WOOSTER – The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) recognized Keayla Harr of Jeromesville as the 2026 Young Cattleman of the Year during the Buckeye Cattlemen’s Summit on Jan. 24.
The event took place at The Ohio State University Wooster Campus, Shisler Conference Center, in Wooster. The award was sponsored by Select Sires Member Cooperative.
The Young Cattleman of the Year Award is presented to individuals or couples, typically under 40 years of age, who have demonstrated the early stages of a successful beef operation and shown strong leadership potential within the cattle industry.
The recipient also serves as OCA’s automatic nominee to participate in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference.
Harr is a second-generation cattleman who was raised on her family’s Hereford seedstock operation, J & L Cattle Services. She grew up actively involved in 4-H and FFA and was heavily engaged in the National Junior Hereford Association, building a strong foundation in the beef industry from a young age.
Harr began her postsecondary education at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, where she was a member of the livestock judging team. She then attended Kansas State University, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in meat science.
Following that, Harr continued her education at Oklahoma State University, where she completed a Ph.D. program in meat science with a research focus on meat color.
After completing her education, Harr began her professional career at E.R. Boliantz, a meatpacking company.
She notes that her overarching goal in the beef industry is to ensure that meat animal protein remains a valued part of consumers’ diets. Harr combines her meat science background with her family’s farming operation to help produce Hereford seedstock that is productive, practical, and delivers real-world value.
In addition to her passion for meat science and cattle production, Harr is committed to youth development and hopes to further give back to the organizations that helped shape her and will influence the next generation of beef producers.
To learn more about Keayla Harr and her background, view her award video at www.ohiocattle.org.