KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Morgan Richardson, Capron, Ill., was awarded the Bar One Ranch Scholarship during the 2024 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 25. During the award ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors awarded $165,500 in scholarships to 27 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals.

Richardson is a junior at Western Illinois University enrolled in the pre-veterinary medicine program.  She hopes to become a large animal veterinarian, specializing in chiropractic and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. Previously a student at Black Hawk College, Richardson is an active member of both the NJHA and the Illinois Junior Hereford Association.

“The passion to pursue this career was sparked by the great livestock organizations and great people in agriculture that I have grown up with. I have wanted nothing more than to pursue a career in the industry that I love,” Richardson said.

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 selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants. “It’s a true pleasure to review the HYFA scholarship applications. So many of the applicants have stellar records and have interesting and creative career ambitions that reviewers can’t help but be certain the future of the industry is in good hands,” said George Sprague, HYFA scholarship committee member. 

The scholarship fund serves as the bedrock of HYFA, and countless youth benefit from its mission. Since its inception, HYFA has awarded scholarships fueling educational opportunities. For years, these scholarships have been lighting the way for youth in the Hereford breed. Recently, the foundation celebrated awarding more than $2 million in scholarships to assist Hereford youth further their education, since its founding in 2000.

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The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) was established in 2000, when the American Hereford Youth Foundation and the American Polled Hereford Youth Foundation, Inc., merged. HYFA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the scholarship and educational support of young people in the Hereford industry. Its mission 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.