Cody Beck chosen as Hereford Merit Scholar

Saturday, August 18, 2012
Bainbridge resident Cody Beck (center) is recognized as the 2012 winner of the National Junior Merit Scholar by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America. Also pictured are Stuard Wilson (left) of American Livestock Insurance and runner-up Justin Bacon. Photo courtesy of National Junior Hereford Association

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cody Beck of Bainbridge was chosen the 2012 first place National Junior Merit Scholar by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America.

The award was presented July 7, during the 13th annual VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Grand Island, Neb.

Junior merit scholarships recognize outstanding members of the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA). The scholarship program is designed to encourage individual and cooperative effort, enthusiasm, excellence, leadership and achievement among youth in order to develop reputable breeders for the good of the Hereford business and beef industry.

Beck received a $2,000 scholarship, plus a trip to any Hereford operation in the continental U.S., made possible by American Livestock Insurance.

The 19-year-old North Putnam graduate will be a sophomore at Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kan. He is on the livestock judging team.

He plans to attend a four-year university after graduating from Butler and major in agriculture economics with an emphasis on pre-law. He hopes to work in the legal field in the ag industry and eventually develop his own herd.

The 2012 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo was sponsored in part by Biozyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The NJHA is one of the most active junior programs in the country with approximately 3,000 members.

The NJHA's mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit www.jrhereford.org.

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