Reduced fees for registering and transferring goats.
Membership Directory with names and addresses of other ADGA members and local dairy goat clubs across the U.S. and around the world.
Addresses for goat-related supply companies (including magazines, books, equipment, novelties, and more!)
ADGA Guidebook of rules for the Association (including information on ADGA programs and breed standards)
Participation in DHIR (Dairy Herd Improvement Registry) testing program, which gives you recognition for production records earned by your herd
Participation in Linear Appraisal evaluation of your goats
Participation in official ADGA shows - over 1200 held each year - all across the nation; also information about annual National Show held in locations rotating around the U.S.
Opportunity to serve on a ADGA committee dealing with specific areas of problem solving
Eligibility to apply for an ADGA/Jim Morrison Scholarship
Quarterly edition of the ADGA News & Events to keep you informed of ADGA news and programs
Miscellaneous Fact Sheets and flyers on various goat-related topics
Announcements of our Annual Meeting which features a week-long schedule of seminars and programs, plus an exciting auction of top quality dairy goats
Eligibility:
Any person under the age of 21 on the postmark date of their application is eligible for Youth Membership in the American Dairy Goat Association.
Requirements
ADGA Youth Members pay the same discount rates as regular members for the processing of work under their membership name and can register their own personal Herd Prefix for naming animals of their breeding. Consecutive years as a Youth Member can be applied toward requirements for a Life Membership. Youth Members are not eligible to vote for Directors. An updated ADGA Guidebook is provided to Youth Members annually. Those Youth Members who pay their membership dues before March 1 each year are listed in the annual Membership Directory. Primary Youth Members receive a free copy of the directory.
Membership Kit
After you have been enrolled as a Youth Member, you will receive a membership kit which will include several forms, brochures and booklets.
Youth Activities Committee
ADGA's Youth Activities Committee promotes and coordinates youth activities for the Association at the Annual Convention and National Show. Any ADGA member may volunteer for a position on this committee.
Youth Showmanship
Youth Showmanship is offered at the ADGA National Show which is held at a different location each year. There are four divisions: Junior (up to age 10); Intermediate 1 (ages 11-13); Intermediate 2 (ages 14-16); and Senior (ages 17-20). Exhibitors are not required to own the animal that is shown.
Showmanship Certificates
Showmanship Certificates are awarded to winners of showmanship contests at ADGA sanctioned shows across the nation. A showmanship report form must be completed and signed by the show chairperson and licensed ADGA Judge of the show.
Youth Fitting Competition
A Youth Fitting Competition is held annually at the National Show and involves team effort to groom animals within a thirty minute period.
Youth Judging Contest
Youth Members are encouraged to participate as auditors in the Youth Judging Contest, held in conjunction with the Annual Convention. Auditors attend sessions, take a written test, judge 8 classes of dairy goats and present reasons to a select panel of judges. All Youth Members participating receive a certificate. Two age groups are offered: Junior (under 15) and Senior (ages 15-20).
Youth Representative Contest
The ADGA Youth Representative Contest is held at the Annual Convention and is open to any youth 16 through 20 years of age. The contestants are judged on personality, knowledge, leadership and experience with dairy goats. The youth selected ADGA Representative represents the Association at the National Show and Annual Convention.
Dairy Goat Shows
The following types of dairy goat shows are sanctioned by ADGA just for youth: 4-H (restricts exhibitors to members of 4-H groups; FFA (restricts exhibitors to members of Future Farmers of America), Open Youth (restricts its exhibitors to persons under 21 years of age). Winners at these shows receive ADGA rosettes and animals who meet specified conditions of competition earn "legs" toward permanent CH or GCH status (see ADGA Guidebook for explanation of show rules).
Premier Youth Exhibitor
A prestigious award is presented to the Premier Youth Exhibitor at the ADGA National Show. Points are accumulated from placings at all the events offered for the youth. Animals must be registered in the youth exhibitor's name to qualify.
Scholarships
ADGA/Jim Morrison sponsor several scholarships annually. You must be a member of ADGA and enrolled in an accredited university or college. For more details and application, click on Scholarships.
Performance Programs
The goal of ADGA's Linear Appraisal program is to provide the dairy goat breeder with an increased awareness of proven sires that transmit strong traits to their offspring. The system evaluates individual type traits that affect structural and functional durability. For details and an application, contact ADGA.
Production Testing is one of the most valuable management record-keeping systems available to the dairy goat owner. Milk and butterfat production, herd and individual lactation information, plus feeding data, make up this comprehensive management information program for your dairy herd improvement. More information and an application are available from ADGA.
