May 9th - It’s May! Let’s Show Some Goats! Goat Show, Wilton, California

With the preceding days being a little cooler and windier than normal, we were a little concerned, but on the day of the show weather was perfect. Stitch-N-Thyme Farms hosted the show in their covered arena -- with pens set up in the shade and a goat size ring set up across from the pens. 

Russ Parker manned the barbecue and provided folks with tasty burgers. Providing lunch for everyone, helped keep the show on time and helped folks get to know other participants.

A good time was had by all. It's always fun to see other breeder's goat and hear judges' reasons for placing. Every show I attend I learn something new and see goats in a slightly different light.

Amy Parker

May 9 Show - Wilton CA

It’s May! Let’s Show Some Goats! Goat Show 

This Show is TMGR Sanctioned Show.
TMGR Rules to govern and take precedence over all others.

Location: Stitch-N-Thyme Farms, 9760 Dillard Rd, Wilton, CA 95693
When: May 9, 2015
Check In -- 9:00 am
Show Starts -- 10:00 am
Judges:
Ring 1 – Rebecca Nix
Ring 2 – Rebekah Clarke

Both Senior Doe Rings will be in the morning; no pre-show milk out will be required. Junior/Intermediate/Senior Bucks Rings will be after lunch.
Mini Nubians will go first, followed by Mini La Manchas.

Doe Classes:
1.Yearling Milkers (born in 2014)
2. Two yr old (born in 2013)
3. Three yr old (born in 2012)
4. Four yr old (born in 2011)
5. Five yr and older (born in 2010 or earlier)
6. Dry Milkers

Junior/Intermediate/ Senior Buck Classes:
1. < 1 year (Born April 2014-April 2015)
2. 1-2 years (Born April 2012-March 2014)
3. 2 years and greater (Born March 2012 or earlier)

Registering for the Show: Please send the following information for each goat via email to stitchnthyme.farms@gmail.com: Class Number, Breed, Gender, Registered Name of Goat, Registration Number, Date of Birth Early registration is appreciated. If you can’t send an email by noon on May 8, please be prepared to be here promptly at 9:00 am for check in. Fee is $5/goat/ring. Payment can be made the day of the show.

Facilities: This show is located at our farm. Primary areas used by our goats will be restricted for bio security reasons. There is a large open area for parking trucks and trailers. We can accommodate tent or RV camping, so if you want to arrive on Friday and/or leave on Sunday, you are welcome to stay on our farm. The nearest hotel is approximately 15 miles from our farm. Pens for visiting goats are limited – horse pipe panels lined with goat wire. If you can bring pens or show out of your trailer that would be very helpful. If you need a pen, let us know as soon as possible, so we can reserve one for you.

Food: We will be offering a barbeque lunch (hamburger, chicken, fruit, veggies, etc) on Saturday. Please let us know if you plan on joining us so we prepare enough food. If you are interested in getting food on your own, there is a Subway Sandwich shop, a diner, and two pizza places about 5 miles from the farm. There is a mini-mart across the street from us (and 3 others within 5 miles), if you need chips or drinks or sundries.

Contact Info: Any questions, concerns, clarification or comments – please let us know! Amy Parker, 916-943-6520, stitchnthyme.farms@gmail.com

Accessorizing to Accentuate

Recently, while perusing show result web sites, virtual show pages and breeder’s pages in general, it became obvious that what the goat wears around its neck really affects HOW that goat looks, so the topic this time around will be collars.

While not the highest score on the score card, “dairy character” certainly does play a part in the final score.  The long, lean, smoothly blended neck should also display a clean throat latch.   What you chose as a show collar may be killing your score in this category before you even get your goat set up for the judge the first time.

Our model was pulled in out of the pasture and had not been clipped or bathed, but you can clearly see the difference that a collar can make!

 

In this first photo, our lovely, aged Mini LaMancha doe is being shown in a nylon “barn” collar.  The collar is new, unfaded and clean and is in the proper position for controlling the animal.  The color of the collar, however, shows in sharp  contrast to the coloring of the doe.  It also creates a visual line, which causes the eye to see the neck in two short, choppy pieces.



In this second photo, our model is being shown in a collar made from plastic dairy chain.  The chain fits into the doe’s throatlatch neater than the nylon collar does and we can see more of her neck – see how much longer it looks?  But, the chain is still “clunky” and the color is distracting.



In this photo, our model is wearing a narrow dog show lead made of nylon cord.  We do see this in the show ring quite a bit – But I would prefer to see the cord match the color of the goat as closely as possible.  Also remember – dairy goats are NOT to be shown with any type of lead or leash, so any extra  “lead” should removed or held discretely in the hand.

The most commonly accepted collar for show ring use is a metal chain collar.  Most exhibitors use a dog “choke chain” collar.  They come in various lengths and the chain links even come in various sizes.  It is important to note that the collar should NOT be used at choke chain!  Oval quick link fasteners are inexpensive, discreet and work very well.

The photographer had the models attention in this “win” photo.  Aaron had a very fine “herringbone” choke chain on her that we’d purchased off eBay.  It fit right in the groove of her throat latch and the Judge and onlookers barely noticed it!

 

I truly believe that most of our animals know that when the show chain goes on, it is time to be serious and settle down to work.  We work with them at home in a show collar a few times before a show to get them used to the feel  - it does feel different to them than a worn barn collar or frayed piece of baling twine.

