With the summer months on the horizon, NCHA weekend competition is ramping up. NCHA is glad to report early increases in the number of shows held as well as higher entry numbers at these shows. These increases in growth have created an exciting race towards qualifying for each circuit's inaugural circuit finals as part of the NCHA National Circuit Program. With that in mind, NCHA would like to share some important information on the circuit program and the circuit finals that will be held this fall.

Awards - The National Circuit Program offers more opportunities for weekend cutters to win awards and recognition than ever. There will be two ways to receive recognition in your circuit: placing in the top five of your circuit finals show and/or placing in the top five in your circuit year-end standings.

Circuit Finals Awards - The first way to gain recognition is to qualify for your respective circuit finals by being the top 30 in the circuit standings. While at each of the respective circuit finals, competitors will receive awards by placing in the top five of each class. These are show awards and are not decided based on the exhibitor’s placement in the circuit year-end standings but on their performance at the circuit finals show itself.

Circuit Point Leader Awards - The other way to gain recognition is to earn Circuit Point Leader awards by finishing in the top five of the year-end standings for your circuit. Cutters will be able to earn circuit standings points up to and at the circuit finals. Each circuit’s point year will end at the conclusion of their circuit finals.

Qualifying for the Circuit Finals
The top 30 will be determined the Monday following the date 30 days prior to the first day of your respective circuit finals. This 30-day window provides ample time for circuit finals producers to accept entries, calculate proper cattle numbers and adjust the show schedule to reflect the amount of runs at the show.

This cutoff date is solely for the purpose of determining the top 30 for the Circuit Finals. Cutters will still be able to earn year end points after this deadline, up to and at the Circuit Finals. The qualifying date for the Oiler Circuit Finals is September 27, 2021. For the complete list of qualifying dates, please visit nchacutting.com/circuitfinals.

Youth Members and the National Circuit Program
For the 2021 circuit finals, all youth members will be eligible to enter their designated circuit finals regardless of their place in the year-end standings. Youth exhibitors may compete at their circuit finals for top five awards and, if sponsors are obtained, scholarships. The points earned at each circuit finals will not count towards NYCHA World Finals standings.

Through the National Circuit Program, the youth point year will remain the same; starting June 1 through May 31 each year. Beginning with the 2022 circuit finals, youth must qualify by finishing in the top 30 in their circuit standings at the conclusion of the youth point year. The top 30 in each division will be invited to compete at the circuit finals held in the fall. A rider’s eligibility is determined at the start of the youth point year, June 1.

An example of youth eligibility in terms of the circuit program is as follows: Starting June 1, 2021, a Jr. Youth exhibitor competes at NYCHA cuttings throughout the point year and earns circuit points finishing in the top 30 for their circuit. May 31, 2022, the exhibitor ages out of the Jr. Youth. The next NYCHA point year begins June 1, 2022. The exhibitor is invited to the circuit finals to compete in the Jr. Youth in the fall of 2022 as they were eligible for the class during the qualifying period.