Hereford Youth
At Certified Hereford Beef®, we believe in the values and vitality of rural life. We support the young people who seek leadership development, fellowship and family togetherness through their involvement in the National Junior Hereford Association. Our contribution, through sponsorship, education, internships and ambassador programs, is a small part of America's largest and most active youth cattle organizations. We invite you to visit them at www.jrhereford.org to learn more about how you too can support this positive and impactful group of young people.
An Overview of the National Junior Hereford Association
The Hereford breed of cattle has led many young people to achieve numerous successes in life. As a National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) member, you may choose from a wide variety of activities and programs that offer real-world experience. Through NJHA activities, members learn new skills and meet new friends that enable them to become increasingly productive citizens.
The NJHA is one of the largest junior beef-breed organizations in the world. Most of the thousands of active national juniors members also belong to one of nearly 43 local, state and regional junior Hereford associations throughout the country. These groups have meetings, sponsor shows and field days and take an active part in the Hereford business and breed promotion.
Junior Hereford Shows
Probably the most popular NJHA activity is showing Hereford cattle. Showing at a fair or even the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) is thrilling. The show ring gives you a chance to develop your showmanship skills, to become a better competitor and even a better evaluator of cattle. However, experience from this event goes far beyond the show ring. Showing enables Hereford youth to meet one another, exchange ideas and form lasting relationships.
Junior Hereford members can exhibit their cattle at many American Hereford Association (AHA) sponsored events. Members can show locally, regionally and nationally.
The American Hereford Association, along with various state organizations, sponsors the annual JNHE. It is one of the largest single-breed beef cattle shows in the world. There are classes for bred-and-owned heifers, bred-and-owned bulls, owned heifers (for heifers owned, but not bred by the exhibitor), cow-calf pairs and steers. The JNHE is held in July at a different location each year.
Skills Competitions
A junior member does not have to exhibit cattle at the JNHE to attend and be a part of the fun and competition.
Members can demonstrate their skills in a wide variety of contests. Speech contest, team sales competition and many other opportunities await Hereford youth at the JNHE. All contests are divided into age divisions. The show also offers contests for state groups, such as scrapbook and herdsmanship.
Hereford Leadership Activities
Leadership training begins as soon as you become a member of your local junior Hereford association. You learn by participating in meetings and volunteering to help with projects or committees. The more involved you become, the more you learn and benefit.
The NJHE hosts an annual PRIDE conference for the purpose of leadership training and development. PRIDE stands for Program for Reaching Individuals Determined to Excel. The conference location varies from year to year, but its objectives remain the same. The PRIDE conference enables juniors to learn more about the Hereford business and the beef industry.
Directors of the National Junior Hereford Board also conduct leadership training for state or local junior groups. This enables juniors to learn from an older member's experiences and to see first hand how a fellow junior Hereford breeder can be successful and contribute to the program.
Scholarships
Each year the Hereford Youth Foundation of America awards scholarships to deserving young men and women. These deserving junior members have demonstrated exceptional participation and achievements.