yards and plenty of time to ask questions. After the open house at the feed yard, we invite you all to join us in Scott City for a Certified Hereford Beef Burger fry and the chance to interact with other junior cattle feeders and industry friends.

The RSVP for the event is available now, and we ask that you please RSVP by April 1 to ensure proper head counts for meals. The schedule is coming soon.

LIVE FROM LOUISVILLE

The 2025 VitaFerm® JNHE is “Live from Louisville,” this summer in Louisville, Ky., July 12-18. We are so excited to welcome Hereford families from across the country to join us for the event of the summer and an event that was just voted as Best of the Barns by its peers.

The most current tentative schedule is available online, as well as the Rules & Regulations, contest rules and updates and health requirements. Make sure to look at the JNHE Resources page to find all details and information as we continue getting closer, and take note of all changes and modifications to events.

*Steer Exhibitors* – As a reminder, all steers entered and exhibited at the JNHE must be parent verified to both sire and dam. This requires a DNA profile for the steer, sire, and dam, completed through the official AHA lab. To avoid any delays with entering or exhibiting at the JNHE, we strongly encourage you to start this process as early as possible. DNA verification is required at the time of entry.

LEADERSHIP GRANTS AWARDED AT THE GRASSROOTS

For the second year in a row, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) is proud to award State Leadership & Education Grants to those deserving state junior associations who are working to better their leadership efforts at the grassroots level. Funds made available to the states last year were predominately used for leadership conference travel expenses, educational programs and much more. This year, 11 different states received a grant totaling $1,300 each to be used to elevate their current leadership programs. Money for this fund is generated by fundraisers like the 5K held at the Junior National Hereford Expo.

Congratulations to the following states who are building leaders at the state level and doing remarkable things for their membership .

DATES & DEADLINES

JNHE Sale of Champions 
March 5, 2025
More Information

NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day RSVP 
April 1, 2025
RSVP

Team USA Young Breeders Competition Application Deadline 
April 15, 2025
Apply Today

HYFA Spring Scholarship Application Deadline 
April 15, 2025
Apply Today

Junior Golden Bull & Prospect Award Application Deadline 
April 15, 2025
Apply Today