The educational pillar of HYFA assists in supporting events from the Junior National Hereford Expo and the educational contests on site, to the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout program, an industry-leading opportunity for juniors to gain industry education and experience. Opportunities to educate the next generation of Hereford breeders for the better.
Since the beginning, HYFA’s focus has primarily been geared toward supporting youth and scholarship, but in recent years has expanded that mission to include leadership and education. Through educational programs at the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) Hereford youth have the opportunity to gain invaluable skills that will enable them to become self-directing, educated leaders in today’s world. The JNHE has topped the record books on several occasions and the excitement that surrounds the event, the momentum and the positive energy it creates for the entire Hereford breed is unmatched.
The GKB Cattle Youth Endowment by Gary and Kathy Buchholz and the Cottonwood Springs Farm Educational Endowment gifted by Tim and Nancy Keilty propels education to the next level with the sole purpose of providing support for educational programs at the annual Junior National Hereford Expo. Thanks to continued support from allied partners and Hereford breeders, HYFA’s Growing a Lasting Legacy Campaign powers the JNHE each year.
In the last decade, the JNHE has experienced monumental growth topping the charts in 2018 with 1,840 Hereford entries and 925 Hereford youth, and even amidst a pandemic the JNHE still experienced strong numbers with 1,385 entries showcased by 800 exhibitors in 2021. We are continuing to grow and excitement builds as we head to Grand Island, Neb., July 6-12, 2024 for the 25th Anniversary and the show that is the Grand Daddy of ‘Em All.
The NJHA Fed Steer Shootout is an industry-leading opportunity for NJHA members to gain invaluable industry education and real world cattle feeding experience. Contestants will collect feedyard performance and carcass data during the contest and are given the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of the feedlot and packing industries through a comprehensive educational contest. Participants also have the opportunity to attend a field day each spring at the host feedlot to gain an even better industry perspective and see how their steers and genetics are performing in the yard. Thanks to supporters such as Bar One Ranch and Texas Star Dance, the juniors invested in learning these aspects of the cattle industry have the opportunity to grow and develop skills to benefit their herds and the beef industry as a whole.
The Growing a Lasting Legacy Campaign is focused on ensuring the sustainability of future Junior National Hereford Expos for years to come. Sue and the late Jim Rowland of G&R Polled Herefords made the inaugural gift in 2013 and thanks to past JNHE host committees and an army of supporters, the fund has grown to close to $1.7 million and continues to grow to support the Hereford spectacular event each summer.
Learn about the founding of the Legacy:
