The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) awarded two Roy A. Wallace Memorial Scholarships during the organization’s 46th annual meeting and research symposium in Lincoln, Neb., June 18-21. This scholarship was established to encourage young men and women interested in beef improvement to pursue those interests as Wallace did, with dedication and passion. This year’s recipients are Maci Lienemann, a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Heather Bradford, a doctoral candidate at Kansas State University.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lienemann is majoring in animal science and is an active student on campus. She is very involved with her family’s seedstock Angus herd near Princeton, Neb., and has served as a Nebraska State FFA officer as well as president of the Nebraska Junior Angus Association. Lienemann has worked at GeneSeek and served as an intern at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. Upon graduating, she has ambitions of pursing a Ph.D. in animal genetics and genomics.

Heather Bradford is a Ph.D. candidate at Kansas State University studying animal science and industry. Bradford has conducted multiple research projects designed to improve beef cattle genetic evaluations, in collaboration with both the American Angus and American Hereford Associations. She served as the first-ever intern for Angus Genetics, Inc. and her Hereford involvement allowed her the opportunity to attend the World Hereford conference. She is currently working with the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center for her doctorate research.

The Roy A. Wallace Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Memorial Fund was established by Select Sires to honor the life and career of Roy Wallace. Wallace, who worked for Select Sires for 40 years, served as vice president of beef programs and devoted his life to the improvement of beef cattle. He became involved with BIF in its infancy and was the only person to attend each of the first 40 BIF conventions.

Two $1,250 scholarships are awarded each year, one to an undergraduate and the other to a graduate student. Criteria for selection include a demonstrated commitment and service to the beef cattle industry, a passion for the areas of beef breeding, genetics and reproduction, academic performance and personal character.