KANSAS CITY, Mo. —  McKenna Gatz, Fairview, Kan., was awarded the Whitehead Ranches Scholarship during the 2026 American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Meeting and Educational Forum in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 23. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors awarded $168,000 in scholarships to 28 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals.

Gatz is a sophomore at Kansas State University studying integrative human sciences, along the pre-nursing pathway. She plans to become a registered nurse, focusing on her passion for patient care.

She hopes to use her education to give back to her community, “I am interested in working in a rural healthcare setting because I understand the unique needs of rural communities,” Gatz says. “Growing up in a rural community has shown me the importance of having quality, compassionate healthcare, close to home.”

The $5,000 Whitehead Ranches Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA,  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.

“It was exciting and inspiring to read scholarship applications from a very strong group of Hereford juniors,” says George Sprague, HYFA scholarship committee member. “Their academic records and their contributions both to agriculture and to their communities were first rate and set standards that make the Hereford breed proud.”

The scholarship fund is the bedrock of HYFA, and countless youth are benefactors of its mission. Since its inception, HYFA has fueled educational opportunities with scholarships and awards. For years, these scholarships have been lighting the way for young Hereford enthusiasts. The Foundation continues to invest in the future of the Hereford breed, recently surpassing $2.6 million in scholarships awarded to youth pursuing higher education.

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The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) was established in 2000 and is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) 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.