St. Joseph played host to nearly 100 young livestock leaders Tuesday.

Members of the National Junior Hereford Association visited BioZyme for Hereford burgers and a tour of the plant on Stockyards Expressway.

BioZyme makes a variety of livestock feed supplements that increase performance in many ways. Company president Bob Norton described what sets BioZyme apart from its competitors.

“We all pretty much buy our ingredients from the same source, but what we do different is we put in microbials that work with the animal to increase production,” Mr. Norton said.

The visitors traveled north from the Junior National Hereford Expo, held this week in Kansas City. Vita Ferm, a division of BioZyme, is the title sponsor for the event that brought 2,200 people and 1,150 cattle from nearly 40 states to the American Royal Complex. The event gives members ages 9 to 21 the chance to show cattle and compete in other areas like speech making or knowledge of the Hereford breed.

Craig Huffhines, executive vice president of the American Hereford Association, said the expo provides one of the most memorable experiences that young members have as they grow up in the beef industry.

“We’re trying to create young leaders, whether they grow up do be lawyers, teachers or come back and help our industry,” Mr. Huffhines said.

Jason Ewing, president of the National Junior Hereford Association, runs a herd with his family near Fordland, Mo. A recent graduate of the University of Missouri, Mr. Ewing said he thinks the association gave him good experience for the real world.

“It taught me a lot about work ethic,” Mr. Ewing said. “You have cattle that depend on you, and it really makes you commit to something important.”

Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.