The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Exhibiting & Promoting

Junior Awards

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Don:
Hannah,   While we are discussing the awards, How many points do you think would be a good benchmark for the next level?   Do you think 300 is about right?   Any other Juniors that want to jump in?

Ernie Haire:
There are some clubs and associations that do not offer anything for their Junior Members. I am glad that the Ameraucana Breeders Club recognizes our Junior Members by offering a Junior Master Breeder Title and Annual Awards at the District and the National level. I have a few questions that come to mind when thinking about more awards to entice Juniors to show anything. Will the points earned in the Junior Program be carried over to the points required to earn an Open Grand Master Exhibitor title? As a teacher, I spend time reminding my students that exhibiting anything is not all about "what's in it for me". There are people who show because they love the breed, the competition, and the fellowship.

I am not sure what we offer in the form of scholarships, but I had rather see us focus on awarding a scholarship or two to graduating seniors. We could spend the year raising money at some of the Club Meets and the Nationals to be used for scholarships. I would be willing to sell a set of hatching eggs, chicks, juveniles, or breeding pair to go toward a scholarship program.

I think that we and any association or club should be careful awarding the same title to Junior and Open exhibitors and/or breeders. I hope that I don't sound like a "party-pooper" or someone who doesn't support Junior exhibitors, but I have seen too many Junior State Champions and Junior National Champions advertised as State Champions and National Champions. It seems that the "Junior" gets dropped off of the titles in many advertisements. It may not be the advertisers' intention, but it is almost false advertisement when you are the owner or breeder of the State Champion or National Champion.

Just My Opinion,
Ernie Haire
Poutry 2XL

Susan Mouw:
I love the idea of a scholarship!  I would really like to research that further.

Points earned as a Junior exhibitor in Junior classes do not transfer to Open points, once the Junior ages out of Juniors. A Junior may, however, earn points in Open classes that continue to accumulate - but only points earned in Open Classes.

For example, a Junior enters two birds - a black hen in open and a silver pullet in Juniors and is awarded best of variety in both classes.  The points earned by the silver pullet do not carry over after that Junior ages out of Junior, but the points earned in the Open Class will.

Hannah Brush:
Don, that sounds great. I was just making a motion to get this all started, I will let you guys handle where you want to set the benchmarks and where you guys want to go with the awards. All these ideas are great though.

Ernie I also love the idea of a scholarship.

Ernie Haire:
As an educator, I am involved in several different Scholarship programs. Some of them are as small as a couple of hundred dollars, but that money can help a student with a book or two and/or some fees. Some of the scholarships that I work with are endowments that can cover a student's tuition, books, fees, and housing for  four years.

I would be happy to donate items to be raffled and/or auctioned to help support a Scholarship Program. I think that there are many other breeders/exhibitors who would be willing to support raising funds at some of our ABC Special Meets. If not at the Special Meets, we could auction them online with the funds going to the Scholarship Program. We have an Auction Page on Facebook now.

Be Blessed,
Ernie Haire
Poultry 2XL

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