KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gavin Rhode, Stewartsville, Mo., was awarded the 2024 Larson Polled Herefords 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.

 Rhode is a freshman at the University of Missouri majoring in agribusiness management. He is exploring  two future career options — working directly with producers while continuing to operate his own purebred cow-calf operation and attending law school to work with agricultural families on succession and estate planning. 

While continuing in his career paths and growing his own herd, Rhode also said “I plan to continue my involvement with local and state beef industry organizations to support youth through 4-H, FFA or other organizations.”

The Larson Polled Herefords Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA, is a $2,500 scholarship awarded annually in honor of Carolyn Larson and her late husband Ken of Texas. The Larson family are longtime Hereford youth supporters who purchased the first Lot 1 Foundation Female sold at the Mile High Night Sale in Denver, Colo. This purchase initiated a fundraising effort, which has grown into a $1 million dollar fund to support youth and education.

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.