State level associations are great, but if you really don't have one just go ahead and forge on to the junior national. The Hereford people are great, their junior national is amazing and the experiences are life changing. I might be biased because I was able to go to every junior national in my career, was on the board, was a queen, won in the ring and made amazing friends along the way. What more does a parent want for their children? And, who knows- you guys might be the driving force behind getting a junior association back in Colorado. The AHA can guide a state on that.
Good luck and get your family entered in the junior nationals! Plan to make memories in Kansas City this summer!!!