Submitted

Prior to the National Hereford Bull Show at the 2021 American Royal hosted in Kansas City, Mo., Lauren Gatz of Fairview was selected to represent the breed as the 2022 National Hereford Queen.

Seven state queens from across the country represented their respective state with the goal of being selected as the National Hereford Queen. Gatz is a freshman at Kansas State University majoring in agricultural communications and journalism, and is the daughter of Taylor and Jennifer Gatz. Her first official event as the National Hereford Queen will be at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

The National Hereford Queen attends events, shows and sales, including the Junior National Hereford Expo, to present awards and assist with ring presentations. This young lady is an icon of breed queens as she is dawned in a white dress, boots, statement sash and classic crown. The National Hereford Women support this program and in conjunction with the Hereford Youth Foundation of America, the queen will receive a $10,000 scholarship at the conclusion of her reign to support her future education.

Gatz is an 11-year member of the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) and has been actively involved in a variety of programs hosted by the association. At Kansas State University, Gatz is involved in Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Collegiate Cattlewomen, Block & Bridle and the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

“Being selected as the National Hereford Queen has always been a goal of mine and hearing my name called is a feeling impossible to put into words,” Gatz said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue the legacy of this historic program and represent the breed that has shaped me into the person I am today.”

About the AHA

The American Hereford Association, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI) and American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers, while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth and research.