Riley Rhodes shows his Hereford heifer during the junior beef show at the Illinois State Fair. Photo by Devin Bollman.
PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE
In Southern Illinois, rain has still been very abundant in our area. This time of the year there will be very few complaints about that. However, in a ten day window in late July and early August, Salem had over ten inches. With all the rain and warm temperatures the crops are catching up as fast as they can and will hopefully salvage what has been a challenging crop year for us. The pastures are lush and green and the grass is plentiful, especially in my yard which needs mowing every three or four days. Speaking of mowing, it looks like we will have a window of opportunity to finally get some second cutting hay done this week. Illinois was well represented at the Junior National Hereford Exposition in Grand Island, Nebraska. Illinois juniors were not only competitive in the show ring with their cattle but also in the many other events that the “The Grand Daddy of ‘Em All” offers to the juniors. The Illinois Junior Hereford Association and their members and advisors continue to be a group that is admired by many other state organizations. Congratulations to all on a very successful JNHE!
As summer winds down so does the county and state fair show season. The Illinois State fair was definitely one of the cooler fairs to date in terms of temperature. Almost sweatshirt weather for some. Once again, what was hot at the ISF was the very competitive junior and open Hereford shows throughout the week. Congratulations to everyone that found their way to the backdrop.
As we start to focus on the fall sale and show season along with harvest, let us all be thankful for the many blessings we are granted in our daily lives. Let us not forget that faith, family, friends and Hereford cattle are what motivates us everyday to be better, do better and provide more for everyone.
Have a safe and blessed fall,
-Kevin Babbs
CATCHING UP WITH CORBIN
Greetings everyone,
Just as fast as it arrived, summer has passed us by. State fairs are almost entirely wrapped up, schools are back in session, fall calving season is just around the corner, and harvest will be in full effect in short order. Even though our agricultural way of life seems to not have an “off-season”, the impending months ahead feel like some of the busiest on the calendar.
Also scheduled into the last four months of the year are numerous opportunities for purchasing elite genetics across the region, and more specifically in Illinois. Many of the state’s top breeders are putting their best foot forward with the offerings being assembled for live and online sales alike. If I can be of assistance by viewing and appraising cattle that peak your interest, please let me know. Additionally, it is time to start preparations for the annual Hereford-influenced feeder calf sale that will be held Saturday January 4, 2025, in Carthage. As always, the crew at the Carthage Livestock facility is preparing for what should be a great set of Hereford influenced genetics to be offered to the public. If you have an interest in consigning to the sale, please contact Brent Lowderman or myself for more information. Program details and forms can be found on their website at www.carthagelivestock.com.
Corbin Cowles, American Hereford Association Territory 5 Field Staff
In other AHA news, we invite you to make plans to attend the 2025 World Hereford Conference that is being held here in the United States. We are excited to welcome our international friends along with many US Hereford breeders to Kansas City October 23-26 of next year. If you would like more information about the event and the activities/tours that will take place, please visit the AHA website at www.hereford.org where you can find a tab at the top of the homepage that will provide additional details. The staff in Kansas City has been working hard to coordinate a fantastic event, and we hope you can join us for a worldwide celebration of our Hereford breed.
I look forward to seeing many of you out at various events this fall! All the best,
-Corbin Cowles
Kevin Babbs, Illinois Hereford Association President
FACES OF LEADERSHIP
EVEN LEADERSHIP IS BIGGER IN TEXAS FOR HEREFORD JUNIORS
Don’t let the speed bumps become stop signs,” is how Matt Rush, Levelland, Texas, set the tone for National Junior Hereford Association members attending the 2024 Faces of Leadership conference in Fort Worth, Texas, July 28-31. Rush, a professional motivational speaker and artist, who comes from a Hereford ranching background in New Mexico, has a passion for bringing the next generation of leaders to the forefront.
The Faces of Leadership conference is designed to help NJHA members hone communications, team-building and other skills essential to becoming effective leaders. This year, 115 members from 25 states attended, including 11 from Illinois.
Conference participants enjoyed several unique learning opportunities during the event including:
An up-close look into Allflex USA Inc., and how their technology and data-driven solutions are shaping the industry.
also takes place during the annual Junior National Hereford Expo. It included representatives from 14 agricultural companies and universities.
“Faces of Leadership is a tool to not only build leaders, but to get these young people started on a successful career path. We hope they stay in agriculture, but whatever industry they land in after college, we want them to be armed with the knowledge and the skill sets to be successful,” says Amy Cowan, American Hereford Association Director of Youth Activities and Foundation.
Livestock handling and processing presented by the Texas Christian University Ranch Management program.
Beef Quality Assurance and vaccination protocols presented by Merck Animal Health USA.
For the first time, the conference included Bridging the Gap, a unique career learning and networking event which
Participants also had ample opportunity for fun, including time in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, a visit to the Cowboy Channel studio and a customized tour of Globe Life Field where the Texas Rangers play.
