KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Regan Mitchem, Vale, N.C., was awarded the Merry Family/MGM Memorial 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.

Mitchem is currently attending North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in the doctor of veterinary medicine, food animal scholar program. She is inspired by her background with generational family farms and has a passion for large, food animals.

“There is a nationwide shortage of food animal veterinarians with very few veterinary students planning to work with food animals,” stated Mitchem. “In undergrad, I set and achieved my goal to be accepted into the North Carolina State University Food Animal Scholar Program. As intended by this program, I am studying food animal medicine so that I can give back to the industry that I love by promoting animal health.”

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

The selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants. “It’s a true pleasure to review the HYFA scholarship applications. So many of the applicants have stellar records and have interesting and creative career ambitions that reviewers can’t help but be certain the future of the industry is in good hands,” said George Sprague, 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.