Purpose:
The purpose of the Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program is to recognize exceptional cattle in the Miniature Hereford breed being raised and exhibited by Miniature Hereford youth.  These cattle are to be recognized by their individual accomplishments, not those of their sire or dam, nor in connection with Open MHBA show activities.

Awards Presented Annually:

Junior MHBA Female of Excellence
Junior MHBA Prospect Steer of Excellence
Junior MHBA Market Steer of Excellence

Location of Awards Presentation:
The presentation of MHBA Awards will occur at the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals Show held at various venues across the United States in June of each year, beginning at the 2022 event.

Duration of Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program:
The Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program will commence at the 2021 MHBA/MHYF Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals held in Duncan, Oklahoma.  The Program will be operated on an annual basis, beginning with the MHBA/MHYF Junior Nationals show and concluding with the last MHBA sanctioned Junior show held prior to the subsequent MHBA/MHYF Junior Nationals show (for example, from the MHBA/MHYF Junior Nationals in 2021 until immediately prior to the MHBA/MHYF Junior Nationals in 2022).

Junior AIME Program Administration:
The Junior MHBA AIME Program will be planned and overseen by the MHBA Show Committee; however, all rules and Program decisions are subject to approval by the MHBA Board of Directors prior to implementation.  The MHBA Show Committee will assign one member from the committee to serve as the AIME Program Chairperson who will also be in charge of the Junior AIME Program.  This AIME Program Chairperson will be responsible for maintaining records of Program applications as well as compiling, tabulating, and reporting of all points in the Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program.

Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program Participant Eligibility:
Paid youth members of the MHBA holding either a Junior or Family membership level as well as youth included under a MHBA Family membership are eligible to participate in this Program, as long as they meet the age requirements (at least 3 years of age on the day of the show but not 22 on the day of the show).  Following the submission and acceptance of a Junior AIME Program application, Miniature Hereford youth may accumulate AIME Program points.  MHBA membership dues must be kept current at all times.  If MHBA membership lapses at any time during the program period, all points accumulated to date will be forfeited on the day that membership lapses.  Should MHBA membership lapse and said member re-joins the MHBA at a later date, a new Junior AIME Program application can be submitted and point accumulation may restart for the remainder of the Program year (beginning with zero points since all previously accumulated points may not be reacquired).

Eligible Youth MHBA members must complete a Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program application for each animal he/she would like entered into the Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program.  Applications must be received prior to the first MHBA Sanctioned, AIME participating Junior show that the MHBA member will be participating in and during which he/she anticipates accumulating Junior AIME points.  All applications shall be sent to the MHBA Secretary via email or post, which will then be forwarded to the current AIME Program Chairperson.  Upon receipt of a completed application, the eligible MHBA member will receive a ‘letter of acknowledgment’ from the AIME Program chairperson stating that he/she has been accepted into the Program.  This ‘letter of acknowledgment’ also serves as the official notice that Junior AIME points will begin accumulating commencing on the letter date; all subsequent shows will be tallied automatically for all eligible MHBA Sanctioned Junior shows during that Program year.  Junior AIME Program applications will be available on the MHBA website, from the MHBA Secretary, or the AIME Program Chairperson. 

Junior AIME Program Sanctioned Show Requirements:
The Junior AIME Program will encompass all MHBA Sanctioned Junior shows for which the respective show superintendent filed all the required MHBA AIME Program documentation.  For an event to be eligible to participate in the Junior MHBA AIME Program, the show must be recognized as a Junior MHBA Sanctioned show.  All MHBA National Junior Show rules must be implemented in the event and adhered to (located in the MHBA Handbook).  All rules designated specifically for the Junior MHBA AIME point show program must be implemented and followed.  All Show Superintendents must have a signed MHBA Show Superintendent contract on file with the MHBA Secretary.  Show Superintendents will be required to check all registration papers and tattoos for animals entered in the applicable show that are participating in the Junior MHBA AIME Program.  Junior MHBA member must be listed as an owner or a co-owner of the animal.  Only MHBA Junior shows are eligible for the Junior AIME Animals of Excellence program. 

Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program Cattle Requirements:
All cattle participating in the Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program must be registered with the AHA and have the corresponding, legible registration ear tattoo that will be examined at all shows for verification.  Registration papers for each animal must be presented during check-in at all Junior AIME participating shows.  Animals with pending or invalid registration papers will not be eligible to show and therefore points will not be tabulated for said animal.  All animals participating in this program must have both the Sire and Dam be Miniature Herefords (if entry has a standard Hereford Sire or Dam, they are not eligible to participate in this program).  Cow/Calf Pairs are not eligible to participate in this program.

