MQX has an emerging entrant category and AQS Paducah has a "first time entrant" category. These can be for novice quilters but usually the entrants are their first foray into a major national show. While it is rare, novice quilters can win and win big. Back in 2015, Angela Petrocelli took several ribbons with her first quilt "Why Not". But I tend to agree with Dunster, you already have a lot of categories for 40 to 50 quilts.