 

The same care should be taken when posing goats for photos – you are selling that goat to the public and the goat should look its absolute best.

 

Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments at cherrybutte@msn.com

Good luck in the show ring and may your spring be filled with many bouncing baby kids!



Cari and Aaron Zisk own Cherry Butte Dairy Goats in Southern Idaho.  They breed and show ADGA/AGS Nigerian Dwarves as well as miniature Alpines, Lamanchas, Oberhasli and Toggenburg goats.

Our Road Trip to the National Goat Expo

When I found out the National Goat Expo was going to be held in Bloomington, IL, I knew I had to find a way to get there.  I’ll be honest, the idea of showing is a little nerve wracking to me.  I’m defensive about my babies.  (Hey, I’m human!)  Conformation and style are only part of the package.  Like most Mini breeders, we consider our goats part of the family.  We know which goats are hardy and resistant to parasites, which goats rarely need their feet trimmed, which goats are good mothers and will foster another doe’s young, which goats will stand quietly on the stand for an hour at a reenactment and let little children try to milk…  These are factors that make for a beautiful breeding plan and create an exceptional breed, yet they are not evaluated at a show.  But I digress, there have been so few opportunities to show minis, I felt it was important to go in support of our registry and breeds.

We packed up the truck the night before and laid out our clothes, so all we had to do was get up, dress, and load up the goats… and toss hay to everybody left behind, and fill water buckets…  We woke at five in the morning and drove most of the two and a half hour trip from Indiana to Bloomington by cover of darkness.  As we gained an hour, we arrived at the fairgrounds to check in around seven.  I’m not sure the geographical layout of Bloomington, IL, but it feels like being up on a plateau.  The sky is very large and the sun seems very near, making one feel quite small.  The fairground where the Expo was held consists of several long open shelters.  The shelters are airy, and on this early fall day, I was quite comfortable in their shade.  It was perhaps a little too dusty there.

 

I’ve been wary about showing for biosecurity reasons, but I can honestly say my goats really had no meaningful exposure to other goats.  Although I had reserved a stall in the goat barn, I ended up housing them in a pen ring side all day where they were quite comfortable.  It appeared it would be possible to show from the trailer quite comfortably there.  Many folks staying overnight protected their goats from contact with other herds using tarps.

The turn out for the show was light.  As I was coming by myself with my three younger elementary children, I had decided to bring four Mini Nubian doelings who could fit comfortably in two dog crates in the back of the pick up.  The Studdard’s of J Bar G Farms in Missouri are to be commended.  They not only brought their herd of Mini Manchas and Mini Nubians, but they picked up goats from other herds in order to round out the show.  We showed all the minis together, as we did not have enough goats to break it down into breeds.

We had two TMGR shows – the first judged by Denise Fraser and the second judged by Donna Elkins.  The results of the first show were accepted as the first MDGA show as well, and a second MDGA show was judged by Tim Flickinger.  It is important for our members to note that TMGR does have different breed standards and a different score card.  It is important to note that when making breeding selections and considering feedback.  However, we try to maintain good cooperative relationships between registries, being something of a necessity with participation numbers remaining low.

 

This was my family’s first showing experience, and the judges were kind and patient with my children who are still learning the routine and my doelings who are still learning to lead well, but thankfully for the most part walked willingly around the ring.  It was a good learning experience, and I think everyone had a nice time.  We returned home after dark, returning our babies to their dams who were uddered up and ready to nurse.

I’m not quite sure why there was not more interest in this show.  As a member of the Board of Directors and Mini Nubian breeder, I am interested in hearing from TMGR members and Mini breeders, particularly in the Midwest, about what interests them.  Do you wish to show?  Or have more of a fun family playdate with costume classes and milking contests?  Or have a get together for a one day milk test or for classification?  Or hold a clinic or cheese-making classes?  Is there a time of year that is better for an event?  If you have thoughts, please feel free to comment on this article, post to the TMGR facebook page or Yahoo! group, or email me directly at swgoats@yahoo.com.

Angelia Mercer

Editor

www.stillwatersfarm.blogspot.com

Mini-Mania Minutes- Not Just A Goat Show

TMGR sponsored two Mini Dairy Goat Shows at the recent Mini-Mania event on July 14th in Norco, CA.  Exhibitors of many minis made a showing at this weekend long event which included shows for pygmies, nigerian dwarfs and the mini-dairy goats.  There was also an exhibition of the mini-silkie fainting goats!

The days included a special guest speaker, Lorrie Boldrick, DVM along with a Goat Agility course that anyone could participate in as time allowed throughout the day.  The Tri-tip BBQ was an excellent source of dining cuisine for our lunch break as Dr. Boldrick explained the structure and components of the goat.  There was a question/answer session and we were so fortunate to have her present the information at our show.

Judges Dotty Clark and Rusty Repp kept things moving on Sunday and the exhibitors appreciated the upbeat atmosphere and camaraderie among the breeders and show personnel.  MJ Midstokke really helped encourage folks to support the silent auction and raffle, and overall, the general consensus was "we need to do this again!"  So stay tuned and we will post the next dates for Mini-Mania 2014 when they are available.

 

Donna Elkins