Feeding off of the momentum from an amazing week spent in Kansas City, Mo., with the Hereford family during the American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Educational Forum, the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) has exciting things coming up for all of its junior members.

Didn’t get signed up for the 2025 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout contest? Reach out to Trey Befort, tbefort@herefordbeef.org, within the week to have the option for a late entry. This program continues to grow, alongside the Partner with a Breeder aspect available for junior members, and the NJHA is excited to showcase this contest on a global stage next year during the World Hereford Conference.

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 2025 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.

Applications for internships, the BOLD leadership conference, State Leadership and Education grants and many others are all at the forefront of these winter months. Read further into the November NJHA News Now for all of the details.

TEAM USA TOPS THE GLOBAL YOUNG BREEDERS COMPETITION

Young cattle producers from around the world competed in the Young Breeders Competition, held Oct. 19-25 in conjunction with the World Hereford Conference (WHC), hosted in Kansas City, Mo., by the American Hereford Association (AHA).

The 2025 Young Breeders Competition brought together 11 teams representing seven countries for a week of world-class competition and camaraderie. Countries represented during the competition included the USA, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Team USA came out on top with both the champion and reserve champion banners going to USA — Team Blue and USA — Team Red, respectively. Read more about the competition and see the placings of both teams representing Team USA at the link below.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NJHA MEMBERS

During the Shaping the Breed’s Future: Young Breeders Competition and HYFA Scholarship Awards Luncheon presented by VitaFerm^®, HYFA and its donors awarded $165,500 in scholarships to 27 NJHA members to help support their higher education goals.

Also during this luncheon recognizing outstanding Hereford juniors, The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout participants and winners were recognized. This program teaches young people about the cattle feeding industry. This year the Fed Steer Shootout attracted 96 junior participants in 24 states — from California to Pennsylvania — which entered 281 head of Hereford and Hereford-influenced steers. The 2025 winners received more than $15,000 in scholarships and awards from the HYFA.

HYFA SEASON OF GIVING TO MAKE ANNUAL IMPACT

The Hereford Season of Giving, hosted by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA), is back this December 18-20. The 2024 goal is to make an event bigger impact with the focus on securing 500 donors throughout the three-day event and any gift level is welcome.

Thanks to an outpouring of support from Hereford breeders, donors and friends, HYFA generated an amazing $284,000, during the 2023 Hereford Season of Giving. These funds went right to work building all of HYFA’s pillars of scholarship, leadership, education and research.

At the end of the 2024 Hereford Season of Giving HYFA is hopeful to beat the 2023 numbers, and continue the growth of the foundation for the future. Donors may specify which pillar they would like to give to at the time of giving, and any amount, big or small, makes an impact during this annual campaign where we all come together to support HYFA’s programs. Learn more about the season, and see those who donated last year, at the link below. Stay up to date by following HYFA on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/herefordyouthfoundation.

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

Fort Worth Stock Show Entry Deadline 
Nov. 15, 2024
Learn More

NAILE Junior Hereford Show 
Nov. 16, 2024
Learn More

Cattlemen’s Congress Entry Deadline 
Nov. 18, 2024
Learn More

NAILE Open Hereford Show 
Nov. 19, 2024
Learn More

National Western Stock Show Entry Deadline 
Nov. 20, 2024
Learn More

Western States Hereford Show 
Dec. 4-7, 2024
Learn More

Hereford Season of Giving 
Dec. 18-20, 2024
Learn More

AHA Youth Activities & Foundation Intern/Ambassador Program Application 
Jan. 15, 2025
Apply Today

State Leadership & Education Grant Application 
Jan. 15, 2025
Apply Today

BOLD Leadership Conference Application 
Feb. 1, 2025
Apply Today