Education

Junior National Hereford Expo

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.

NJHA Fed Steer Shootout

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.

Growing a Lasting Legacy

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 this monumental Hereford event each summer.