KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Libby Rushton, Waverly, Tenn., was awarded the Gary Bishop Memorial Scholarship during the 2023 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 20. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors proudly awarded $163,000 in scholarships to 27 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals.

 Rushton is finishing her senior year at the University of Tennessee - Martin, studying agricultural business. This summer she retired her maroon jacket as a member of the NJHA board of directors. She is an active member of her university's Chi Omega Fraternity Chapter, recently serving as the community service chair.

“When I think of my future, I know I want to do one thing; use my voice for the agriculture industry. I want my future to be a continuation of the past that has given me the strong traits with which to reach this objective”

The Gary Bishop Memorial Scholarship, given on behalf of HYFA, is a $2,500 scholarship in memory of Gary Bishop. The Oklahoma native first began working for the AHA in 1973, serving in the capacities of assistant director of Total Performance Records, director of feedlot and carcass programs and director of field services. He also served as director of youth activities, which was a job he held in high esteem throughout his life. He dedicated much of his energy to working for the betterment of Hereford youth organizations. The scholarship is awarded to a deserving member of the NJHA to continue their college education.

“The foundation takes great pride in our scholarship program and the opportunities we are able to provide to assist our young people throughout their college journeys,” says Amy Cowan, AHA’s director of youth activities and foundation. “The selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants and are confident that today’s NJHA members will be tomorrow’s leaders in whatever industry they pursue.” 

The scholarship fund is the bedrock of HYFA and countless youth are benefactors of its mission. This last fiscal year, the foundation celebrated net assets reaching more than $6.3 million and in total $221,500 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.