KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lauren Wingler, Christiana, Tenn., was awarded the National Hereford Queen 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.

Wingler is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee-Martin majoring in agricultural business, with an emphasis in agricultural law. Her long-term goal is to become an agricultural lawyer and advocate for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. “Growing up on a fourth-generation Hereford operation has given me firsthand insight into the challenges agricultural producers face, and it has inspired me to pursue a career where I can protect and support the future of agriculture,” Wingler says.

Throughout her reign, she served the NJHA and AHA membership as a spokesperson and role model for the Hereford breed. The National Hereford Queen is elected to represent the breed at national shows, sales and events and serves as a historic symbol for the Hereford breed. During the 2026 VitaFerm^® Junior National Hereford Expo, Wingler hosted her community service project “Herefords in the Classroom.” She invited Hereford breeders to donate agricultural children’s books, and then distributed them to inner-city schools in Nashville, Tenn. and Atlanta, Ga. Wingler received more than 200 books from Hereford breeders to help bridge the gap between agriculture and urban classrooms.

As the 2026 National Hereford Queen, Wingler will complete her reign during the National Hereford Show held during the American Royal in Kansas City, Kan., Oct. 25. The National Queen Scholarship is the result of the National Hereford Women (NHW) partnering with HYFA to elevate the queen program and to assist the reigning queen with her education and tuition costs.

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.

### 

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.