MADISON, Wis. –  National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members grabbed their clippers and combs to face off in the team fitting contest, sponsored by Sullivan Supply of Dunlap, Iowa. The top three teams received special recognition July 6 during the VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Madison, Wis. 

Teams consisted of one senior or intermediate, one junior and one peewee exhibitor. Each team was given 40 minutes to fit their animal and prepare it for the competition. The contest was evaluated by 2026 Hereford Herdsman of the Year, Breck Debnam, Madison, Ga. 

After the final touches were made, the champion team was Kansas, with members, Emmett Acheson, Wichita; Josie Beltz, Canton; and Jase Beltz, Canton.  

Team Missouri won second place, with members: Brynlee Thompson, Amity; Madelyn Thompson, Amity; and Beau Ann Graves, Chillicothe. 

Illinois rounded out the top three, with members Olivia Young, Lexington; Peyton Sidles, Buffalo; and Simon Shepard, Altamont, receiving third place. 

Competitions, such as team fitting, help the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) uphold their commitment to education by supporting the contests and events during the JNHE. These programs prepare Hereford youth to become knowledgeable, self-driven leaders in today’s world, developing valuable skills through competition outside of the showring and connection with fellow NJHA members. 

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The 2026 VitaFerm^®Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “The Hereford Masters in Madison,” was 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 plenty of 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 photos and press release here.