KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Madison Sifford, Goldvein, Va., was awarded the Tennessee River Music Inc., Randy and Kelly Owen 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.

Sifford is a senior at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), pursuing dual degrees in dairy science and communications. She has two career goals following college, the first being to pursue a communications career in agriculture and act as an advocate for the industry. The second is to develop and build her own herd of Holstein and Hereford cattle.

Speaking about her own herd and family’s operation, “I am proud of myself for stepping up and learning how to develop stronger genetic lines as well as making bold decisions for the herd in hopes of improving a certain issue. I am proud of what I have learned and continuously tell myself to keep learning.”

The Tennessee River Music Inc., and Randy and Kelly Owen Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of the event, Music on the Mountain. Music on the Mountain was a historic event held by they Owens that grew momentum for HYFA’s success and growth.

“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. 

### 

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.