KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kaylee McInvale, Cumby, Texas, was awarded the 2023 Larson Polled Herefords 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.

 McInvale is a senior at Tarleton State University finishing her undergraduate degree in animal science, hoping to enter a graduate program in the spring studying nutrition and reproductive health. A previous National Hereford Queen and currently serving on the NJHA board of directors, McInvale is an active NJHA member.

“I want to end up doing research for a university or be involved with the Texas AgriLife extension. In the future, I would like to be heavily involved with seedstock operations,” McInvale said.

The Larson Polled Herefords Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA, is a $2,500 scholarship awarded annually in honor of Ken and Carolyn Larson of Texas, who are longtime supporters of Hereford youth and purchased the first Foundation Female sold at the Mile High Night Sale in Denver, Colo. This purchase initiated a fundraising effort that over the years has grown to $1 million dollars to support youth and 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 $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.