AJLA is an offshoot of ACGA. The purpose of AJLA is to be promote the welfare of the livestock industry, to further the education and cooperation of young people interested in livestock, and to aid in the attainment of goals set by AJLA members. AJLA is a youth organization fostering personal development. AJLA meets during the ACGA's annual summer convention. 

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Registration - AJLA members register with their families for the convention. 

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Ages: AJLA welcomes 5-18 year-olds. 

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Activities: AJLA activities include: quiz bowl, marketing campaign, board games, movie and popcorn, personality workshop, and more! Please note: prepared speech contest will be replaced with Marketing Campaign Presentation. ​

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Bring beef knowledge and creativity!

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Leadership

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History

 

The Arizona Junior Livestock Association (AJLA) has been around for years. There is even a ledger entry date of 1954. Many current cattle grower members were probably AJLA members when they were young. AJLA was brought back to life and restructured in 1994, with the help of some very insightful industry moms, Judy Prosser and Karen Williams.  

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In the early discussions, it was debated what to name the organization. Should it be called the Junior Cattlemen's Association or the Junior Livestock Association? It was soon decided that the word "livestock" would be used so everyone who wanted could be involved. Using the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association as a model, AJLA elected an officer team so there would be structure and organization. AJLA developed a mission statement and created the by-laws of their organization. 

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AJLA was started with a simple goal in mind: to allow the young people in the livestock industry to build relationships and camaraderie while learning valuable skills that would prepare them for a bright future. AJLA members learn about the issues facing the cattle industry and are proactive in teaching others, as well as lend support to their parent's organization, ACGA.

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The Arizona Junior Livestock Association is focused on learning, and does so by holding annual speaking contests and quiz bowls. Members can compete in either prepared public speaking or extemporaneous speaking and everyone is encouraged to test their trivia skills in the quiz bowl, where attendees are quizzed on topics related to the cattle industry. AJLA also holds livestock judging contests in order to enhance AJLA member's knowledge of livestock.