KANSAS CITY, Mo. — High achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2022 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 21. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors proudly awarded $165,000 in scholarships to 28 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals.

The 2022 Whitehead Ranches Scholarship sponsored by HYFA in the amount of $2,500 honors Loyd Whitehead of Texas. Loyd was an instrumental part of HYFA in its early years, serving on the board of directors and as financial chairman.

Sam Birdsall, Torrington, Wyo., is the son of Dennis and Heather Birdsall. He is a sophomore attending Eastern Wyoming College, pursuing his associate’s degree in business administration. He has been a three-time recipient of the grade-level Junior Golden Bull Award at the VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo and a previous Prospect Award Winner through elementary and middle school. 

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 nearly $5 million and in total $185,000 was given back to Hereford youth to assist with their college educations.

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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.