KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Regan Mitchem, Vale, N.C., was awarded the Bar One Ranch Scholarship during the 2023 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 20. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors proudly awarded $163,000 in scholarships to 27 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals.

 Mitchem is a first-year student at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She credits the NJHA and her own North Carolina Junior Hereford Association for pushing her outside of her comfort zone and encouraging her to create connections across the country. She plans to focus her career efforts after graduation in rural areas and agriculture.

“There is a nation-wide shortage of food animal veterinarians,” Mitchem says.“What better way to give back to the industry that I love than to provide veterinary services to areas in need?”

The Bar One Ranch Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA, is a $5,000 scholarship offered by George and Karen Sprague of Bar One Ranch in Oregon. The scholarship is in memory of their late friend, Ken Tracy, who was a friend to the entire Hereford breed.

“The foundation takes great pride in our scholarship program and the opportunities we are able to provide to assist our young people throughout their college journeys,” says Amy Cowan, AHA’s director of youth Activities and foundation. “The selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants and are confident that today’s NJHA members will be tomorrow’s leaders in whatever industry they pursue.” 

The scholarship fund is the bedrock of HYFA and countless youth are benefactors of its mission. This last fiscal year, the foundation celebrated net assets reaching more than $6.3 million and in total $221,500 was given back to Hereford youth to assist with their college educations. 

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The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) was established in 1986 and is a not-for-profit 501(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.