The Junior Rockhound of the Year award is an easy way for a club to honor a junior member who has contributed something special during the year. Each club is allowed to select one junior memeber a year. The method used to select an honoree is up to each club. Your club can use a selection committee, the choice can be made by the executive committee, or even a group of past winners. Nominations can come from a junior leader or any club member, even another youth. This is an American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) award totally chosen at the club level.

Each honoree will receive a certificate from the AFMS and their name 

will be published in their regional newsletter and the AFMS newsletter.

Once you have chosen an honoree, send your selection to your Regional ACROY Chairperson. There is no deadline. Some clubs choose to present the award at their show, summer picnic, or holiday party.

California: Chris Ward, chris_ward678 at yahoo.com
Eastern: Ellery Borow, rocknellery at fairpoint.com
Midwest: Midwest: Jeanine N. Mielecki, jaynine9 at aol.com
Northwest: Laurie Ellis, nfmsroy at gmail.com
Rocky Mountain: Chirs Whitney-Smith, ask.chrisws at yahoo.com
South Central: open (send submissions directly to Judi Allison, below)

AFMS Chair :Judi Allsion, mfnssec at gmail.com

There is no form to fill out. Simply email your regional chair and be sure to include the following information. 

• Name of junior being honored.

• Submission year (important with end-of-year submissions). 

• Name of your club.

• Name of the person(s) submitting the nomination.

• Email address for electronic version or USPS Mailing Address for receipt of AFMS certificate.

• Approximately 75 to 100 words about the junior.

• A photograph if available, WITH written parental permission to publish.

• Publication of the junior's name and/or photograph is optional and not required. The junior can still get the certificate and be honored locally if the family prefers to decline publishing.  

Need a sample?

In recognition of her volunteerism Jill has been chosen as our club's 2025 Junior Rockhound of the Year.  Jill loves to shares her zeal for rockhounding with other kids in the community and due to her enthusiasm, we have gained several new families.  She is always volunteering her time, whether helping during club meetings or at our annual rock and gem show. Her volunteer work for the club earned her the AFMS Junior Volunteer Award. Jill entered her first competitive educational exhibit this year at our regional show and won 1st Place and Best Junior Trophy. She has also earned her Rockhound patch in the FRA badge program and is working towards Rock Star. Jill also attends our shop days and has learned how to safely use the various lapidary tools of the trade. 

Many years ago a very special rockhound, Lillian Turner of Bethesda, Maryland, realized that the future of our hobby ultimately rests in the hands of those who are now juniors. She established a fund to award a junior whose exhibit is judged best at the national show each year. The winner receives $100.00 and blue ribbon at the AFMS annual Awards Banquet.

To qualify, a junior must not have reached his/her 18th birthday at the time of the show and can compete in any of the 11 different divisions based on their interest. Any Junior member of an AFMS affiliated club anywhere in the U.S. can enter an exhibit at the annual national show, wherever that show is being hosted.  In the event there are no Junior entries in the competitive exhibit category, a Junior exhibit case in the non-competition category  be chosen.

This is a chance for juniors to share their collections, showcase their knowledge, and display their craftsmanship!

Rocky Mountain Federation 

Jesse Brodhagen - Mineralogical Society of Arizona, AZ (2024)

Nathanael Brodhagen - Mineralogical Society of Arizona, AZ (2023)

Hannah Brodhagen - Mineralogical Society of Arizona, AZ (2022)

Sawyer Blizzard - Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society, CO (2022)

California Federation

Jayden Huggins – Shadow Mountain Gen and Mineral Society, CA (2024)

Skyla Zuniga - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, CA (2024)

Rylee Jones - Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, CA (2023)

Rachel Phillips - Santa Lucia Rockhounds, CA (2023)

Kai Kalma - Del Air Rockhounds Club, CA (2022)

Henry and Bescher Irie (Team Award) – Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, CA (2022)

Northwest Federation

Teddy Bunch - Hatrockhounds Gem & Mineral Society, OR (2023)

Elisheba Fitch - Hellgate Mineral Society, MT (2023)

Hope Derting – Hells Canyon Gem Club, ID (2023)

Eastern Federation

Delcan Krauth – Central Pennsylvania Rock and Mineral Club, PA (2024)

Midwest Federation

Luke Francis – Tulsa Rock and Mineral Club, OK (2024)

Caleb Hardy – Tulsa Rock and  Mineral Club, OK (2023)