2021 ANNUAL REPORT
HEREFORD YOUTH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
HEREFORD YOUTH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA 2021 Board of Directors
RAY RAMSEY
GEORGE SPRAGUE VICE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH ACTIVITIES & FOUNDATION
AMY COWAN
JILL BIELEMA
KATIE COLYER
STEVE FOLKMAN
NANCY KEILTY
KATHY BUCHHOLZ
BILL KING
BOB NORTON
PRESIDENT
A Letter from the HYFA President Since it’s inception in 2000, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) has experienced monumental milestones, but none more exciting than net assets surpassing the five-million-dollar mark at the end of the fiscal year 2021. As the foundation strives to pay it forward and create a legacy for future generations, HYFA’s commitment to Hereford youth is only continuing to grow. From classroom settings, to feedyards and different events both in and out of the showring, HYFA and its army of supporters are steadfast when it comes to supporting Hereford youth and paving the way for the next five million designated to give back to the next generation. When the foundation was established, net assets totaling $218,000 from the two youth foundations including the American Hereford Youth Foundation and the American Polled Hereford Youth Foundation, Inc., were blended together and the Hereford Youth Foundation of America was born. Prior to 2000, there were a host of individuals that were responsible for raising such monies over the years, including much work from the two women’s groups. Twenty years later, the village of supporters grows and our donor network includes year around breeder and corporate support and a host of fundraising efforts, including funding from the National Hereford Women. At the third annual Harvest Gala in October of 2005, the $5 million dollar capital campaign was unveiled. This campaign would serve as the backbone of the HYFA Scholarship program and through its funding would support educational programs of the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA). That first HYFA Board of Directors had a vision and it has been neat to watch this vision come to fruition as net assets continue to grow and we continue to give back more and more each year. Each spring and fall, Hereford youth reap the benefits of the foundation and this year was no exception as National Junior Hereford Association members were awarded more than $181,000 in scholarships. To add to the excitement, this equates to close to $1.5 million dollars in scholarships since HYFA was founded in 2000. Each year the scholarship selection committees continue to be impressed by the high caliber of college aged students who apply for scholarship funds and there is nothing more rewarding than watching HYFA scholarship winners go on to be leaders in their fields and give back to the foundation that gave so much to them. Through the years, the foundation has expanded and helped fund a diverse and exciting line up of additional programs and opportunities for Hereford youth. One being the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE). Last year’s event in Kansas City drew 1,385 entries from 40 states and Canada. The live competitions were viewed online by 11,000 people from 48 states and 5 countries. This annual show has become so successful and well attended that it calls for the largest facilities in the country to host the week long events. To help with these unique challenges and keep the tradition growing, HYFA started and maintains a legacy fund and a steering committee. Many junior members additionally have benefited from the Faces of Leadership program that HYFA has helped to fund over the last several years. With the help of the Coley-Malir Leadership Endowment, the 2021 Faces of leadership conference hosted 81 Junior Hereford members from 22 states in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Fed Steer Shootout is another HYFA funded program that our youth can compete in. It offers participants a unique opportunity to follow their cattle through the feedlot and beyond, showcasing what their genetics are producing at the consumer level and expanding their knowledge beyond the showring. This year’s project hosted 133 Hereford and commercial steers at HRC feed yards, Scott City Kan. There was also a field day held in conjunction with this year’s program, hosting 65 NJHA members and their families as well as industry leaders. In addition to these junior competitions, learning and scholarship opportunities, HYFA now houses a research fund component which the AHA utilizes to fund research projects benefiting the total membership of the Hereford breed. So, whether you are looking to support our juniors through scholarships, the showring or wanting your contributions to be used for research or other purposes, we welcome you to get in touch with us and we can work together to identify the best fit. A huge thank you to all of those who have supported HYFA’s journey to better the next generation. We look forward to many more exciting opportunities as we embark on the next $5 million.