“It was easy to see the excitement in each participant,” says Salem Sifford, NJHA communications chair. “We had several new attendees and they felt welcomed and included in every event.”
The annual Faces of Leadership conference — for NJHA members 14-21 years old — is made possible by the ColeyMalir Leadership Endowment and the Hereford Youth Foundation of America. The 2025 conference will be hosted at the innovative Purina Research Facility near St. Louis.
One hundred fifteen NJHA juniors representing 25 states arrived in Fort Worth, Texas, from July 28-31, bettering themselves and the NJHA as a whole. Here the group is pictured at Texas Christian University.
SHOW RESULTS
Illinois State Fair Open Hereford Show
Springfield, Ill. | August 10
Photos by Cindy’s Livestock Photography
Champion & LOL Hereford Steer Owned by Makenzie Huls
Judges: Brigham Stewart, Kan., sorted the bred-and-owned bull show and steer show; Dr. Mark Hoge, Ill. and Clayton Boyert, Ohio, sorted the owned females; Kevin and Brady Jensen, Kan. sorted the bred-and-owned females; Jake and Kami Scott, Neb., judged the senior and intermediate showmanship contests; Sam and Morgan Wallace, Mo., evaluated the junior and peewee showmanship contests.
Backdrop photos by Next Level; Award photos by AHA Staff
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Bull
RGR 15F HR Leonidas 2L ET Owned by Riley Rhodes
by Lily Anderson
Owned by Addison Duis
Champion Division II Polled Female
PARKER 2302 ET Owned by Emily & Ella Brooks
OTHER CLASS WINNERS
CONTESTS & AWARDS & SHOWMANSHIP
Top 10 Peewee Showmanship
L to R: Ella Weldon, Okla.; Saylor Norvell, Okla.; Copeland Paulsen, Iowa; Adalynn Grace Blankenship, N.Y.; Paislee Van Horn, Ind.; Cricket Collins, Okla.; Kendall Devine, Okla.; Blakely Storey, Ill.; Keaton Goss, Calif.; Davis Ward, Mo.
Peewee Photography - Hereford People Division
Third place exhibited by Hattie Young
Intermediate Photography - Hereford People Division
First place exhibited by Shawn Crutcher; Second place exhibited by Nolan Lee
JNHE Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) Scholarship, Award and Maroon Jacket Ceremony on July 11 in Grand Island, Nebraska. The Golden Bull Achievement Awards are given to three collegiate students each summer. This is one of the most coveted honors awarded at the JNHE, as these young people not only receive a bronze bull, but also a $2,500 scholarship to help further their education. The following are the 2024 Golden Bull Achievement Award winners: Blake Bruns, North Platte, Nebraska, Paige Lemenager, Hudson, Illinois, and Lydia Shaw, Caldwell, Idaho
Paige Lemenager is a junior at Texas Tech University where she is pursuing a degree in animal science with a minor in agricultural economics. After completing her undergraduate degree, Lemenager plans to pursue a career as an agricultural attorney. She hopes to serve as an advocate for farmers facing financial challenges.
“I recognize the abundant enthusiasm of the Hereford youth , therefore, I am honored to have earned the respect of my peers and been elected to represent junior breeders in Illinois,” Lemenager said.“To serve as a role model in the eyes of young members is an opportunity I value every day. No matter where I travel or the opportunities I seek, it is in the forefront of my mind that I represent my family, state association and the entire NJHA.”
PROSPECT AWARDS
The Prospect Award program recognizes junior members involved in the Hereford breed and agricultural industry along
1st place Boys 15-30: Trevor Crutcher
1st place Boys 14 & under: Crayon Chapman
3rd place Boys 15-30: Rhett Lehman
with their communities and schools. Prospect Awards are given to the most active and dedicated students in third through eighth grades.
Through this award program, juniors are able to showcase their hard work both in and outside of the showring while learning professional skills they will carry with them well beyond the JNHE.
“The NJHA and AHA work together to build a pipeline of industry leaders, and this starts at an early age with the Prospect and Junior Golden Bull Awards programs,”
Morgan Richardson was named Outstanding State Exhibitor for Illinois.
said Amy Cowan, AHA director of youth activities and foundation. “The NJHA is excited to have a record- high number of applicants this year for these prestigious awards, and we salute all of the winners and can’t wait to watch them continue to do big things in the Hereford breed.”
The 2024 fifth grade winner is Crayton Chapman of Seneca. Chapman recently completed fifth grade and enjoys speech contests, judging livestock and showing Hereford cattle. Chapman said he cannot wait to see where the NJHA takes him as he grows older and can participate in even more events.
“Now that I am a little bit older, I am finally able to understand what it really means to be a part of the Hereford breed,” Chapman said. “The lessons I can learn from this program will help me for many years, and I plan to keep growing my own herd and selling feeder calves to save money for college.”
He expressed that while he was hesitant to show his first Hereford heifer, he trusted his dad and is so thankful he did.
