American Junior Shorthorn Association

09/29/2026

NEW BRED & OWNED OWNERSHIP RULE
effective March 2027

Bred and Owned Exhibition Rule: To be eligible to exhibit in the Bred and Owned classification, the junior exhibitor must be the recognized breeder of the animal. The following conditions must be met without exception:

Ownership at Conception: The dam of the exhibited animal must be registered or recorded with the junior exhibitor listed as an owner in the registry at the time of conception. This applies strictly to all methods of breeding: Natural Service, Artificial Insemination (AI), and Embryo Transfer (ET).
Multiple Ownership Restrictions: Co-ownership of the dam at the time of conception is permitted only among immediate family members.
Immediate Family Definition: For this rule, "immediate family" is strictly defined as siblings, (half-siblings, step-siblings, foster-siblings) who have the same contact address in the registry as the exhibiting junior member.
Disqualifying Ownership: Co-ownership of the dam at the time of conception with parents, grandparents, expired junior members that are immediate family who have aged out, non-sibling relatives, unrelated breeders, syndicates, or general farm names instantly voids Bred and Owned eligibility for the resulting offspring.

Please see the multi-ownership rule for details regarding ownership of calf/animal being shown. The above listed rule applies directly to the DAM of the animal to make it qualify as bred and owned. All bred & owned animals must follow this rule as well as the multi-ownership rule if it applies.

This rule will go into effect in March 2027 following the 2026-2027 show season. The first show this will be in place is the 2027 National Junior Shorthorn Show.

09/28/2026

NEW JUNIOR OWNERSHIP RULE
effective March 2027

Sibling Multi-Ownership Rule
Multiple ownership of an animal is permitted only between eligible sibling junior members. This option is intended to provide flexibility for families with multiple junior members while maintaining individual exhibitor responsibility and preventing ownership arrangements with adults, breeders, farms or other non-sibling parties.

To qualify for sibling multi-ownership:

Eligible Owners: All listed owners must be current AJSA members and meet AJSA age eligibility requirements.
Sibling Definition: Multiple owners must be siblings, including full siblings (half-siblings, step-siblings or foster-siblings) who have the same contact address listed in the registry.
Ownership Restrictions: Parents, grandparents, other relatives, expired junior members who have aged out of AJSA eligibility, unrelated individuals, breeders, syndicates, partnerships, farm names or family farm names may not be included as additional owners for an animal to qualify under the Sibling Multi-Ownership Rule.
Registration: All eligible sibling owners must be listed as owners on the animal's registration or record by the applicable ownership deadline.
Designated Exhibitor: The junior member who enters the animal for a specific show is considered the designated exhibitor and is required to exhibit that animal at that show.
No Exhibitor Changes: Once entries have closed, the designated exhibitor may not be changed to another sibling at the show, regardless of whether the other sibling is also a registered owner of the animal.
One Entry Per Show: An animal may only be entered and exhibited by one sibling at each individual show or event. Joint ownership does not permit the same animal to be entered under multiple siblings at the same show.
Exhibitor Designation by Show: The designated exhibitor is specific to each show. A different eligible sibling owner may enter and exhibit the animal at a subsequent show, provided that sibling is listed as an owner and completes the entry for that event by the applicable entry deadline.

This rule will go into effect in March 2027 following the 2026-2027 show season. The first show this will be in place is the 2027 National Junior Shorthorn Show.

09/24/2026

Have you signed up yet? Join your state team and help us fundraise for the 2027 NJSS!!

09/18/2026

Join us in April for networking, leadership and education!!!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Summit 2027 will be in APRIL in Oklahoma City. Be sure to stay tuned for updates for the schedule. We look forward to gathering soon!

09/16/2026

📲 Ready to start fundraising with AJSA? Here’s how to sign up!

Getting started with our new DonorDrive fundraising platform is quick and easy:

1️⃣ Visit the AJSA DonorDrive page and click Register Now. (jrshorthorn.donordrive.com)

2️⃣ Choose how you want to participate. State Advisors/Jr Association Presidents (CAPTAIN), Junior Members (TEAM MEMBER), other fundraisers (VOLUNTEER).