SINCERELY,
RAY RAMSEY PRESIDENT
$181,875 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
FALL 2020 RECIPIENTS
SPRING 2021 RECIPIENTS
Vanier Family Scholarships: NOP Founders Scholarships: Tyler Allan Lauren McMillan Noah Benedict Libby Rushton Austin Cook Junior Merit Scholarships: Blakelee Hayes Molly Biggs Dixie Miller Noah Benedict Regan Mitchem Kolbi Franklin Ralston RIpp John Wayne Memorial Scholarships: Libby Rushton Bailey Morrell Megan Underwood Malina Lindstrom Rusty Wolf Hereford Herdsman Scholarships: Bar One Ranch Scholarship: Noah Benedict Lauren McMillan Dylan Kottkamp Perks Ranch Scholarship: Charles E. Boyd Memorial Scholarship: Nicholas Torrance Noah Benedict EE Ranches Scholarships: Bud Snidow Memorial Scholarship: Bailey Morrell Malina Lindstrom Peyton Schmitt Buckeye/Bluegrass HYFA Scholarship: Bob and Dolores Call Scholarship: Megan Underwood Abigail Spindle Golden Bull Achievement Awards: MGM Memorial Scholarship: Karstyn Cantrell Taylor Dieball Megan Underwood Gary Bishop Memorial Scholarship: Trevor Johnson Ben Jensen Audrey Nolan Blin Family Scholarship: KC Barnes Ken and Carolyn Larson Scholarship: Austin Folkman Tennessee River Music Inc. Scholarship: Wyatt Lawrence Whitehead/Rocking Chair Ranch Scholarship: Sydney Dvorak Bob and Lucy Kube Scholarship: SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED SINCE 2000 Hattie Duncan HYFA Scholarship: Kira Sayre Ball Foundation/Cottonwood Springs Farm Scholarship: Malina Lindstrom National Hereford Queen Scholarship: Melanie Fishel John Ascuaga Scholarships: Bailey Morrell Shelby Burlile
$1.4 MILLION
SCHOLARSHIP
81 22 JUNIORS
STATES
On July 28-31, 81 members of the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) from 22 different states attended Faces of Leadership in Oklahoma City, Okla., to learn about innovations in the industry and how to improve themselves as better leaders. After a scheduling issue that almost derailed the conference, it was relocated from Columbus, Ohio to Oklahoma City and the focus was to bring junior members together to help them find their why, become a better version of themselves and “Improve You.” In the opening session, attendees enjoyed motivational speaker, Kelly Barnes, talking about “Finding Your Why,” followed by an evening of leadership mixers and workshops led by the NJHA Board. A highlight on the schedule was a day on campus at Oklahoma State University visiting the Range Cow Research Center to learn about cow herd efficiency and the Purebred Beef Center to focus on using all of the tools available when it comes to seedstock marketing. Campus sessions also included a message about telling your story from the agriculture communications department as well as a taste and tenderness panel at the Food Animal Processing Center. An evening at Express Ranches, Yukon, was another highlight along the way and the final day was spent discovering Oklahoma City and discovering individual leadership styles. Attendees got to walk across the catwalk at the historic Oklahoma National Stock Yards and hear from the staff at the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Cattlemen’s Congress and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. The closing evening, Aric Jackson’s keynote message to “Live Boldly” and his innovative approach to leadership was not lost on the juniors as he reminded them to not be scared to make a difference and that their futures are now. “Don’t be scared to do you and don’t be scared to do you unapologetically,” Jackson concluded.
LEADERSHIP
FIRST EVER FED STEER SHOOTOUT FIELD DAY
Sixty-five National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members and their families, along with several industry partners attended the inaugural NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day hosted by HRC Feed Yards in Scott City, Kan., on April 17. The young cattle feeders who participate in the Fed Steer Shootout program traveled from 13 states and as far away as California, West Virginia and Georgia to learn about the industry and see how their steers entered in this year’s contest are performing. 133 Hereford and Hereford-influenced steers were entered in the 2021 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout. Cattle were delivered to the yard in December and throughout the feeding phase contestants collect feed yard performance and carcass data and are given the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of the cattle feeding and packing industries through a comprehensive educational contest filled with videos, quizzes, a performance portfolio and an essay contest.
