WORLD HEREFORD CONFERENCE
JOE ELLIS TO SERVE AS AHA DIRECTOR
Joe Ellis, Chrisman, operates Ellis Farms Beef Genetics, a three-generation family business, which raises row crops and cattle to support four family households. Hereford cattle have always been the operation’s primary focus. Today, the family runs 200 momma cows. Joe and his wife, Lauri, have three daughters: Audrey, Hannah and Lauren.
The Ellis family has raised registered Herefords for 143 years. The first registered stock were brought into the family operation as a wedding gift in 1883: two cows and the imported sire, Beekjay Hero. The EFBeef program provides seedstock genetics to the commercial cow-calf producer and purebred sector. EFBeef genetics have been utilized on four continents and nearly all 50 states. They strive to produce a low-cost female with high fertility, which will thrive on fescue grass pastures, while also making a steer of the highest value that garners carcass weight and yield and quality grade incentives. The operation emphasizes producing a pound of beef more efficiently than prior generations through feed intake testing. EFBeef invests significant time and resources gathering genetic information each year. They’re committed to providing commercial cow-calf producers with additional data to help make decisions when marketing offspring sired by EFBeef bulls.
Pictured is the 2025-26 AHA Board of Directors. Back row: Jim Coley, Tennessee; Joe Ellis, Illinois; Austin Snedden, California; Joe Dan Ledbetter, Texas; Danny Fawcett, South Dakota; and Scott Sullivan, Arkansas. Front row (l to r): Grant McKay, Kansas; Bryan Blinson, North Carolina; Cindy Pribil, Oklahoma; Jim Williams, Nebraska; Jerry Delaney, Minnesota; and Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president.
EFBeef is a two-time winner of the Beef Improvement Federation Seedstock Producer Honor Roll of Excellence. Joe’s parents, Phil and Joyce, previous directors of the AHA, were recently inducted into the Hereford Hall of Fame. EFBeef has been named the Illinois Hereford Breeder of the Year multiple times, along with being the winner of the Illinois Beef Seedstock Breeder of the Year and winning multiple grand championships at the national show in the ’70s and ’90s. EFBeef has received multiple honors and designations from the AHA and American Polled Hereford Association for Sires of Distinction, CHB SOD, Gold Seal Sire and Gold Trophy Sire.
Joe is retired from a career in the material handling industry. He currently serves as treasurer and is a past president of The Vermillion RISE, a 7,000-acre redevelopment of a former World War II Army base. He’s served on the County Area Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and is serving his 18th year as treasurer of the Hopewell Friends Meeting. Joe has served on the nominating committee for AHA Board candidates and the committee for genetic evaluation updates. He was a member of the 2005 Young Cattlemen’s Conference and was active in the APHA youth program during the 1980s. He will now serve a four-year term as director on the AHA board as decided at the 19th annual World Hereford Conference held October 22-26 in Kansas City, Missouri.
“Today’s growing demand for Hereford genetics is the result of breeders’ dedicated commitment to genetic improvement with the needs of commercial producers in mind,” says Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president, regarding Joe and the other two Hereford producers that were recently elected as directors. “However, current breed opportunities are also the result of the selflessness and foresight of the men and women who have guided the AHA over time for the benefit of Association members. The new Board members, like those they join, have proven their dedication to the Hereford breed across decades.”
ONE OF TWO EE RANCHES SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO KADE BOATMAN
Kade Boatman, Rockford, Illinois, is one of two Hereford juniors awarded a $5,000 EE Ranches Scholarship from the Hereford Youth Foundation of America. The other scholarship was awarded to Emma Ballinger of Kentucky. On October 24, during the Shaping the Breed’s Future: Young Breeders Competition and HYFA Scholarship Awards
Luncheon on presented by VitaFerm®, HYFA and its donors awarded $165,500 in scholarships to 27 National Junior Hereford Association members to help support their higher education goals.
A freshman at Lake Land College, Boatman is receiving his agricultural transfer credentials, while being an active member of the livestock judging team. He is currently most interested in a career in auctioneering and animal genetics. “Not only am I interested in them, but I also see how they are beneficial toward the future of agriculture, which is what I am most passionate about,” Boatman says.
EE Ranches, Texas, sponsors two $5,000 scholarships each year through HYFA, made possible by Jo Ellard and her late husband, Bill, of Texas. EE Ranches was one of HYFA’s first scholarship endowments, and the funds awarded over the years have assisted many young people achieve their goals.
