Everything You Need to Know

Register

June 20-25, 2027

Texarkana, Arkansas

❋ Education

❋ Fun Activities

What to Expect

The Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals offers a full week of showing, learning, family activities, contests, and community fun, bringing together youth and their families for an unforgettable summer experience.

❋ Education

We want kids and parents to have meaningful opportunities to grow their knowledge, from educational seminars to hands‑on learning activities and cattle clinics.

❋ Fun Activities

We want kids and families to have fun, so we pack the week with games and activities, and nothing makes us happier than seeing juniors laughing and enjoying time with friends.

❋ Family Focused

This is a true family event where parents can join in many of the activities, and we know how important that time together is. Shared meals and daily events create plenty of opportunities for families to connect and make lasting memories.

❋ Competition

Youth compete in events ranging from speaking and photography to showmanship and the cattle shows, with each competition designed to build their skills and confidence.

Group of young people sitting on wooden bleachers at the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals
MHBA Director and MHJN Committee member, Charles Rohla, assists one of the Pre-Junior exhibitors during the cattle judging contest at the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals
A young woman with long blonde hair, wearing a black shirt, jeans, and a belt with a large belt buckle, showing her Miniature Hereford heifer at the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals

Week at a Glance

Below is a general outline of the week’s schedule, though specific activities and days may vary.

Day One

Move in and set up stalls

Check-in and complete final paper work

Cattle weights and measures

Communication contests

Skill-A-Thon

Awards

Opening Ceremonies

Day Two

Communication contests

Cattle Judging

Educational workshop

Fun Activity

Awards

Family Fun Night

Day Three

Showmanship

Adult Showmanship

Educational presentation

Team Fitting Contest

Awards

Day Four

Cow/Calf Pair show

Pre-Junior and Junior Bred and Owned Heifer show

Pre-Junior and Junior Prospect Steer shows

Pre-Junior and Junior Market Steer shows

Educational presentation

Fun Activity

Dancin’ in the RIng

Day Five

Pre-Junior and Junior Bull show

Pre-Junior and Junior Owned Heifer show

Final awards & Closing Ceremonies

Online Entries

Entries open April 15th

Enter Here

Book Your Stay

Hotel Info

Premium Book

Click Here

Contests

  • Showmanship is an event where exhibitors present their animal before a judge, demonstrating their ability to handle, position, and showcase their animal to their best advantage.

    Pre-Junior: ages 3-7

    Junior: ages 8-11

    Intermediate: ages 12-15

    Senior: ages 16-21

  • Team Fitting is designed to highlight youth’s fitting abilities as well as their skills in teamwork and leadership. Participants will be randomly assigned to teams, according to age classes, prior to the event. Pre-Junior teams will be assigned a mentor, but mentors may not physically work on the cattle.

    Pre-Junior: ages 3-7

    Junior: ages 8-11

    Intermediate: ages 12-15

    Senior: ages 16-21

  • The Educational Display contest provides youth with an opportunity to create a static educational display to teach fellow youth members, exhibitors, Miniature Hereford breeders, the livestock industry and/or the general public about a specific topic of interest.  

    This contest is open for nationwide MHBA youth member participation, regardless of attendance at the MHBA/MHYF Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals®.  

    Junior: ages 8-11

    Intermediate: ages 12-15

    Senior: ages 16-21

  • The Cattle Judging contest is designed to help youth learn how to evaluate beef cattle and orally support visual judgements on cattle information. The Cattle Judging Coordinating Committee will select several classes of cattle, each consisting of 4 head, that will be available for evaluation and sorting by participants.

    Pre-Junior: ages 3-7

    Junior: ages 8-11

    Intermediate: ages 12-15

    Senior: ages 16-21

  • The Communication Contest encourages youth to develop and enhance public speaking skills that will benefit them in academics, public relations, cattle marketing, and live in general.   

    The Communication contest participants may submit a maximum of one entry in each of the following categories:

    • Pre-Junior Presentation (this contest is only open to Pre-Junior contestants)

    • Prepared Speech (this contest is open to Junior, Intermediate and Senior contestants)

    • Product Sales (this contest is open to Junior, Intermediate and Senior contestants)

    • Master The Application (this contest is open to Intermediate contestants)

    • Job Interview (this contest is open to Senior contestants)

     

    Pre-Junior: ages 3-7

    Junior: ages 8-11

    Intermediate: ages 12-15

    Senior: ages 16-21

  • The photography contest is designed for youth to demonstrate his/her creative abilities and expression through photography.

    All photographs must be taken by the exhibitor themselves. Photograph enhancements are allowed, provided that they are the original work of the contestant and clearly acknowledged or described in the photo submission. Photographs must be submitted via email prior to the event.

    All submitted photographs will be displayed at the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals event and are eligible for the “People’s Choice” award.

    Contestants may submit a maximum of one photograph for each of the following categories:

    • On the Farm/Ranch

    • At the Show

    • Related to the annual theme

    This contest is open for nationwide MHBA youth member participation, regardless of attendance at the MHJN.

  • The arts contest provides an opportunity for youth to demonstrate his/her creative abilities and self-expression through a number of different avenues.

    This contest is open for nationwide MHBA youth member participation, regardless of attendance at the MHJN. Photographs must be submitted via email prior to the event.

    Contestants may submit a maximum of one entry in each of the following categories:

    • Traditional Media (painting, sculpture, etc.)

    • Non-Traditional Media (metal, wood, etc.)

    • Crafts (fabric, latch-hook, knitting, etc.)

    • Written Expression (poetry, short story, etc.)

    • Digital Media (short film, animated GIFs, digital painting, etc.)

    • Scrapbook

  • The Carcass Contest teaches youth to think beyond the show ring and understand traits that impact eating quality, yield, and consumer demand by measuring ribeye area, backfat, and marbling through ultrasound.  

    • The carcass evaluation is completed by ultrasound and cattle will not be shaved. 

    • Divisions will be females one year of age but not 2 years of age, and males one year of age but not two years of age