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National Junior Hereford Association members celebrate "Rollin' On The River"
National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members and their families were "Rollin' On the River," July 25 to 31, at the Junior National Hereford Expo. (JNHE). Hereford enthusiasts sent the summer out in grand style by making the 2004 JNHE one of the most memorable events in recent times. Mississippi Hereford Association members rolled out the red carpet to welcome breeders to the Mississippi Delta. From California to Vermont, Hereford families traveled far and long to take part in the Hereford breed's largest event.
The Mississippi hosts even took credit for planning the unseasonable cool temperatures that lasted throughout the week. Tunica, Miss., was buzzing as it played host to one of the largest youth events of the year and offered outstanding entertainment and family fun. The state-of-the-art facilities of the Paul Battle Arena and Tunica Exposition Center proved to be most accommodating for 1,011 entries and more than 2,000 attendees.
The opening ceremony was enthusiastic from start to finish as the King of Rock n Roll--"Elvis" wowed the crowd and sent mothers to their feet screaming and shaking with excitement. Tina Turner lit up the arena with her rendition of "Proud Mary" and closed the show with a very fitting "Simply the Best." From the roar of the crowd as the National Junior Hereford Association Board of Directors (NJHA) entered the arena in their finely tuned "Pink Cadillac" to the closing comments from William Adair, Mississippi's fundraising chairman, everyone was geared for the week.
The show ring is just one of the factors that brought the breed's top youth together. But the biggest news was the sweep taken by the Barber twins, Channing, Texas. Jason and Justin took both grand champion awards in the bred-and-owned heifer, bull and horned heifer shows along with reserve champion in the polled show. This may be the biggest sweep by a single family in the entire breed's history.
Far removed from the show ring, attendees met new friends and fostered old friendships. From gathering at the picnic tables during the "Catfish Fry" to dining in "Grand" style at the awards banquet there was plenty of time for socializing and making friends. In keeping with the theme, Mississippi hosts had a variety of entertainment planned. The highlight of the week for many was a trip down the mighty Mississippi River aboard the Tunica Queen. The view of the river from the observation deck proved to be a spectacular view as visitors could see the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Always a highlight of the JNHE is the awards and scholarships that are presented to the participants in the leadership driven competitions. The awards banquet was well attended as 989 attendees packed the Grand Convention Center to show their support to deserving youth. The Hereford Youth Foundation of America along with the National Organization of Poll-ettes and American Hereford Women sponsor many of the scholarships that are presented. Long-time Hereford youth supporter, Jerry Gay, Harding and Harding Insurance presented the National Junior Merit Award to Ike Redden of Norman, Ind. Overall, 156 awards were presented and more than $10,000 in scholarships were awarded.
Date: 8/23/04
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