The 22nd Junior National Hereford Expo, sponsored by VitaFerm, gathered in Kansas City, Mo., July 3-9, for a show of cattle that was truly Hereford Spectacular. In total there were 1,385 entries representing 40 different states and Canada. 602 polled owned females, 269 horned owned females, 305 bred-and-owned females, 80 bred-and-owned bulls, 26 cow-calf pairs and 103 steers were exhibited in Hale Arena of the American Royal Complex, with over 11,000 viewers on Walton Webcasting from around the world. Along with the cattle, over 20 different educational contests are hosted for the benefit of the junior members, ranging from speaking contests and sales presentations to judging and fitting contests and everything in between. Thursday night hosted an awards ceremony to spotlight the high achieving individuals in those contests as well as to announce the election results of the new 2021-22 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Board of Directors. Newly elected were Wesley Denton, Blue Rapids, Kan., Lauren Jones, Darlington, Wis., Hannah Pearson, Oconto, Neb. and Tar Tut, Faribault, Minn. They join chairman Noah Benedict, Dewey, Ill., vice chairman Wyatt Lawrence, Princeton, Minn., communications chair Bailey Morrell, Willows, Calif., leadership chair Lauren McMillan, Tiskilwa, Ill., membership chair Libby Rushton, Waverly, Tenn., fundraising chair JW Cox, Flemingsburg, Ky., director Luke Daniels, Dalhart, Texas and director Ralston Ripp, Kearney, Neb.
E D U C AT I O N
1,385
ENTRIES FROM 40 STATES & CANADA
$116,000 RESEARCH DONATION
The late Allan Shumaker (pictured) was honored at the 2020 American Hereford Association’s Annual Membership Meeting and Conference for a gift made to the Hereford Research Foundation on his behalf.
An advocate for tracking performance in beef cattle, Shumaker was a leader in collecting DNA samples to document the performance of Hereford cattle in feedlots. His efforts have aided research efforts to enhance and trace the predictability of growth traits, efficiency and carcass merit. Shumaker funneled his passion for Herefords into a breeding herd with an emphasis on traits to raise cattle for range country and for the commercial beef industry. When the Kansas Hereford Association began to manage the National Hereford Feedout in 2005, Shumaker was fully vested in the program, usually sending his entire calf crop, except for replacement heifers. He kept extensive records on those cattle and diligently compared ultrasound data collected at the ranch with the actual carcass data and ultrasound data garnished from the feedout program. This data guided many of the breeding decisions at Shumaker Herefords, resulting in uniformity in feed efficiency, performance and carcass traits. When DNA became a primary component of data collection, Allan stepped to the forefront to develop a system for gathering and storing DNA samples for future research. “The Hereford Research Foundation is extremely grateful for Shumaker’s foresight to utilize DNA to enhance the marketability of Herefords,” says Shane Bedwell, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement for the AHA. “His generosity and leadership have allowed us to make great strides in documenting and proving Hereford genetics across the industry.” The Hereford Research Foundation was established in 2009 as a division of the Hereford Youth Foundation of America, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization, to support breed improvement projects outside the scope of the American Hereford Association budget.
The Hereford Research Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce the Hereford Prime Foundation, a subsidiary of the Kansas Hereford Association, has gifted $116,000 in support of future research projects at the American Hereford Association (AHA). The donation was made on behalf of the late Allan Shumaker, from Wetmore, Kan., who founded the Hereford Prime Foundation with funds from the dispersal of his cow herd.
RESEARCH
OCTOBER 2020
SALSA FLUSH The 2016 Foundation Female, KJ BJ DWE 686Z Salsa 364C ET, continued to give back to Hereford youth with a flush selling in Jensen’s Chosen Sale. Thanks to Bar A Cattle Co., $10,000 was raised to support HYFA.
