I am thinking of showing my goats, at sanctioned shows, for the first time this year. I've enjoyed showing at the county fair, which is just a local, unofficial show, but I don't have any experience with the real thing. I've heard some nasty rumors, that people will do anything to win at these shows, including poisoning the winning doe if she just can't be beat any other way. (Heard that from two seperate sources.) Even at our little local show i've seen does with 30+ hours of milk in their udders! I'm also concerned about disease transmission. On the other hand, I have some really nice bloodlines, and I'd like to see how they compare with other stock, and it seems as though it's really hard to get a decent price for your stock unless you get them out in the limelight one way or another. We don't have a tester for DHIR available here. I think I could get both Linear Appraisal and H.E.S. if they would be worthwhile. So I'd like to hear from those of you who've gone to the shows. Is it as down and dirty as I've heard, or is it just our area (Spokane, north Idaho area)? Is showing worth it?

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 15, 2001

Answers

Hi Rebekah,

Well..... we take the girls and bad boys on the road and show quite extensively during the show months. I live in VA. and we have traveled to shows in NC, GA, MD, WV,KY, to name a few. I really have to work at promoting the goats. We are on DHIR test, however, if its not available then there are the shows that offer DHIR or the one day test verification. I think last yr we figured it out and it was cheaper to stay on test than to take the entire milking herd to the show for one day verification. As for spitefulness at shows, well... guess there are always those that will do anything to be cruel. In the few yrs we have shown and attended shows, we have found everyone to be really friendly and if there were "politics" involved it was set aside for the show. Now i will say at NAILE I saw a few "political" moments. with showing you run the risk of getting exposed to an assortment of problems and diseases. However, I give mine some goat stress formula, the Immuno-G before leaving and it helps boost their immune system. i also carry with sulpher pills for the kids i bring to show should they get snotty noses and coughing. Try to get your area near a door for ventilation and as far away from others as possible. i usually will figure how many pens and then add 2 pens extra so they will not be near others side by side. i also bring a chicken wire screen I amde to place on the back side so that there are no noses touching etc. But... if you will read the new guidelines for showing in the ADGA book this year they will allow the judge to strip the orfices out when showing in the ring. I was told about this by a friend. But I think the bottom line is what you are willing to risk and compromise on to show. Sure... its a great way to get your herd name out there and meet a lot of nice people, but it also runs the risks too. Prevention is the key and careful planning. i visited your website awhile ago and marveled at the bloodlines you have... it would be so nice if you could show, you have a lot of nice does and great bloodlines. Good Luck and hope this helped.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 15, 2001.

So,don't keep me in suspense.Where's the website?

-- JT in Florida (gone2seed@hotmail.com), January 15, 2001.

Rebekah, I would love to see your web page, also! I have some friends in the North Spokane area that are on milktest. I am finally getting on DHIR this year after having had our county extension service tell me it was not available in this county for 6 years....found out he was right...kind of. The tester for the county next door lives right across floating bridge from this one. I will actually be closer for him then any other farm that he tests. (Since the fee includes mileage, that is great!) I just found out that your tester doesn't have to be from your county, or even your state! So don't give up! I think Bernice gave you very good, reliable info on showing....I want to show, too, but can't until I get a milking machine...hubby and kids are great for helping out, but more than one doe each and they're screaming in pain (and I have very easy milkers)! Am I perhaps being conned?:) Anyway, I can't leave the farm long enough to show yet...plus I raise organic produce and have a dahlia farm, and most of the shows come at the height of the season...but I go for a look-see at any show I can and be back for milking time. Do you think the others on the forum that are on test would like to compare test data when we get it back? I think it would be great fun, and shouldn't get competitive, we all have different breeds, and all live very far apart! Just a thought. Don't forget that website! Thanks! Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), January 15, 2001.

Here it is. Sorry the pictures do not do the animals justice! I hope to get some clippd and udder pics on before too long. http://www.agdomain.com/web/wisdomsway/

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 15, 2001.

Go for it Rebekah, showing is the only way to get top dollar for your stock.

The biggest advice to remember is to worry about your own stock. If the person with the 30+ hours of milk in their udder is comfortable with this practice, than it isn't any one elses business. Just don't do it yourself. And I can tell you that some does are just plain milkier than others and though yours may look like that with 30+ hours of milk, their may really be 14 or 15 hours worth of milk. Their is a toggenburg herd near me that had lots of rumors told about them, and of course with the rumors come the wins! Funny how they never talk about the folks in last place! Anyway her doe is now the Togg #1 milker, and I also believe that is in butterfat and protein, along with poundage.

You will really have to watch for stress in your does with them not used to traveling. Our does have showen for so long we really don't worry about them anymore. Read the rules the show gives you very carefully, and if you don't understand something, find out! If you are uncomfortable with penning your goats, than keep them in the trailer. Most judges are very careful about contamination, they don't pull milk anymore, asking you to do it if they have a question, they also don't check bites, in the mouth much anymore. I don't show kids unless they are weaned and I think that is a good policy, and most of the babies, don't go on to win Champ anyway so leave them home. You want to fill the upper part of the junior classes with your does, so don't bring a doe who is 4 months old in the 3 to 6 month old junior class. This is of course less important in the milking classes. Though 1st fresheners seldom can beat a really nice 3 to 5 year old, I love to take them and show them off!

