KANSAS CITY, Mo. —  Hannah Oleson, Arkdale, Wis., was awarded the 2024 Blin Family 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.

Oleson is a freshman at South Dakota State University majoring in animal science. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in animal science and genetics and hopes to become a cattle geneticist. She credits the NJHA with fueling her passion for the cattle industry and inspiring her future career choice. .

“I've observed genetics at play within my own herd, particularly in herd improvement through maternal trait breeding. Participating in the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout was a pivotal experience for me. It provided insight into how my cattle fared against hundreds of others,” Oleson said. “While I focused heavily on maternal traits, I realized that this led to weaker carcass traits. This experience reinforced my interest in genetics and fueled my curiosity.”

The Blin Family Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA, is a $2,500 scholarship honoring the first Lot 1 Foundation Female ever sold at the Mile High Night Sale in Denver, Colo. Star Lake Cattle Co. and the Blin family of Iowa consigned the first Lot 1 Foundation Female, which sold for $100,000. Their consignment started a scholarship fund that has grown to nearly $1 million.

The selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants. “The vast majority of applicants were outstanding. Each year applications seem more and more competitive, which leads me to believe that the future of the Hereford breed, and agriculture in general, is in good hands,” said Nancy Keilty, 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.