SALE OF CHAMPIONS The Sale of Champions featuring Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) champion genetics debuted on LAO.live. This fundraising effort led by the NJHA board garnered $30,000 to support HYFA and the upcoming JNHE.
FALL 2020 SCHOLARSHIPS HYFA awarded $150,000 in scholarships to 24 deserving youth in a virtual awards ceremony during the AHA Annual Membership Meeting. New this fall was the National Hereford Queen Scholarship.
FED STEER SHOOTOUT WINNERS Powered by BioZyme Inc., this year’s winners received nearly $20,000 in scholarships and awards from HYFA. The NJHA Fed Steer Shootout continues to provide educational opportunities for junior members wanting to learn more about the beef industry.
JANUARY 2021
NOVEMBER 2020
HEREFORD PRIME FOUNDATION GIFT The Hereford Research Foundation was excited to announce a $116,000 gift from the Hereford Prime Foundation in support of future research projects. The donation was made on behalf of the late Allan Shumaker, from Westmoreland, Kan., who founded the Hereford Prime Foundation with funds from the dispersal of his cow herd.
PICK OF THE PAINTINGS HYFA’s Pick of the Paintings debuted in Oklahoma City during the inaugural Cattleman’s Congress. The pick of two oil paintings on canvas sold in the Hereford Eve frozen sale. All proceeds benefited the education and leadership mission of HYFA and George Sprague, Bar One Ranch, was the lucky bidder and new owner of his pick of the one of kind masterpieces from New Zealand.
HYFA WELCOMES NEW STAFF HYFA welcomes new staff member, Chloé Fowler as associate director of marketing and education. Fowler will work closely with NJHA’s educational programs as well as create brand awareness for HYFA and promoting the mission of scholarship, research and education.
JULY 2021
THANK YOU JNHE SUPPORTERS HYFA awarded $28,000 in scholarships at Hereford Spectacular and the 2021 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo in Kansas City. The JNHE would not be possible without the army of donors and supporters who step up year after year to make this the spectacular event that it is.
FACES OF LEADERSHIP Thanks to the Coley-Malir Leadership Endowment, 81 NJHA members from 22 different states attended Faces of Leadership in Oklahoma City to learn about innovations in the industry and how to improve themselves as better leaders.
AUGUST 2021
NJHA FED STEER SHOOTOUT ENDOWMENT George and Karen Sprague, Bar One Ranch, Eugene, Ore., make gift to initiate NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Endowment that will fund future educational programs held in conjunction with the industry leading contest that teaches young Hereford breeders the part they plan in feeding the world.
A YEAR IN REVIEW
$5,418,437 $5.418
$4.502
$4.272
$4.200
$3.845
$3.818
$2.703
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
INTENTIONS TO GIVE The estimated total intentions to give from donors through the form of requests is valued at $1,850,000. This is in addition to the current net assets of $5,478,437.
$186,625
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
SCHOLARSHIP The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) work together to provide opportunities for our breed’s future leaders so that they may excel in their college and career paths, strengthening this industry and the breed. Scholarships were HYFA’s first mission in the fall of 2004, when the first $750 Gary Bishop Scholarship was awarded. In 2005 it was followed by $4,750 with the addition of the Bob and Dolores Call Scholarship and the unveiling of the $5 million capital endowment campaign. Thanks to the late Bill and Jo Ellard, the EE Ranches, Inc., $200,000 endowment led to $18,250 in scholarships being awarded in the fall of 2006. This endowment was the beginning of great things to come for HYFA, and now each year, HYFA proudly awards close to $200,000 to support Hereford youth.
$181,875
$165,125 $173,125
$178,625
2017
2018
$58,375
2015
2016
2019
2020
*Financials report fiscal year 8/31/2020 - 8/31/2021
$116,878
$181,875
$90,000 $50,000
FUNDING OUR FUTURE $438,753 GIVEN BACK IN FISCAL YEAR 2021
Scholarship. Leadership. Education. Research.