If you are close enough to show, you are also close enough to join the local goat club. The very best way to have your stock looked after at the show is to join! You also will learn very quickly the folks who are the trouble makers. Just steer clear of them. I have been showing since 1989 and I have never seen anyone do anything to another persons animal, now I have seen folks get caught for doing things illegal to their own animal, and I have also seen an adult being ugly to 4H kids to make them not show their junior doe who won in the previous ring. (Which is not an ADGA rule, it is just a courtesy) I have also seen a gal throw her ribbon at the judge when she made reserve and not grand. And this gal is the same gal in all the stories! On a whole everyone is great, happy to see a new face, and friendly. I have great friends that I show goats with and against! Also dress professionally in the ring, black, blue or white pants, or a skirt, and a white shirt. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 16, 2001.

Dear Rebekah...Your herd is GORGEOUS! Great stance and strength of leg! I'm glad I've got LaManchas and wouldn't be against you in the ring. It's nice to see real-life wooly goats like mine this time of year! Just don't tell me those wonderful pictures are "first-takes"...mine always decide to nibble my shirt, or turn their head, or reach for an invisible blade of grass just as the camera clicks...not to mention all the pictures I have of them peeing! Congratulations, and YES! you should show! Kathie p.s. You're cute, too!

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), January 16, 2001.

Thank you Kathie! We used a digital camera, so really bad pics could just be deleted without shelling out a lot of money on developing bad photos. We had to crop some of them, too. Seems like for every halfway decent picture I get there are 10 bad ones! Or, I have a nice picture of one doe, and my little boy is standing right behind her with his finger in his nose! Thanks on the rear leg set too, weak rear legs of one of my biggest peeves.

Vicki, does sleeping in the pen with the does keep them safer? I've heard of people doing that. The lady whose does had 30+ hours of milk told us so, and thought it was fine. I agree, it's her business, I wouldn't do that to my does for fear of mastitis and the pain and stress it would cause. Maybe it's everywhere, but it seems like the goatkeepers here are pretty nasty to one another in the way of gossip, rumors, etc. I guess I'll give it a try and see how it goes. Thanks for all your advice.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 16, 2001.

Other than the big livestock shows, we don't have hardly any 2 day shows anymore. They squeeze 2 rings and 2 buck shows into one day, we used to do this Saturday and Sunday, made the weekend long but really worthwhile. And yes we usually kept someone with the goats. With my asthma I opted for the truck or a hotel.

You actually know you have made a name for yourself when folks "bother" to spread rumors, bad mouth you, or get that disgusting look when they see you pull up. Think some folks just don't do well with competition. I look at it very differently, most of us started with nothing, and bred our stuff to what we have. We do show against a few silver spoon in the mouth kids, who's parents buy them Champions every year to show, but to win with a homegrown doe with your herd name is the best. And most breeders who have been around awhile appreciate that also. When you do start showing your stock, you will be amazed just how small the goat industry is, everyone knows everyone elses stock, and who bought what from whom, it really is a very small world! Vicki McGaugh

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 16, 2001.

As for sleeping in the barns, we usually sleep in the barns and in the pens right next to our goatie girls. In fact they will blat if I stir in my sleep because they think its time to get fed or something. spoiled brats!:) sleeping in a hotel is fine, but it means more to me to sleep with my girls, and i'm right there is anything happens too.

Vickie.... I had to bust a laugh when i read your last post... AMEN to that. Its so true, in fact there are some folks i know who will call the show secretary and ask her/him who is coming. then they will wait til the deadline to enter and whoop cries of joy when their competition doesn't show, then get really disguested if they show up later.... then the fur flies! And not from shaving either! Its so interesting to see the dynamics come out at shows. It really is a small world cause you get to know just about everybody at one point in the breed you have or who you show with in the clubs, etc. Yep... know what ya mean about those silver spoons and God Forbid should someone elses doe or buck beat theirs... then its WHAAAAAAA!!! But I stay out of the politics and show to promote the girls and to have fun.... and to either meet up with dear friends again and sit up all night and yak or meet new ones. At state fair we have marathon yak sessions til 4 in the morning, then everyone is so bleary eyed that its funny watching us trail to the coffee pot. Oh... bring the coffee pot and everyone suddenly LOVES you:)

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 16, 2001.

Dear Rebekah, Your question "Is showing worth it?" has more than one answer from our stand point. It just depends on your priorities.

We started showing purebred saanens in 1982,local shows and some ADGA sanctioned shows in our state of Minnesota. We also revived the 4-H goat project in our county.

We met some of the nicest people in the world, also the most helpful. It was not uncommon for a "competitor" to take an entry in the ring if someone needed an extra set of hands, and that animal would be shown to the best of their ability. We also learned more about how to care for our goats while talking in the barn than we learned from reading or speaking with our vet. Nothing beats trial and error when it comes to new ideas.

We did experience some politics and had a few situations that were not pleasant, but these were in the minority. Try showing horses or AKC dogs for real politics!

We stopped showing (4-H, local, & sanctioned) in 1994. That was the year our best doe tested suspect for CAE. We had followed all the preventative messures (When I say all, I mean all. We had the reputation in the Mn Dairy Goat Assn of being the CAE fanatics. We kept up on all info regarding the disease and had a CAE neg herd. Closed except for the occasional show.) After much research and many questions, it was determined that she had been exposed to CAE at a show. Not enough to cause her to test positive but to possibly develope the disease later on. We were devestated. She was a pet as well as a good milker and high placer. She was sold to a good 4-H family who had CAE and were not concerned. After this experience we closed our herd completly and have been neg since. A healthy herd was most important to us.

The pros and cons are strong on both sides but I never regret our experiences at the shows.

Nancy PS One other point. Now that we no longer show, our herd has shrunk considerably. We don't need entries for all the different classes!

-- Nancy Bakke-McGonigle Mn. Sunset (dmcgonig@smig.net), January 19, 2001.