KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Blake Bruns, North Platte, Neb., and Clayton Hayes, Ada, Okla., were each awarded $5,000 a EE Ranches Scholarship during the 2024 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 25. During the award, 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.

 Bruns is a senior at Kansas State University majoring in animal science. Through his college experience, Bruns was inspired to pursue a career managing a purebred beef unit, teaching and researching at a university after completing his master’s in beef cattle nutrition. 

“In my legacy, my largest goal is to raise a heifer that is eligible to be sold as Lot 1 in the Foundation 1 Foundation Female sale [HYFA fundraiser]” Bruns said. “Not only is it a selfless act, but it also gives so many opportunities to youth in the Hereford breed and benefits the next generations of Hereford enthusiasts.”

Hayes is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University studying agribusiness. He hopes to become a financial specialist assisting agriculturalists attain the resources they need to improve their operations.  

“I believe that financial empowerment would bolster their ability to access the best equipment, feed and support to grow their operations,” Hayes said. “Agriculturalists will continue producing high-quality products if they can access the right tools. I want rural agriculturalists to understand how to access and manage finances to invest in sustaining their future for generations.”

EE Ranches, Dallas, Texas, sponsors two $5,000 scholarships each year through HYFA. These scholarships are made possible by Jo Ellard and her late husband, Bill, of Texas. EE Ranches was one of HYFA’s first scholarship endowments, and the funds awarded over the years have assisted many young people achieve their goals. 

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 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.