With 2025 almost here, we wanted to make junior members, parents, and breeders aware of some important changes that will go into effect starting January 2, 2025.

Download the full letter

NJAA WEBSITE

The National Junior Angus Association website will be updated to include information for this year’s upcoming shows and events. You will find updated general rules, contest rules, calendar, and entry forms.

ONLINE ENTRIES

Like last year, all entries MUST be submitted online.

• Junior show entry forms are found on the NJAA website for the following shows: MAJAC, Eastern Regional, National Junior Angus Show, Atlantic National, All American Angus Breeders Futurity and Northwest Regional Preview.
  • Western Regional for the junior show will be located on the Showman App.
• Open show entry forms will be found on the Angus website under Events > Cattle Shows for the following shows: Atlantic National, and All-American Angus Breeders Futurity.
  • Western National Angus Futurity will be live on the Showman App.

OWNERSHIP DATES

One of the biggest issues we see is junior animals not meeting ownership deadlines. We want to reiterate that we DO NOT accept postmark dates for ownership of NJAA sponsored shows (MAJAC, Eastern Regional, Western Regional, Atlantic National, All American Breeders Futurity,
Northwest Regional, and National Junior Angus Show).

This means:

1. All ownerships dates will be based on PROCESS DATE, which can be found at the bottom of the registration paper or animal look-up. This refers to the date that our office processes a transfer.
   • To transfer an animal, the original registration paper with completed transfer information from the seller must be mailed in or if the registration paper is electronically stored, the transfer can be sent electronically. If you need totransfer the animal prior to the original registration being received by theAmerican Angus Association, please call the Events and Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100.
2. All animals need to be registered by or before the ownership deadline. For example, if the ownership date is May 1, 2025, the process date needs to be on or before May 1, 2025.
   • This also applies to bred and owned animals. All bred and owned animals need to be registered by the ownership deadline.
3. Any animals that require DNA will need to CLEAR on or before the ownership date. This includes ET calves, so please plan accordingly.

Rule 104 d. Calves produced by embryo transplant: This is a reminder of AAA protocol for donor dams as referenced in the Breeder’s Reference Guide: As amended June 8, 2023, any donor born after January 1, 2023, will need to have parentage markers on file AND be tested for the genetic condition bundle for ET calves to be registered.

For more information regarding ownership, we highly encourage all members, parents and breeders to watch our Ownership FAQ video here.
Below is a table of ownership deadlines for NJAA sponsored shows. For more dates and deadlines, see the calendar on the NJAA website.

EID’S AS PRIMARY IDENTIFICATION

The American Angus Association is accepting EID’s as a form of primary identification for checkin at the following shows: MAJAC, Eastern Regional, Western Regional, Atlantic National, All American Breeders Futurity, Northwest Regional, and National Junior Angus Show. If you have an EID listed as primary identification, we will read the EID number to verify the animal at check-in (similar to tattoo). As we start to incorporate EID technology into our check-in process, we encourage breeders to register 2025 calves with EID as the primary form of identification.

See the full rule statement below:
Any animal, which does not have legible primary identification marks (ear tattoo marks, freeze-branded marks, hot branded marks, or electronic identification tag (EID)) corresponding to the primary identification on its registration certificate, upon checking in for the show is ineligible to show. Once disqualified due to an incorrect, illegible, or absence of a primary identification mark, animals cannot be identified and re-checked at the show.

If your animal is already registered and you would like to update the primary identification type to EID, please return the original registration certificate to the Association with the full EID number stated as primary and identify the secondary form of identification. If the animal is electronically stored, the correction can be processed electronically. A registration correction fee may apply.

RULE REMINDER

The General Rules are rules that the American Angus Association has adopted for use at its National, Regional and Regional Preview Junior Angus Shows. Anything that is listed in red is used to bring attention to changes and/or clarifications.

NEW THIS YEAR!

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) or an equivalent (YQCA) is required to compete at the National Junior Angus Show for ALL NJAS exhibitors. There will be a section to upload your certificate in AAA Login. If an exhibitor is unable to complete BQA training before arriving in Tulsa the exhibitor will be required to attend the BQA Training that will take place on Sunday morning during NJAS.

Note: Juniors will need to have their own AAA Login to have the ability to upload. A joint account under a farm name will not have the upload option.

UPDATED CLASSIFICATIONS

Updated classifications for both junior and open shows can be found here.

REGISTRATION CAP FOR RAISING THE BAR CONFERENCE

Continuing in 2025 a 50-attendee cap will be instituted for the Raising the Bar conference. There is no application process, we will be taking the first 50 juniors to sign up. If all spots fill prior to the February 15th deadline, the registration link will be shut down. We highly recommend that those that are signing up have a specific interest in the University of Nebraska – Lincoln or are pursuing a higher education.