“The quality of the applicants and the quality of their statements were first rate, making the selection of the recipients a very difficult task for the selection committee. More importantly, the quality of the applicants ensures they will be leaders who will position agriculture to meet the challenge,” says George Sprague, HYFA vice president and scholarship committee chair.
The scholarship fund serves as the bedrock of HYFA, and countless youth benefit from its mission. For years, these scholarships have been lighting the way for youth in the Hereford breed.
LEMENAGER AWARDED NORTHEAST REGION POLLED SHOW FEMALE OF THE YEAR
Regional Hereford show bull and female of the year winners, along with premier exhibitor awards, recognize Hereford breeders and exhibitors who present their cattle at the national level. To earn the coveted bronze cattle trophies, exhibitors collect points throughout the year by showing at national and regional events. Points were calculated throughout the 2024-25 show season, which ran from May 2024 through April 2025.
This year, Paige Lemenager of Hudson, Illinois, was awarded the Northeast Region Polled Show Female of the Year on October 26 in Kansas City following the National Hereford Show champion female drive of the American Royal.
$5,000 PERKS RANCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO MEINHARDT
Rylie Meinhardt, Onaga, Kan., was awarded the Perks Ranch Scholarship from the Hereford Youth Foundation of America.
Meinhardt, a sophomore at Kansas State University, is pursuing a degree in animal science and industry. Aspiring to a career in advocacy and communications, she believes the first step to effective representation is a strong understanding of the industry itself.
The $5,000 Perks Ranch Scholarship, awarded by HYFA, honors the Perks Ranch of Illinois and highlights Doug Perks’ legacy and leadership during his time on the HYFA board of directors. He helped lead the $5 million capital campaign, which laid the groundwork for the foundation’s pillars — scholarships, leadership, education and research.
HYFA directors, Ray Ramsey and Bruce Everhart, join Kade Boatman, Rockford, Illinois, and Emma Ballinger, McKee, Kentucky, the 2025 EE Ranches Scholarship recipients, during the award ceremony at the 2025 World Hereford Conference coinciding with the AHA Annual Meeting.
Northeast Polled Show Female of the Year was KJ 746D Coco Carmel 32L ET owned by Paige Lemenager of Hudson.
Rylie Meinhardt (center) was presented the Perks Ranch Scholarship by Tammy Boatman and Wade Perks of Perks Ranch.
AMERICAN ROYAL NATIONAL HEREFORD SHOW | KANSAS CITY | OCTOBER 25-26
Open Reserve Grand Champion Female
Champion Junior Yearling Female
HAWK Priya 11 MET
Owned by Ty Pezanoski
Junior Reserve Grand Champion Female
Champion Junior Yearling Female
HAWK Priya 11 MET
Owned by Ty Pezanoski
Junior Reserve
Champion Spring
Heifer Calf
WILDCAT Versace 5068 ET
Owned by Brady Jones
Open Grand Champion Bull
Champion Senior Bull BK PreGame 9113L
Owned by Hawes Cattle, Texas; Jeff Paulsen, Iowa; and Garrett Post, Shabbona, Ill.
Junior Reserve
Heifer Calf
WILDCAT Prosperity 5027 ET
Owned by Lauren, Brady and Nick Jones
REMINDER: All steers will be required to be parent verified to both the sire and dam; therefore, a DNA profile of the steer, the sire and the dam must be completed through the official AHA lab by the entry deadline. To request a DNA kit for your animal, access your MyHerd or contact AHA customer service.
The IJHA follows all rules and guidelines put forth by the American Hereford Association unless otherwise stated
Headquarters:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Group Block Code: JHA
102 Holiday Ln Salem, IL 62881
618-740-0913
Cutoff deadline: 5/18/2026 for group rate $139 00
2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6 I J H A B O A R D
President: Kade Boatman
Vice President: Connor Rhoads
Secretary: Kendall Boatman
Treasurer: Rhett Lehman
Director of PR: Ella Bane
Directors:
Morgan Richardson
Aidan Knobloch
Nolan Lee
Faith Benedict
Ella Crane
Cora Belle Chapman
Allie Anderson
IHA WINTER CLASSIC SALE RESULTS
45 total lots; Average $5,615
• 2 bulls averaged $4,450
• 5 spring cows/choice pairs averaged $6,010
• 8 fall cow/calf pairs averaged $5,906
• 30 bred heifers averaged $5,550
High-seller commanded $10,250, a bred heifer consigned by Lorenzen Farms.
