KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salem Sifford, Goldvein, Va., was awarded the Bob and Lucy Kube 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.

Sifford is a junior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University studying dairy science. She plans to pursue a master’s degree and then work in higher education as an associate professor and livestock judging coach. 

“I would like to leave others with motivation to continue to grow their involvement within the Hereford breed, encouraging them to take on leadership roles and new opportunities,” Sifford said. “A legacy of determination and confidence that others can look back on and be encouraged to continue to push to achieve their goals.”

The 2024 Bob and Lucy Kube Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA, awards $2,500 in recognition of Bob Kube from Virgina many years of service on the HYFA board of directors. This scholarship, representing Kube’s passion for youth and his commitment to future generations, honors a young student who shows leadership outside of the Hereford circles and in their community.

The selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants. “The vast majority of applicants were outstanding. Each year applications seem more and more competitive, which leads me to believe that the future of the Hereford breed, and agriculture in general, is in good hands,” said Nancy Keilty, 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 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.