Iowa Foundation Heifer Award to Khloee Cannon
Khloee Cannon of Hawkeye, Iowa has recently been announced as the 2024 recipient of the Iowa Foundation Heifer Award. Khloee is the daughter of Stephanie and Ben Schulmeister and has 2 sisters: Hailee (16), Brexlee (5) and brother, Layton (8). As an award winner, she received three purebred Shorthorn bred heifers which were purchased from the Gilman Shorthorn herd located at Stuart, Iowa. The foundation heifers of the breed of the winner’s choice are awarded each year by Iowa Beef Breeds Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. At the end of five years, Khloee will be expected to repay $7,500 to help with funding to keep the program going into the future. The program is in year fourteen and was developed to help youth establish purebred seedstock herds of their own.
Khloee is a seventh-grade student at West Central K - 12 School in Maynard, Iowa where she is involved in Basketball, Volleyball and Softball. She joined 4-H as a Clover Kid when she was in Kindergarten and is an active member of the Harlan Fremont 4-H Club where she has been involved in a number of community service projects. In addition, she is a 5 year member of the Iowa Jr. Shorthorn Association and the Iowa Jr. Beef Breeds Association. She shares her family’s love of the Shorthorn breed and has shown not only at her local County Fair, but also at the Iowa State Fair, Iowa Beef Expo, Iowa Jr. Shorthorn Field Days and numerous IJBBA Jackpot shows. In 2023, she competed against 5 other contestants and was chosen to serve as “Little Miss Cowgirl’ for Fayette County Cattlemen.
Khloee’s recommendations credit her with goals of striving for excellence, being a peer role model and having an exceptional work ethic. Last fall, she went into classrooms of 2nd and 3rd graders to discuss the beef industry and answer questions about cattle. Her 4-H presentation, this year, was “Newborn Herd Health” which was information to educate members about the care needed for a newborn calf at the time of birth. She is planning to learn more about genetics, breeding, feeding, grazing practices, budgets and promotion of the beef industry. She is not only a good showman but is also well versed in current beef industry issues. She plans to promote the Award Heifer project by sharing on their Facebook page and talking about it at Iowa State Fair, Iowa Shorthorn Jr Field Day, local cattlemen’s meetings and at school.
She will be honored at the IJBBA Year End Awards held at 4:30 pm on Friday, February 16, 2024 in the Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair Grounds and later at the Iowa Shorthorn Association Annual Banquet.
Iowa Beef Breeds Council and Iowa Cattlemen's Association
