George Sprague, Eugene, Ore., of the HYFA Scholarship Committee alongside scholarship recipient Luke Daniels, Dalhart, Texas, with Kathy Buchholz, Waxahachie, Texas, of the HYFA Board of Directors.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — High achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2022 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 21. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors proudly awarded $165,000 in scholarships to 28 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals.

The 2022 Merry Family/MGM Memorial Scholarship of $2,500 sponsored by HYFA is dedicated to students pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine and carries on the legacy of Gordon and Marian Merry, from Wisconsin. MGM Polled Herefords believes the future of agriculture lies in the hands of our industry’s hard-working youth, and the Merry family recognizes the dedication required from young people to raise and exhibit livestock and rewards juniors who are passionate about Hereford cattle annually with this scholarship. 

Luke Daniels, Dalhart, Texas, is a junior at Oklahoma State University studying pre-veterinary animal science, after receiving his associate’s degree in animal science from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. A previous leader on the NJHA board of directors, he is excited to continue pursuing his studies with the goal of attending veterinary school and using the degree to practice embryology and promote sustainability and animal welfare. 

The scholarship fund is the cornerstone of HYFA and countless youth are the benefactors of its mission. This last fiscal year, the foundation celebrated net assets reaching nearly $5 million and in total $185,000 was given back to Hereford youth to assist with their college educations. 

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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.