But wait...my July isn't done yet!

For most National Hereford Queens they have one fun filled week in July and then they go back home until fall. I however, was the lucky Queen who happened to be crowned on a year when there was a World Hereford Conference. But wait, it gets better, the World Hereford Conference wasn't all the way around the world, but just to the north in Canada! Yes, I got to attend the World Hereford Conference in Canada, as queen! It was such a great experience, and I really did get to meet so many new friends from around the world! I was able to experience the abnormal first place red ribbon too! It did take me a while to get use to handing out the red ribbon first and the blue ribbon second, but I finally caught on! It was such an experience to watch a show in another country! While the basis of judging cattle is the same, there are still many differences. I met so many great youth and adult hereford breeders that I will forever hold as dear friends. 

Best time of Summer...Junior National Hereford Expo

I was so excited about the week before me as I made my way into Grand Island, Nebraska and it did not let me down! I had such an amazing time getting to know the Queens from across the nation and spending time with them along ring side passing out awards. There were so many memories made on those long days of passing out awards. I hosted the second annual Queen's Tea which was a great success, in fact there were so many little girls that I didn't have enough goodies for everyone! We had cupcakes and candy and I talked to them about my year as Queen! The time spent with those future Queens was by far the most rewarding of the week. Being around them reminds me that there are so many great future young ladies to lead the hereford breed, and of course be the next National Queen!

Heading to Texas!

Not long after Denver I was headed south for the Fort Worth Stock show in Texas! My family has exhibited at the stock show many times, but being queen was a whole new side of Fort Worth. I was able to attend the women and men's meeting and speak to the groups at both. I got the opportunity to spend show day with all of the Texas royalty, and was able to get to know several new faces in the barn! The hereford members in Texas had open arms to me and helped me in every way they could, and I am very thankful to all of those families who did so!

Herefords in the Mile High City

I have been to Denver and experienced the scene and thrill of watching the Herefords in the yards and on the  hill, and what an experience that is! However, experiencing it as Queen was possibly even more thrilling! This could partially be due to the fact that I actually got to watch the shows all the way through, instead of having to be back in the barns watching cattle! I loved the experience of being Queen in Denver, it is truly a once in a life time experience that I will always treasure. As always, I got to interact with so many Hereford breeders, and who would turn down an opportunity like that? I was so fortunate and thankful to have the Colorado Queen, Brooke Hinojosa, assisting on all the show days both in the yards and on the hills. Without her extra hand it would have been quite a bit for one queen to take on! Overall Denver was a fun packed time, though by the end of my travel I was ready for a good night's sleep!

Keeping the crown and sash busy!

(pictured above is me attending the Opportunity sale with my "hereford Grandma")

At the beginning of December I had the opportunity to go and attend the National Hereford show in Reno, Nevada. This was my first time to be able to travel out west and attend this show. I was overjoyed with the opportunity to work with Queens and Princesses from Idaho, Oregon, and California. They were all such amazing ladies, and I truly am blessed to have had the opportunity to spend time with them. We worked together handing out awards and taking pictures at the backdrop for two days. We then had the sale, and when I say "the sale" it truly is possibly the sale of all sales. For those of you who don't know the sale is held in the Hotel/Casino. Not only that, but the cattle come out on the stage inside the hotel! Many of you have probably seen the photo of the men and women kneeling down with their cattle in one hand and show sticks in the other, well that was taken at the Western Nugget Sale. It truly gave you goose bumps to witness the view of the hereford breeders and their cattle when the curtains were raised! Following the sale I flew a red eye flight to Kansas City Missouri, and drove to Sedalia, Missouri for the Missouri Hereford Associations' Opportunity Sale. I always enjoy a trip to spend time with my hereford family in Missouri! Needless to say though, by the end of the journey I was exhausted! 

Hereford Holiday Classic Sale

My second stop was to the Hereford Holiday Classic Sale in Clinton, Illinois! This sale's consignors were Crane Herefords, Stephens and Loehr Herefords, Young Cattle Co., and Sayre Herefords. This group of people had their arms open to me the moment I arrived in Clinton and stepped out of the truck! They reminded me that the Hereford breed not only has great cattle, but an even better set of breeders! I have become acquainted with many of the other Illinois Hereford breeders and it was great to catch up with them at the sale as well. I even got a picture with Mr. JW Crane! Thank you again to these families for being so kind and supportive!


~in Hereford spirit, your Queen Amanda Bacon

1st Stop~Louisville, Kentucky

My second half of the North American International Livestock Exposition (aka NAILE) was just as great as the first! With the classes a little bit bigger in size it wasn't quite as fast pace, allowing me to make it back and forth from the awards table to the ring exit with a little time to spare! I was so thankful for all of those who helped taxi me from my hotel to the exposition center, Mr. Andrew Garnhart of Mud Creek Farms and Mr. Travis Pierce of Pierce's Hereford Haven. Without these two I wouldn't have made it to the show on time or I may have been spending the night in the barn, thank you again! In the ring I got help passing out ribbons and holding banners from Miss Tory Miller of Thorntown, Indiana. She was great help and great company in the ring and I was very thankful to have her with me! By the end of the day my white boots and the bottom of my white skirt were tinted with green, but it was all worth it! Louisville was a great start to my year as National Hereford Queen. But it was just the first stop of many!

~in Hereford spirit, your Queen Amanda Bacon