MADISON, Wis. — Bryden Barber, Channing, Texas, was awarded the $2,000 NOP Founders Scholarship at the 2023 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) Scholarship, Award and Maroon Jacket Ceremony on July 13 in Madison, Wis.

Barber will begin his senior year at Oklahoma State University in the fall pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He has served as a Dallam County 4-H club officer and Texas Junior Hereford Association junior and senior director and treasurer. Barber plans to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree in animal reproduction. He hopes to return home to begin his own cow-calf operation.

“One avenue that I would like to pursue if chosen for a Hereford scholarship would be study abroad programs,” Barber says. “I have reviewed several study abroad programs and I have a particular interest in a program that travels to Argentina to compare their production agriculture practices to those that we use in the United States.”

The NOP Founders Scholarship was established in 2003, in honor of the women who laid the foundation for the National Organization of Poll-ette’s (NOP), which was organized in 1965 and is now known as the National Hereford Women (NHW). “I had the pleasure of serving for the first time on the selection committee for Hereford youth scholarships,” said Cameron Kolinski, NHW. “I was beyond impressed by all of the applicants. There is no doubt in my mind that the future of the Hereford breed is in good hands with these outstanding juniors.”

HYFA awarded $29,000 to outstanding Hereford youth at the 2023 JNHE, and will award more than $200,000 throughout the year to deserving junior members to aid in their academic endeavors.

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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.