The NJAA is the organizational name for junior members of the American Angus Association (Association). It is made up of all of the junior members of the Association. The NJAA is governed by a twelve member board which is elected each year during the annual meeting of the NJAA which is held during the National Junior Angus Show. In order to be a member of the NJAA you must be junior member of the Association and if you are a junior member of the Association you are a member of the NJAA.

Junior memberships are available for any young person from birth through their 21st birthday. Memberships are limited to juniors who live in the United States and/or Canada.

The answer to this question is two fold. If they joined the Association prior to October 1, 2001 they purchased a junior membership that was good through their 21st birthday and their junior membership expires on the date of the junior's 21st birthday.

If they joined on or after October 1, 2001 they must pay annual membership dues in order to stay current and to participate in the programs offered. The membership renewal date is based on the day they joined the association.

In either case, in the calendar year of the juniors 21st birthday the junior may participate in junior programs offered by the Association, NJAA and the Angus Foundation through the entire calendar year, even though "officially" their membership expired on their 21st birthday.

The categories offered in junior Angus shows are:

Owned Heifers - these are heifers which are purchased whether from a family member or any other Angus breeder.

Bred-and-Owned Heifers - these are heifers that the junior member owned the dam of the heifer at the time the heifer was conceived. The junior member must be listed as the breeder, first and continuous owner on the registration certificate.

Bred-and-Owned Bulls - these are bulls that the junior member owned the dam of the bull at the time the bull was conceived. The junior member must be listed as the breeder, first and continuous owner on the registration certificate.

Steers - these are registered steers that are owned by the junior member.

Cow/Calf Pairs - these are cow/calf pairs where the calf is bred-and-owned by the junior member and the issue date of the transfer of the cow into the junior member's membership is prior to the conception date for the calf.

A bred-and-owned animal is one where the junior member owned the dam of the heifer/bull at the time the heifer/bull was conceived. The junior member must be listed as the breeder, first and continuous owner on the registration certificate.

The annual membership fee to be a junior member of the Association is $20. The payment of this fee allows the junior member to participate in activities and events sponsored by the Association, the NJAA and the Angus Foundation. (Additional entry fees, registration fees, and/or supplemental costs may apply depending upon the event or activity.)

The National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) offers a world of opportunities to youth. Members of the NJAA are eligible for:

• Registering cattle with the Association
• Receiving two issues of the Angus Journal annually (one per household)
• Participation in junior activities including conferences, shows and other contests
• Receiving two issues of the NJAA newsletter Directions (one per household)
• Showmanship competitions
• Leadership training (officers and directors)
• National Junior Recognition Program
• Scholarships
• Information on fitting, tattooing, judging, advertising and promotion

This is a hard question to answer because the age requirements for shows vary both on the younger age limit as well as the older age limit. It is important to check the rules for age of the exhibitor for the specific show in which you are interested in participating.

Note: For shows sponsored and coordinated by the American Angus Association the junior must be a minimum of 8 years of age before January 1 of the calendar year of the show. The junior members' last year of eligibility is the calendar year of their 21st birthday.

The simple answer to this is no. The rules of the American Angus Association do not allow joint ownership of an animal if it is to be shown in junior shows.

Note: Some 4-H and FFA shows do allow joint ownership - however most do not.

Exception: Bred-and-owned animals may be multi-owned as long as the junior member is the breeder, first and continuous owner of the animal being shown. This applies only to shows sponsored and managed by the American Angus Association. Shows such as the North American International Livestock Exposition, the American Royal, the National Western, Southwest Livestock Exposition (Fort Worth), etc. do not allow multi-ownership of any animals being shown in their junior shows.