Hereford Youth

Australia - Hereford Youth Ambassadors Study South Australian Farming

This report is in pdf format. To view it, please click here. Please note: this is quite a large file so may take some time to download if you only have a dial-up connection.

United States - Hereford Leadership Convention a Hit

Junior Hereford members gained life skills and in-depth industry knowledge during the 2006 Program for Reaching Individuals Determined to Excel (PRIDE) Convention, Aug. 3-6, in College Station, Texas. Eighty-five enthusiastic junior members, parents and advisors from 16 states gathered from as far away as Montana and Virginia for three days of educational workshops, tours, and industry and inspirational speakers. Texas A&M University hosted this year’s convention. Animal science Associate Professor Chris Skaggs and his staff helped facilitate the event. Junior members participated in leadership training and hands-on workshops. They also went to DeShazer Cattle Co. for a tour, dinner and entertainment by the Eli Young Band. Another highlight of the event was when the world-renowned speaker Rick Rigsby led a powerful discussion on family and values.

Congrats Junior Award Winners....
Two prestigious awards were given at the 2006 PRIDE Convention. The Future Cattleman Scholarship went to Michael Coley, Castalian Springs, Tenn., and Meghan Schatte, Giddings, Texas. Selection of winners is based on juniors’ individual accomplishments, as well as leadership, herd management and breeding goals. Coley and Schatte received $750 scholarships from the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and American Hereford Women (AHW).
Coley and Schatte also received the Golden Bull Achievement Award, as did Ashley Middleswarth, Torrington, Wyo., and Maddee Moore, Cove, Oregon. This award recognizes juniors who have excelled in activities offered through the junior program. Each recipient received a bronze Hereford bull and a $750 scholarship from the HYFA and AHW.

Get Your JNHE Pictures at the Hereford Photo Shop...
To view and purchase Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) photos taken by American Hereford Assocation (AHA) and Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI) staff, visit the Hereford Photo Shop Web site. Here you’ll find pictures of show and award winners taken at JNHE events throughout the week.

NEW ZEALAND - NZ HEREFORD YOUTH TRUST – SOUTH ISLAND TECHNICAL TOUR 2006

Article written by Sam Hain, Past Ambassador

At the beginning of March this year I was privileged once again to travel with other young Hereford Breeders on a Technical tour to Lincoln University, the FiveStar feed lot at Ashburton, Invermay Research Centre at Mosgiel, Beaumont Station, Limehills and Waikaka Hereford Studs and Bowmont Meats, Hereford Prime Processors.

At Lincoln we were introduced to Roy Bickerstaff, a member of the team who receives our beef for the Steak of Origin competition and completes the shear force analysis. He was interesting to listen to partly because of his vast knowledge of the industry but mainly because it was easy to see the passion he brought to the job. He spoke about meat quality and what we needed to do to produce the meat needed to win the Steak of Origin competition.

From there we traveled to Five Star Feedlot in Ashburton. What surprised many of us was the presence of a number of whiteface steers there. There were also some pens of pure Hereford steers as well. The white faced steers are used for the short-term feeding. As the feed lot is finding this more profitable at present they are sourcing more steers containing Hereford genetics which is certainly a positive for us.

Our next stop was Invermay where we got an insight into DNA testing. We also had some very interesting questions answered which for many created more questions. It was certainly a part of the trip which made many of us think.

The next day our first stop was at a commercial breeder’s property, where Robin Gamble, Hereford Prime agent explained what he looks for when he procures cattle for Hereford Prime.

From there we traveled to the 70 000 acre Beaumont Station. This was one of the high points for many on the tour. The farm is run by the Hore family and their progressive attitude is certainly evident around the farm where a very extensive regrassing and sub-division project is being undertaken. This has allowed them to increase stock number by about 50%. There are over 2000 Hereford cows on the property. These are serviced by bulls produced in the elite herd which is a group of cows which used to be registered. At the time we were there they were marking their calves. The calves were very impressive, anyone would be proud to own 2000 of them!
Following Beaumont we went to Limehills Stud owned by Gray and Robyn Pannett, a very enthusiastic breeder who gave us a look at his sale bulls and heifers.

From there we went to Waikaka where a Hereford Prime barbecue was put on by the Southland club. Though Laurie and Sharon had gone to a lot of trouble to put on a display of cattle the weather was not very co operative. However the cattle looked good and we were able to have a good discussion led by Laurie on EBV’s and his philosophy for breeding cattle.

The following morning was spent at Bowmont Meats. It is a very good operation and it is no surprise to any of us that they do so well in the Steak of Origin competition. It was a real example of how Hereford Prime should be done. It is a credit to Bowmont but also to Laurie that it is done so well. One very important factor is the company’s belief in Herefords. They made it obvious that if they weren’t doing Hereford Prime they would still procure Hereford heifers and steers over any other breed. Some of the Youth members who went on the technical tour last year were disappointed with the Hereford Prime operation in the North Island at the time. However having seen Bowmont Meats it is plain that if all Hereford Prime processors can reach this standard then the programme is in good heart.
Thanks must go out to David Morrow for a very well organized tour and also to David Dodge and his team at Merial and ASB for their continued support.

2006 Sponsored Ambassadors – Colin Burgess, Neil Brown, Duncan Campbell, Melissa Gibbs, Bruce Tomlin.

Also several past Youth Ambassadors chose to attend at their own expense.