LOUISVILLE, Ky. – National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members grabbed the mic and showcased their public speaking talents in the illustrated and advanced speech contests during the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “Live from Louisville,” July 13 in Louisville, Ky. Hosted by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA), alongside the NJHA and National Hereford Women (NHW), these speech contests highlight their ongoing commitment to leadership development and education. 

Illustrated speech 

NJHA members fine-tuned their public speaking and leadership skills through the illustrated speech contest. This competition helps young people find their voice, while promoting the beef industry and the Hereford breed. The illustrated speech contest is proudly sponsored by the NHW and the NJHA. 

This year’s top placings in the illustrated speech contest are as follows. 

Peewee: 

1st place: Kinsley Mullinix, Manhattan, Kan.

2nd place: Mila Perez, Canyon, Texas

3rd place: Adelynn Kuykendall, Graham, Texas 

Junior: 

1st place: Libby  Pérez, Nara Visa, N.M. 

2nd place: Mason Mullinix, Manhattan, Kan.

3rd place: Gentry Gudel, Wilton, Calif. 

Advanced speech 

Much like the illustrated speech contest, the advanced speech contest challenges NJHA members to use their public speaking skills to advocate for the Hereford breed and the agricultural industry. Designed for more experienced speakers, this contest encourages confidence, broader industry knowledge and leadership. The NHW proudly sponsors this event, continuing their support of youth development. 

This year’s top placings in the advanced speech contest are as follows. 

Intermediate: 

1st place: Clay Lawrence, Kite, Ga.

2nd place: Faith Benedict, Dewey, Ill. 

3rd place: Creighton Smith, Georgetown, Ky.

Senior: 

1st place: Devon Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas 

2nd place: Alisha Klemme, Plymouth, Wis.

HYFA upholds their educational pillar by supporting the educational contests and events at the JNHE.  These programs provide Hereford youth with the opportunity to develop valuable skills that prepare them to become knowledgeable, self-driven leaders in today’s world, compete outside of the showring and connect with fellow NJHA members. 

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The 2025 VitaFerm^®Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “Live from Louisville,” is sponsored in part by BioZyme^® Inc., St. Joseph, Mo., and their brands VitaFerm^® and Sure Champ^®. The JNHE provides educational and leadership opportunities for junior members and their cattle projects, along with events for the entire family. The National Junior Hereford Association is one of the most active junior programs in the country with more than 4,200 members. For more information about the JNHE, visit Hereford.org/youth.

Find the press release and photos here.