This summer we decided that it was time to start showing at our County Fair here in Deschutes again. It has been a couple of years since we took animals. So, my husband, myself and 7 of our sweet goats packed the trailer and joined in the fun. We entered conformation and fleece classes. Seems like just yesterday we were doing battle with the fair board to let us show goats in the 4H barn and subsequently in open class. We now have a full set of classes for both animals and fleeces and the icing is that they pay premiums. You just can't beat that!
We learned a long time ago that you put your PR goats in the front pens. They willingly stand on the rails, curly heads reaching out to each passer by, begging for attention. The nervous nellies go in the middle pens where they can feel protect
ed by neighbors and out of the reach of the public. The experienced girls go at the end of your pens. They have been here before and they know how it works. They see it as a time to rest, be pampered and occasionally ram the pen rail of the strange neighbors next door just to startle and wake them up. They seem to really get a kick out of that.There is a rhythm, a schedule if your will, of how the week goes. The first day, everyone stands in the middle of their pen, just out of reach, frightened by the new smells, the sounds and all the people trying to touch them. They seem to be looking about with that "we're not in Kansas anymore . . ." look. By the end of the second day, they are feeling more at ease and begin to make overtures to passers by who move sl
owly and talk to them calmly. By the end of the third day, they are going up to strangers and allowing themselves to be petted, scratched and when they are lucky treated to a bit of kettle corn or elephant ears. By the weekend, the public represents goodies and they excitedly clamor to the rails when people approach. They know that the "little ones" usually want to grab their ears or horns and they steer clear of them (unless they have that wonderful blue and pink stuff in their hands - then they are open to share). On Sunday, they can feel the excitement in the air - it's time to go home, people are packing and busily storing things away.It was a good experience and we will do it again. This year, we did well; bringing home Champion, Res. Champion and Best In Show in both the animal and fiber competitions. Although it wasn't a huge show, there were some lovely animals. Seneca, a black doe with bright, blue eyes was our big winner in the conformation ring and Moonstruck, an absolutely gorgeous white brought home the purple and blue for her fiber. We are hoping both will hold their fleeces long enough to get them to Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, OR. the end of Sept. Salina, Seneca's mom, won OFFF three years ago and we would dearly love to see Seneca follow in mom's footsteps.
I would offer a couple of tidbits of advice to anyone thinking of showing for the first time.
* Handle your goats often before you take them to show. They need to feel comfortable with you handling them in this strange environment. It will also make your job much easier.
* Be sure your goats are in good health, appropriately vaccinated and protected from parasites. Goats get stressed in new environments, do what you can for them to avoid getting their tummy upset.
* Lots of cool, fresh water is important. Consider taking some of your home water with you for their first drink. Water in different areas can smell and taste funny and that often means they won't drink it. That just sets them up for illness. We will sometimes start adding a bit of Gatorade or something like that to their water at home and then add it to water at a new location. It helps them taste something familiar and the electrolytes don't hurt either.
* Stay close to your animals. It only takes one unthinking person to traumatize an animal. You are putting them in this position, be there to protect them and make sure this is a good experience for them as well.
* And finally, remember that whatever the outcome in the show ring, it is only one person's opinion on that day. Enjoy yourself and have some fun!
