The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Board of Directors takes great pride in the caliber of judges selected to sift the prestigious Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) each summer. For more information about the JNHE and additional details about “The Hereford Masters in Madison”, follow the link below.
Tyler Cates resides in Modoc, Ind., where he operates Cates Farms and Sunrise Sunset Farm with his wife, Cortney, and daughter, Piper. Their operation is dedicated to producing and showcasing high-quality show cattle at major exhibitions nationwide.
The Cates family raises Shorthorn and Angus cattle and has exhibited numerous national champion bulls and females. The driving force behind these accomplishments is hard work and strong customer relationships. The family markets their genetics through annual fall and spring sales.
Tyler attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he was a member of the livestock judging team. He transferred to Purdue University, where he competed on the livestock judging team and eventually served as assistant coach. He has judged multiple national shows and junior nationals from coast to coast.
Kyle Gillooly, Wadley, Ga., is the manager of CES Herefords and Angus. He and his wife, Jennifer, own and operate Predestined Cattle Co. with their children, Grant and Diana Kate, who are fifth generation cattlemen representing both Kyle’s and Jennifer’s sides of the family. Growing up in both the Hereford and Angus junior programs, Kyle and Jennifer met at the 1999 Hereford junior nationals.
An Indiana native, Kyle is a graduate of Purdue University and was a member of the 2001 livestock judging team. He is a past president of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, along with being a Farm Bureau and school board member. Kyle has judged in 25 states as well as Canada. Faith and family are very important to the Gilloolys. They’re thankful the National Junior Hereford Association emphasizes those same values they hold dear.
Randy Mullinix owns and operates Purple Reign Cattle Co. in Toulon, Ill. He was born and raised on a diversified cattle and grain operation in Woodbine, Md. He is a graduate of Black Hawk East and Kansas State University, and he was a member of the national champion judging teams at both institutions.
Purple Reign has bred numerous national and VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo champions and has been recognized nearly 50 times as premier breeder at national events. Randy has served as a judge in 40 states, including national shows and junior nationals for more than a dozen breeds.
Jake Bohnsack, Pleasantville, Iowa, was raised in Taylor Ridge, Ill., where he developed a deep passion for exhibiting Hereford cattle at an early age. He pursued this interest academically and competitively at Black Hawk East, where he was actively involved in livestock judging. Jake later continued his education at Oklahoma State University, studying animal science and further refining his knowledge and skills within the industry.
Today, Jake is a valued member of the team at Boyert-Core Show Cattle. In his role, he works closely with customers, providing guidance and support to help them achieve their goals at every level of the show cattle industry. His dedication, expertise and commitment to excellence makes him a trusted resource for clients striving for success.
Montie Soules, Kansas City, Mo., is the CEO of the American Shorthorn Association (ASA). Since taking the helm at the ASA, registrations have increased by 20%, along with steady growth in both junior and senior memberships. He currently serves as president of the World Shorthorn Conference and the National Pedigreed Livestock Council. He is a past president of the U.S. Beef Breeds Council. He is active with the American Royal, serving on the livestock committee and as co-chair of the ethics committee.
Previously, Montie spent 34 years as general manager of Star Lake Cattle Ranch/ACE Polled Herefords, exhibiting 49 national and reserve national champions and 13 consecutive champion carloads of bulls at the National Western Stock Show. He has judged nationally and internationally and spent 18 years consulting in Argentina. Montie grew up on a family farm in Michigan and attended Michigan State University. He and his wife, Rhonda, have four children and four granddaughters.
Kirk Stierwalt, Leedey, Okla., has owned and operated Stierwalt Cattle and Clinics with his family since 1987. They’ve exhibited and sold numerous champions across the U.S. and Canada. Their 300-head cowherd is focused on raising show steers and breeding heifers of various breeds.
Kirk has judged many state fairs, national shows and major stock shows across the U.S. and Canada. He’s been conducting show cattle clinics, nationwide and abroad, for 39 years. Kirk’s advice is, “Dream big, work hard, be consistent and show up when you’re supposed to.”
Ky Stierwalt grew up in western Oklahoma, showing cattle and enjoying a successful junior career, winning state and national shows. A 2014 graduate of Oklahoma State University, Ky now focuses on raising and selling show cattle and seedstock, conducting clinics and evaluating shows. Ky, alongside his wife, Hunter; son, Stockton; and daughter, Sterling, live in Leedey, where he’s co-owner of the family business, Stierwalt Cattle and Clinics.
Matt and Taryn Johnson, along with their daughter, Tess, reside in rural Kewanee, Ill. They operate a diversified row crop and Hereford cattle operation. Matt farms and is an independent sales rep for Pioneer® Hi-Bred, and Taryn serves as a senior event manager for PTx.
Both Matt and Taryn grew up showing cattle across the country. Among their many accomplishments in the showring, their most memorable achievements came in the senior showmanship division at the VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo. Matt earned champion senior showman honors in 2015, and Taryn followed with reserve champion senior showman in 2016. During her junior career, Taryn also had the honor of serving on the National Junior Hereford Association board.
Breck Debnam, Madison, Ga., is the 2026 Hereford Herdsman of the Year.
Breck has been the Innisfail Farm herdsman in Madison, Ga., since 2018. Innisfail Farm runs 150 registered cows and a dynamic embryo transfer program. They also market bulls annually through ‘The Source’ bull sale and private treaty.
Breck attended Black Hawk East and Western Illinois University, where he was a member of the livestock judging teams at both colleges.
Breck takes care of the day-to-day operations at Innisfail: data collection, show and sale cattle management, chores and rotational grazing, as well as AI and calving. Breck oversees the farm’s C-Lock system, adding individual feed conversion data to the list of the many measures they record throughout the year.
Working alongside the Hunt family to make genetic selections, Breck and Innisfail Farm pride themselves on their disciplined program directed toward increasing their commercial clientele’s profitability in the beef industry. Breck loves working with Innisfail’s wide variety of customers, from making donor cow purchases and matings to helping northeast Georgia commercial cattlemen make sound, profit-minded genetic selections.
