$100,000 in Vanier Family Scholarships Awarded to Ten Deserving Hereford Juniors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — High achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the
2022 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 21.
In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors proudly
awarded $165,000 in scholarships to 28 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help
support their higher-education goals.
Ten scholarships of $10,000 are given by the Vanier family for a total of $100,000 in HYFA
scholarships annually. Jack and the late Donna Vanier and family of CK Ranch in Kansas have paved the
way for Hereford Youth to further their education, and this year marks a $600,000 commitment to
education from the Vanier family. The Vanier family is proud of the National Junior Hereford
Association (NJHA) members and believes the work ethic young people learn growing up in the
Hereford breed sets them apart in today’s workforce.

Bryden Barber, of Channing, Texas, is a junior at Oklahoma State University studying animal
science and ranch operations. His involvement in the Texas Junior Hereford Association as well as the
NJHA have allowed him to be a successful junior member. He was recently named the 2022 Junior
Hereford Herdsman of the Year, a nod to his future success and continuous dedication to the Hereford
breed. JW Cox, Flemingsburg, Ky., is a senior at Western Kentucky University studying agricultural
science with concentrations in animal science and pre-veterinary science. JW currently serves on the
NJHA board of directors as chairman. His involvement and love for the Hereford breed is something he
hopes to continue to cultivate as he works towards his goal of following in his step-father’s footsteps as a large animal veterinarian.
Jordan Gatz, Fairview, Kan., is a junior at Kansas State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree
in business administration. He will be graduating early and immediately pursuing a master’s degree after
as he works towards his CPA license. He plans to continue the momentum of the Hereford breed as it
capitalizes on sustainability.

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Trevor Johnson, of Centerville, S.D., is a junior at Kansas State University after recently
receiving his associate’s degree in agribusiness from Butler Community College. Trevor’s dedication to
Herefords and the beef industry starts with the commercial sector and feedlot industry, where he heavily participates in the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout program and has spent his summers interning for feedyards.

His goal in life is to be the youngest individual inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.
Lauren McMillan, from Tiskilwa, Ill. is a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). At UIUC, she is studying agricultural leadership, education and communication. She recently worked as a communications marketing intern with Caterpillar Inc. to continue developing her skills. The current NJHA membership chair, she is passionate about the membership and helping each junior develop through every opportunity possible.

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Regan Mitchem, from Vale, N.C., is a senior in animal science with a pre-veterinary focus at
North Carolina (NC) State University. She aspires to attend the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
and then return home to expand her mom’s small animal veterinary practice to include more
livestock reproductive services. In veterinary school, she will focus on livestock reproduction, using
her personal experience in the cattle industry, veterinary internships, practice and research
experiences to meet the need for veterinary reproductive services.

James Brody Rogers, Hamilton, Texas, is a veterinary student at Texas A&M University. Along
with pursuing his veterinary degree, Rogers and his siblings started their own business titled Cowhouse
Creek Meat Company, where they began by selling individual cuts and then moved into selling sides of
beef to individuals.

Libby Rushton, of Waverly, Tenn., is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she studies agricultural business. She previously interned for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation as a
public policy intern and this role encouraged her to use her voice for agriculture, whether in the political
or public relations field. She is the current NJHA communications chair, serving her final year on the
NJHA board of directors.

Tar Tut, from Faribault, Minn., is a senior at Texas A&M University, majoring in agriculture
communications and with aspirations to earn a master’s degree in international communications. As a
first-generation American citizen, his top priority is earning a college education. Previously a member of
the North American Junior Red Angus Event board of directors, he now serves the NJHA as the
leadership chair, and is excited to take on the adventures of a new year.

Megan Underwood, Campbellsville, Ky., is a graduate student at Kansas State University
pursuing a degree in agricultural education and communications after graduating early with her
undergraduate degree in animal science and industry. Her research focuses on the uses and gratifications beef producers experience through breed association print magazines.

The scholarship fund is the bedrock of HYFA and countless youth are benefactors of its mission.
This last fiscal year, the foundation celebrated net assets reaching nearly $5 million and in total $185,000 was given back to Hereford youth to assist with their college educations.

–American Hereford Association