Kansas City, Mo. – The 2022 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) is making the venture to Louisville, Ky., after two years being hosted in Kansas City during the pandemic. “Banners in the Bluegrass,” will be held July 16-22, at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, and the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is thrilled to announce there are 2,031 entries from 775 junior members who are gearing up to compete in the showring and contest arenas throughout the flagship event.

Excitement continues to grow as exhibitors from 39 different states plan to head to the Bluegrass state in July. With the economy at the highest rate of inflation since 1982, according to the U.S. Inflation Calculator, these numbers prove that the enthusiasm surrounding the JNHE never wavers and encourages involvement for Hereford youth and their families.

This year will also host the return of several in-person elements of the educational contests that went virtual during the pandemic. Junior members from across the country are excited to grow in leadership, public speaking and life skills. More than 400 of the attending juniors will participate in contests such as extemporaneous speech, illustrated speech, sales contests, future professionals contests and the judging contest. Thanks to the Hereford Youth Foundation of America, scholarships with a total value of $33,000 will also be awarded to deserving junior members who applied and went through a rigorous interview process in May.

“As a breed we look forward to July and preparing for one of the greatest weeks of the year where we gather as a Hereford family to showcase the talents of the next generation in and out of the showring, ” says Amy Cowan, American Hereford Association Director of Youth Activities and Foundation. “The Junior National Hereford Expo has so much to offer our youth in terms of personal development and leadership opportunities, and we are extremely grateful to all of our partners and friends who come together to make it all possible.”

Gates open at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 and the public is invited to come watch the shows that get underway in Broadbent Arena, Tuesday, July 18 at 8 a.m. and run through Friday, July 16. For a complete schedule please visit https://hereford.org/youth.