MADISON, Wis. — Harlee Watson, a National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) member from Flemingsburg, Ky., was awarded the $2,000 Bluegrass and Buckeye Scholarship at the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) Scholarship, Award and Maroon Jacket Ceremony July 9 at the 2026 VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Madison, Wis. 

The Bluegrass and Buckeye Scholarship is a collaborative effort between the Kentucky and Ohio Hereford Associations and HYFA. Each year, they award a $2,000 scholarship to an exceptional NJHA member. The scholarship aims to cultivate future leaders in the Hereford breed and the beef industry.

“The Hereford nation continues to grow with the up and coming youth,” says Jill Bielema, HYFA board member. “These young people are grounded in the agricultural industry and will lead the breed to new heights, and I am very grateful for their enthusiasm and knowledge.”

During the 2026 JNHE, HYFA awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships and awards to exemplary Hereford youth and will allocate more than $220,000 throughout the year to support junior members in their academic pursuits.  

Watson is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying animal science, and she recently completed her associate’s degree at Butler Community College. Her personal goals after graduation are to return home and become a business partner with her parents, growing their purebred and commercial cow-calf operation, while also working toward owning and operating her own funeral home.

An active member of the NJHA, she is currently serving on the NJHA board of directors and as the Kentucky Junior Hereford Association president. Her passion for the Hereford breed and commitment to mentoring the next generation of Hereford juniors is showcased in her work ethic serving in these positions.

“My involvement in the NJHA has equipped me with the tools I need to be successful and shaped me into a confident, experienced and skilled individual who is capable of achieving great things in my future career,” Watson says.

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The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) was established in 2000 and is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to its four core pillars of scholarship, leadership, education and research. The mission of HYFA 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. For more information about HYFA, visit Herefordyouthfoundation.org.

Find photos and press release here.