• Females entered into the program must meet all current MHBA show rules for Females.  Height may not exceed 45”.
• Prospect Steers entered into the program must not exceed twelve (12) months of age.  Junior AIME points will stop accumulating automatically when said steer reaches the maximum prospect steer age, according to MHBA National Show rules (located in the MHBA Handbook).  Height may not exceed 48”
• Market Steers entered into the program must not exceed twelve (12) months of age or be more than twenty-four (24) months of age according to the MHBA National Show rules (located in the MHBA Handbook).  Height may not exceed 49".

Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program Ownership Requirements:
All animals participating in the Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program must be owned or co-owned (as listed on the AHA registration paper) by a person or ranch holding a Junior or Family membership (member must be at least 3 years of age on day of show and not 22 years of age on day of show) in the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association.  The animal may be owned or co-owned at the time of the Junior AIME Program application receipt.  Junior AIME points are transferable to new owners, if animal sale concludes prior to the end of the Junior AIME Program year.  The new owner must be a current youth member of the MHBA and submit proof of sale (or AHA registration transfer) along with a new application to the AIME Program Chairperson prior to the next Junior MHBA Sanctioned show in which the animal will be exhibited.  A ‘Letter of Acknowledgment’ must be received by the new owner prior to next qualifying Junior MHBA AIME participating show. 

If co-owned by two different MHBA members or an MHBA Family membership and a youth, the animal may only participate in either the MHBA AIME Cattle of Excellence Program or the Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program.  

Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program Point System:
Junior AIME point totals will be compiled for each individual animal (for which a Junior AIME Program application and ‘Letter of Acknowledgement’ was received by the AIME Program chairperson and applicant, respectively) and tallied by the AIME Program Chairperson.  Animals may be entered in as many Junior MHBA sanctioned AIME participating shows as desired; however, at the conclusion of the Program year, only the top four Junior show results will be counted in the year-end point totals.  Junior MHBA AIME Animals of Excellence Program Award recipients will be determined for heifers and prospect steers.  If an animal is sold during the Program year, accumulated Junior AIME points are transferable when the new owner submits the required application documents.

Eligible points for each animal will be tallied from the top four (4) MHBA Sanctioned Junior AIME point shows at which the individual animal was exhibited.  Individual animals may earn a maximum of 140 points.  Junior AIME Animals of Excellence Program award recipients will be determined at the end of the year with the winner being the Heifer, Prospect Steer, and Market Steer accumulating the highest total number of points for a given year. If there is a tie for the Awards, then the points from a fifth show will be added to break the tie between the animals of consideration. 

Participants can only receive points on an entered animal for one division.  Should a class be sub-divided, points will only be awarded to animals according to class placing, not sub-class placing.  Group classes are not included within in the Junior AIME Program point system.

Complaint or Protest Procedure:
Any adult holding an MHBA Family membership who seeks to file a complaint or protest regarding a perceived infraction of a program rule or Junior sanctioned show rules must submit a fee of $500 to the MHBA Show Committee.  The Show Committee will not release the name of the individual filing the protest.  The fee will be refunded only if the protest is sustained by the MHBA Show Committee.  All complaints or protests must be made directly to the MHBA Show Committee Chairperson by the last day of the show/exhibition.

Any Junior MHBA Animals of Excellence AIME Program participant wishing to protest accumulated points for a given Program year must contact the AIME Program Chairperson and the MHBA Show Committee within seven (7) days of the final MHBA Sanctioned show of the award year.

MHBA Show Committee Decisions:
The decisions of the MHBA Show Committee, subject to approval of the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association Board of Directors, on all issues pertaining to the Junior MHBA AIME Program and the events at MHBA Sanctioned Junior shows shall be final.  Please note that MHBA and Junior AIME Program rules may change or be updated without further notice by the MHBA Board.  All updated or new rules will be posted on the MHBA website and be added to the MHBA Handbook.  The MHBA is not responsible for any accidents that may occur at a specific venue.

Exhibitor Code of Conduct:
All MHBA exhibitors, their family members and others acting on the behalf of the exhibitor including, but not limited to employees or other help, must display good sportsmanship and act in a courteous manner at all MHBA Sanctioned shows.  Unsportsmanlike conduct will be reported to the MHBA Show Committee for appropriate action, as deemed necessary.  Unsportsmanlike conduct may include, but is not limited to, physical actions, threats, or outbursts of profanity.  Committee action is not limited to the following, but may result in the exhibitor(s) found in violation to lose Junior AIME points for a show, lose accumulated Junior AIME points, and/or be banned from current or future participation in the Junior MHBA AIME Program and Junior MHBA sanctioned shows.  The decision of the MHBA Committee and/or the MHBA Board of Directors (in accordance with the MHBA By-Laws) regarding the reported unsportsmanlike conduct shall be final.