Market goat competition shows three of four top winners to be repeat blue ribbon awardees
By Jennifer Kneuss
August 9, 2011
850
Summary: Several 4-H youngsters showed that they have what it takes to be repeat grand champion winners at Monday evenings Junior Fair Goat Show
Monday evening was the goat and sheep competition time at the Holmes County Junior Fair, and participants, both human and goat, seemed a little nervous as they waited to enter the ring for their animals to be judged.
Its really hard to part with the goats at the sale Thursday night, said Kori Weber, who was holding on to the metal chain collar of her goat, Bo, who seemed eager to socialize with the other goats. They get to be like a dog to you, like a pet. Im getting used to it, because Ive been selling pigs since I was nine. But its hard, it really is.
Well have grand and reserve from the meat and dairy market goats here today, said David Martin, Senior Fair Board Director and superintendant of the goat barn. Martin is going on his thirteenth year on the board, and said that he started his involvement when his children entered the 4-H program. We had a little over 30 goats total here at the fair. It fluctuates up and down. We are probably up about five animals from last year. Its like any other animal project. The kids see big dollar amounts at the auction for some of the animals, and they think, next year, Im gonna take one of those! Our Holmes County businesses support the kids here very well.
Marshall Overholt, 17, showed his second year goat meat project, a pure bred Boer goat whom he named Kalifah. His goat weighed 103 pounds, and was named grand champion meat goat by Judge Kent Davidson, of Pemberville, Ohio, who raises Boer goats full time. Overholt also won grand champion in 2010. He is a member of the Westside Barnbusters 4-H club, and lives in Glenmont.
The secret is just hard work, said Overholt, who noted that his family raises goats on their farm.
Alan Bair, 14, of Nashville took reserve grand champion honors with his goat,
I wasnt expecting it, said Bair, who is in the Ripley Ringleaders 4-H club. Ive showed goats for three years, but this is my first time to place. For the past two years I bought them, but this one I raised from a baby until now, so that might have something to do with it.
Davids daughter, Kendra, won the grand champion dairy market goat competition with her goat, Snookie. She has also won grand champion in a previous year. Crisha Brinly who is 14 years old, won reserve grand champion.
Ive taken goats before. I got grand champion in 2008 in market dairy goat. My goat, Zeus, and Kendras are brother and sister, said Brinly, who hopes to go on to college and do something related to animal care.
All of the 4-Hers hope to do well in Thursday evenings market goat sale.
Last year, our grand and reserve brought five to seven dollars a pound. How well the kids communicate with their buyers makes a big difference in what they get for their animals, commented David Martin. The kids need to go out and be personable, and line up their buyers in advance. Thats the key.
