MADISON, Wis. — Dylan Kottkamp, Clayton, Ind., garnered the Walter and Joe Lewis High Point Senior Award at the 2023 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE), “Mad Dash to the Hereford Bash,” on July 14, in Madison, Wis. This coveted award honors overall achievement in leadership, teamwork, skills and competition throughout JNHE. Kottkamp received a custom belt buckle and  $1,000 scholarship. 

This Walter and Joe Lewis High Point Senior Award  goes to the high-point exhibitor in the senior division. Young people receive points for participating in a variety of JNHE programs and activities. On the final day of the event, points are totaled, and the senior with the most points receives the award.

In addition to winning the Walter and Joe Lewis High Point Senior Award, Kottkamp was selected as the 2023 Hereford Junior Herdsman of the Year. Kottkamp received a $2,500 scholarship sponsored by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and Sullivan Supply. 

The recipient of the Hereford Junior Herdsman award shines not only throughout JNHE but also during the time leading up to the show. They demonstrate a tremendous work ethic coupled with knowledge about the Hereford breed and beef industry. The nominees are selected by a nomination committee, then voted on by their peers throughout the week

The son of Dale and Lesli Kottkamp, Kottkamp is a senior at Oklahoma State University majoring in agribusiness with a pre-law option. He is the third generation in his family to raise Hereford cattle. This summer is the Kottkamp family’s 27th JNHE and Dylan’s 22nd. After graduation, Kottkamp hopes to pursue a graduate degree in international agriculture and continue his involvement within the Hereford breed. 

“It is a great honor and privilege to not only be a part of this organization, but to also to be surrounded by like-minded people with the same goals and interests as mine,” Kottkamp says. “Winning the junior herdsman award is a goal I set for myself at a young age, and it would be an honor to earn as I close out my final JNHE.”

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The 2023 VitaFerm®Junior National Hereford Expo, “Mad Dash to the Hereford Bash,” was sponsored in part by BioZyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is one of the most active junior programs in the country with more than 4,000 members. The NJHA’s mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit JrHereford.org.