3️⃣ Join a team! Click join a team and search for your state team. If your state doesn't have a team yet, join as an individual and you can join the team later!

4️⃣ Set your fundraising goal. Choose a goal that gives you something to work toward! Personalize your page with a photo and a few words about why AJSA, NJSS or the Shorthorn breed is important to you.

5️⃣ Start sharing! Send your page to family, friends, breeders, local businesses and other supporters through text, email, social media or your personal QR code.

Every donation helps support the National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference, while also giving you the opportunity to earn points toward the High Point Award and help your state team earn points toward Outstanding State.

➡️ Swipe through the photos for step-by-step instructions, then sign up and start working toward your goal! View the eblast sent this morning for a fundraising guide PDF or it is available once you sign up under 'Resources'.

09/16/2026

📣 Introducing the NEW AJSA Fundraising Platform!

AJSA is excited to launch DonorDrive, a new peer-to-peer fundraising platform that gives every junior member the opportunity to help support the National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference (NJSS)!

Junior members can create their own fundraising page, set a goal and share it with family, friends, breeders, local businesses and other supporters. Every dollar raised helps support the contests, activities, educational opportunities and experiences that make NJSS so special.

🌟 And your fundraising can earn you points!
Members can participate as an individual AND as part of their state team, earning points toward the High Point Award and Outstanding State.

Every junior. Every donation. One BIG impact for the future of AJSA and the Shorthorn breed.

🔗 Sign up, set your goal and start fundraising today! Please check your email for an eblast about how to sign up and watch for a post later today with more sign up instructions. We encourage all junior members to participate! jrshorthorn.donordrive.com

08/01/2026

Junior Spotlight: Kesler Collins

This month's Junior Spotlight shines on Kesler Collins of Flanagan, Illinois!

Kesler's favorite show is NAILE in Louisville, Kentucky, thanks to the iconic green shavings that make it such a memorable experience.

No show would be complete without his biggest supporters, his mom and sister, who always make sure everything gets done right.

Looking ahead, Kesler plans to return home and build a career in agriculture by combining his passions for farming and business. His goal is to work directly with producers while becoming even more involved in his family's farming operation.

We're excited to see all that the future holds for you, Kesler!

07/31/2026

We spent the morning at R.A. Brown Ranch learning about their commitment to building cattle with longevity in mind. We had the opportunity to ask plenty of questions, and Mr. Tucker shared a wealth of knowledge and insight with us. We truly enjoyed our visit and appreciate the time everyone took to host us. Thank you for having us! rabrownranch

07/29/2026

✨ WHY WEDNESDAY ✨

This week, we're featuring retiring AJSA member Madison Ellis of Texas!

Madison encourages younger members to take every opportunity to learn, ask questions and stay consistent, even when things don't go your way.

"Growth doesn't happen overnight. Surround yourself with people who push you to improve, and always be willing to help others in return. Most importantly, enjoy the journey."

Madison appreciates Shorthorn cattle for their versatility, dependability and value in both show and production programs. She also values the breed's strong history and the supportive community.

Join us as we celebrate Madison and the many retiring AJSA members who have helped shape the future of the Shorthorn breed.

07/22/2026

✨ WHY WEDNESDAY ✨

This week, we're featuring retiring NJSA member Caitlyn Rasor of Texas!

Caitlyn encourages younger members to stay curious, ask questions and learn from those around them.

"My advice to younger members would be to always ask questions, stay curious and learn from the older members around you. Most importantly, pursue what you are truly passionate about rather than simply doing what others expect of you."

Having grown up around Shorthorns, Caitlyn first loved the breed for its unique colors and characteristics. As she got older, she developed a deeper appreciation for the genetics, pedigrees and qualities that make Shorthorns special, along with the lasting friendships and connections she's built through the breed.

Join us as we celebrate Caitlyn and the many retiring AJSA members who have helped shape the future of the Shorthorn breed.