2
* =
SOD, DLF, HYF, IEF
** = CHB, DLF, HYF, IEF
+ =
SOD, CHB, DLF, HYF, IEF
JOHN LEIBEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
In 1952, John L. Leibel became the executive director of the South Dakota Hereford Asso-
ciation, a position he held for thirty-three years. In that capacity, John was a true industry
leader, devoting himself to the South Dakota Hereford Association membership, and to
the improvement of the Hereford breed. Better than most, John understood the impor-
tance of providing support and educational opportunities for the next generation of lead-
ers. Through his efforts, the South Dakota Junior Hereford Association became the strong
association which exists today.
John Leibel passed away in 2003, but with the help of the Leibel family, John’s legacy lives
on in the
South Dakota Junior Hereford Achievement Program
, which was established to
provide scholarship and educational support for young people interested in a career in
agriculture and Hereford cattle. The
John Leibel Memorial Scholarship
is specifically
intended to provide financial assistance to those South Dakota students who have long-
term career interests in agriculture.
Eligibility: The John Leibel Memorial Scholarship is limited to post-secondary students who
are, or have been, members of the South Dakota Junior Hereford Association. There is no
requirement that the student be attending a South Dakota college/university/vocational
school. The scholarship recipient will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship, to be used at
the post-secondary educational institution of his/her choice.
Scholarship applications can be accessed on the South Dakota Hereford Association web-
site at
Applications are due August 1 of each year.
The 2017 John Leibel Memorial Scholarship recipient is Justin Ringkob.
Herefords have been a big part of my life since I was eight years old. When I began my
showing career, my great grandfather made sure that I had a Hereford steer in the show
barn. Even though he has passed, I have kept showing Herefords and enjoy it to this day.
Showing cattle has been one of my greatest pleasures and taught me many important
values. Perseverance, determination, hard work, and responsibility to name just a few.
It is these traits along with my experiences that make me a qualified candidate for this
scholarship. As an experienced cattleman, I have had the opportunity to mentor younger
4-Hers and pass on my skills through personal teaching along with helping put on clinics to
help teach kids about cattle and showing. Serving in many associations and on numerous
boards has allowed me to grow through communicating and working with a group to orga-
nize and complete projects from food drives to hosting a junior national cattle show. Show-
ing cattle has also instilled in me a love for challenge. Nothing worthwhile comes without
effort and showing cattle is no exception. I’ve had success both in and out of the show ring
but that success was always a product of my effort and the hard work I put in. No matter the
challenge, I always put forward my best effort and do my utmost to succeed. Regardless of
where life takes me, the skills and experiences I have from showing cattle will continue to
make an impact throughout my life.
The 2017-2018 South Dakota Junior Hereford officers:
President - Calah Covey
VP -Trevor Johnson
Secretary - Maesa Dvorak
Treasurer - Hadley Stiefvater
Reporter - Camryn Houselog
Directors - Molly Meyers, Carly Schaunaman and Haley Ringkob.
2017 SDJHA Field Day.
