Award presentations will take place at the AHA Annual Membership meeting in Kansas City. Applicants are encouraged, but not required to be present to accept scholarships. 

FALL HYFA SCHOLARSHIPS INCLUDE: 

• Ten $10,000 Vanier Family Scholarships
• Two $5,000 EE Ranch Scholarships
• One $5,000 Perks Ranch Scholarship
• One $5,000 CBY Polled Herefords, Bob & Dolores Call Scholarship
• One $5,000 Ball Foundation/Cottonwood Springs Farm Scholarship
• One $5,000 Bar One Ranch, In Memory of Ken Tracy Scholarship
• One $2,500 Whitehead Ranches Scholarship
• One $2,500 Fauquier Farms, Bob & Lucy Kube Scholarship
• One $2,500 Randy & Kelly Owen Scholarship
• One $2,500 Blin Family Scholarship
• One $2,500 Gary Bishop Memorial Scholarship
• One $2,500 Larson Polled Herefords Scholarship

The following are scholarships that have unique requirements and/or are designed for specific applicants. Those requirements are noted on the Fall Scholarship Application, and you must select if you would qualify and would like to be considered for those scholarships.

• Two $1,500 Ostgaard-Breiner Educational Scholarships - For students non-traditional students wanting to go into a technical field, graduate school, trade school, certification or other acceptable program.         
• One $2,500 Merry Family/MGM Memorial Scholarship - For students pursuing Veterinary Medicine Degree - Pre Vet or Vet School Students are eligible to apply. 

REQUIREMENTS

1. Applicant must be a NJHA member in good standing and not over the age of 22.
2. If pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine, technical education, are over the age of 22, etc., and are applying for non-traditional scholarships, applicant must be a member of the American Hereford Association.
3. Applicant must be a paid member for the past three consecutive years.
4. All scholarship applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student in a four-year accredited university, junior/ community college and/or a technical institution.
5. Students who are seeking post graduation degrees, such as vet school, law school, etc., are eligible to apply for fall HYFA Scholarships, as long as they meet the other requirements of scholarship.
6. All applicants must have maintained at least a “C” or 2 .5 grade point average. A current academic transcript must accompany the application.
7. Applicants meeting the necessary requirements can apply any number of times provided they maintain the required academic standards. A new application must be submitted each year.

Junior members who participate in the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout program have access to a library of resources to learn about the beef cattle feeding industry and what happens to the cattle after they move on from a cow-calf operation. A final portfolio project, for those who wish to win scholarships and awards, as well as the title of junior member of the year is completed and finalists will be invited to the AHA Annual Meeting & Educational Forum to compete in person on Fri., Oct. 23 at 7:30 a.m., and be recognized on Fri., Oct. 23 during the Hereford Youth Foundation of America Scholarship and Awards Luncheon.

Juniors can compete in the following age divisions:

• Junior Age Division: 7-13 as of Jan. 1
• Senior Age Division: 14-21 as of Jan. 1  

GENERAL RULES

1. Contestants must be a member of the NJHA, participant in the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Program and have submitted a current BQA certification.
2. Winners from previous years are allowed to continue competing within their age division each year until they age into the next division.
3. The contest will begin with the written submission of answers to questions in an educational portfolio due Sept. 15, 2026.
4. Judges will review and score the submitted portfolios, and the top three in each age division will be invited to the AHA Annual Meeting & Educational Forum to compete in person on Fri., Oct. 23 at 7:30 a.m., and be recognized on Fri., Oct. 23 during the Hereford Youth Foundation of America Scholarship and Awards Luncheon.

MORE INFORMATION

View the rules for the 2026 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Final Portfolio Project - RULES

DUE SEPT. 15

The Hereford Herd Builder Initiative is designed to create meaningful opportunities for aspiring young Hereford cattlemen and women to access elite Hereford genetics as they begin building their own breeding programs. By connecting industry-leading genetics with motivated Hereford youth, the program aims to cultivate future breeders, strengthen the breed and ensure long-term growth within the Hereford community. This pilot program will award National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) or young American Hereford Association (AHA) members one pregnant recipient female carrying elite Hereford genetics and two embryos of the same mating. These genetics will be sourced from top donor females and matings made possible by industry-leading breeders and partners. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Applicant must be 18-25 years of age at the time of the deadline.
2. Applicant must be a NJHA or AHA member in good standing.
3. Applicant must outline that they have access to resources and facilities to maintain this female. 
4. Applicant may only be selected to receive this award package once. 
5. Applicant must demonstrate a strong interest in developing a Hereford breeding program. 
6. Up to five pregnant recips and embryo packages will be awarded in this first pilot program year.

PROCESS:

1. Submit online application by the deadline of October 1, 2026.
2. Application consists of a written portion, statement of goals, herd plan and a potentional zoom or in person interview, depending on number of applications and selection committee. 
3. Applicant must submit a 300 dpi color photo to use for press purposes.
4. After applications are received and reviewed, the top applicants will be notified of the next steps in the selection process and if the selection committee deems interviews necessary.
5. Winners will be notified following the application deadline. Recipients will be awarded Oct. 23, during the HYFA Scholarship Awards Luncheon in Kansas City, Mo., part of the AHA Annual Meeting. It is recommended that you be in attendance to accept your award, but it is not a requirement.
6. Delivery of pregnant recips and embryos will be coordinated in November, 2026 with recips to begin calving in February.

The Western States Hereford Association (WSHA) and Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) offer scholarship opportunities in memory of Willard Wolf and John Ascuaga, who were committed to the Hereford breed and it’s people and were a big reason for the success of the “Nugget” Show and Sale in Reno for decades.  These scholarships provide tuition assistance to Western State’s Junior Hereford Association members pursuing postsecondary education and encourage leadership, achievement in and out of the showring, academic success and community service for young Hereford enthusiasts. The total number of awards and scholarship amounts will be determined  annually by the scholarship committee based on funds available and qualified applicants.

Awards will be announced at the Western States National Hereford Show in Reno, Nev., in December. WSHA funds are invested in HYFA and scholarship award payments will be provided by HYFA on the recipient’s behalf to the college, university, trade, or professional school they will be attending in the spring term. Award recipients may reapply for an award if they meet the criteria.  

SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED

John Ascuaga Scholarship - During the 2015 Western States National Hereford Show and Sale, which celebrated the 50th Nugget Hereford event, funds were donated in recognition of long time Nugget Casino owner, rancher and Hereford advocate, John Ascuaga. It was determined that those funds should be in support of Hereford youth in pursuit of a college education. Thus, the John Ascuaga Scholarship was established and awarded for the first time in 2016. It has been awarded annually ever since to a deserving young person.

Willard Wolf Scholarship -  During the 2021 Western States National Hereford Show and Sale, a scholarship fund was established in honor of Willard Wolf. Willard had a career spanning more than 33 years with the American Hereford Association, serving the Western Region and touched countless lives of people involved with Hereford cattle, even after his retirement. He was instrumental in organizing the show and sale formerly known as the “Nugget” and now the Western States National Hereford Show and Sale. He also took action that established the junior show that is part of the annual event. Willard was respected by those who had the opportunity to know him and through this scholarship his legacy will continue. The first award in his name was provided in 2022.  

APPLICATIONS DUE OCT. 1