Grand Island, Neb. – Young people involved with the Hereford breed “sold” their salesmanship and marketing skills during the the 2024 VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “The Grand Daddy of ‘Em All,” on July 7 in Grand Island, Neb. Judges selected the top-three individuals in the individual sales and sales academy contests.

Individual sales 

Participants “sell” a panel of judges on a product of their choice during the individual sales contest. This contest provides junior members with the opportunity to use visual aids and salesmanship skills to market an animal, semen, embryos or other agricultural products. Held in a hybrid format, contestants first submitted a video illustrating their sales abilities that was evaluated by agricultural industry professionals to select finalists. Finalists then presented their product pitch in Grand Island, Neb. The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) proudly sponsored this contest.

The top-three placing individual sales junior participants were: 

Junior: 

1. Lillian Schut, Belding, Mich.

2. Kingston Egbert, Fairfield, Mont.

3. Blake Day, Loup City, Neb.

Sales Academy 

Sales academy gives older NJHA members a glimpse into real-world cattle sales and marketing. Contestants combine their communication and marketing skills prior to a “live sale” with an understanding of performance and pedigree information. Sales academy participants submitted marketing materials for their animal prior to the JNHE and gave a sales pitch to a panel of judges at the event. The contest is also sponsored by the NJHA.

The top-placing sales academy presenters were:

Intermediate: 

1. Aidyn Barber, Channing, Texas

2. Taylor Marrs, Macomb, Okla.

3. Joseph Schohr, Oroville, Calif.

Senior: 

1. T.R. Putz, Otley, Iowa

Many youth participated in educational contests, like these sales contests, throughout the week-long event. The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) proudly supports these educational and scholarship opportunities.

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The 2024 VitaFerm^®Junior National Hereford Expo, “The Grand Daddy of ’Em All,” was sponsored in part by BioZyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is one of the most active junior programs in the country with more than 4,000 members. The NJHA’s mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit JrHereford.org.