GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Mason Allan, Nocona, Texas, and Logan Topp, Grace City, N.D., were the recipients of the two $2,500 Hereford Herdsman Scholarships at the 2024 VitaFerm^®Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) Scholarship, Award and Maroon Jacket Ceremony on July 11 in Grand Island, Neb. 

Mason Allan, Nocona, Texas 

Allan will be a junior at Texas Tech University this fall, majoring in animal science with a focus in beef cattle nutrition. After college, Allan plans to pursue a career as either a beef cattle nutritionist or in the commodities sector. 

“My biggest passion lies within raising and selling Hereford cattle with emphasis on junior exhibitors,” Allansaid. “I plan to continue to serve and promote our breed to everyone I come into contact with. If allowed, my biggest dream is to one day have a family of my own who exhibit Herefords across the country and are afforded the same opportunities I have had.” 

Logan Topp, Grace City, N.D.Topp is a senior at Kansas State University (K-State) where he is studying animal sciences and industry. After his time at K-State, Topp hopes to produce breed-changing bulls that have the ability to add pounds and profit to a customers' calf crop on an annual basis. He also plans to produce baldy cattle that perform well in the feedyard and on the grid. 

Topp is passionate about the cattle industry as a whole. 

“I aim to serve as a mentor for aspiring young individuals, by encouraging them to pursue careers in agriculture. I now recognize the critical need for young individuals to return to their family ranches and farms in order to ensure the sustainability of agriculture,” Topp said. “I am passionate about raising awareness about the importance of succession planning and encouraging young individuals to consider returning to their family operations.”

Bobby Singleton helps review applicants for the Hereford Herdsman Scholarship. “It’s amazing for myself, how focused these young people are on their goals, whether it’s in their college studies and classes or their career goals, and how they are bettering themselves and their family, while continuing their love of the agriculture industry and Hereford cattle in particular.” 

Sullivan Supply Inc., and Hereford herdsmen from across the country collaborate with HYFA to support these two scholarships. 

HYFA awarded $40,000 to outstanding Hereford youth at the 2024 JNHE and will award more than $200,000 throughout the year to deserving junior members to aid in their academic endeavors.

###

The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) was established in 1986 and is a not-for-profit501(c)(3) corporation dedicated exclusively to scholarship and educational support of youth in the business of raising Hereford cattle. The mission of the Hereford Youth Foundation of America is to encourage, recognize and reward the development of life skills and values in the next generation of leaders by providing education, scholarship and leadership opportunities for Hereford Youth.