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Yes, I got the email about that from ADGA. I'm pasting it here. Never met the guy, but I've heard wonderful things about him. I love his book on judging goats.
Ruth
The worldwide community of dairy goat enthusiasts will miss Harvey James
Considine, who passed over peacefully at home surrounded by family the
night of March 25, 2006, after complications from prolonged illness. He was
one month shy of his eightieth birthday. Many things could be said of this
charismatic, dynamic, often controversial, devotee of dairy goats and the
use of goat's milk and related products. Some would say he founded a
dynasty within the American Dairy Goat Association. Being a deeply
committed evangelical Christian, he would most likely prefer to be
remembered as the patriarch of an extended Considine clan, composed of a
beloved spouse, twelve children, forty-six grandchildren and four great
grandchildren. However, one might choose to memorialize his life, those who
ever met him face to face can not ever forget him.
Born a fourth son in a farm family on April 25, 1926, his early life was
of meager circumstances during the depression era. While attending high
school in Portage, Wisconsin, he was very active in debate and FFA, becoming
a state officer of the latter. As an FFA student, he first exhibited
potatoes at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1941, as it was the only project
affordable to him.
After attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two years, he
dropped out to marry and start a family at a young age. For nine years, he
worked as a herdsman/manager on two Holstein dairies in southern Wisconsin.
He acquired his first registered goat, a Saanen, in 1946, joined ADGA,
registered the prefix Diamond and enrolled on official milk test. In 1948,
the Diamond herd was first exhibited at the Wisconsin State Fair and
continues to do so, making it the most senior exhibitor at what is now one
of the consistently largest dairy goat shows in the United States.
In 1952, he moved his family back to Portage and started a dairy cattle
artificial insemination business which he operated for seven years. Fifty
years ago great tragedy entered his life with the untimely death of his first
wife, leaving him a widower with seven children, aged from eleven years to
ten months.
Seven months later his barn burned to the ground with three quarters of
the herd trapped in the inferno. Against many odds, he kept his family
together and with the aid of neighbors raised seven children as a single
parent. One year later he was first elected to the ADGA board of directors
and with only a few years out, continued to do so until 2004. He was by far
the longest seated director in the history of ADGA. He has been the second
longest licensed ADGA judge as well, actively judging through the 2005
season. He served as second vice-president for thirteen years. He served
on many committees throughout the years, including chairing the Spotlight
Sale. He was a contributing author to the original unified scorecard for
judging and the showmanship scorecard.
In 1959, he moved the family to Waukesha County in southern Wisconsin and
began managing a goat dairy that would eventually number one thousand
head. In 1960, he met and married the second love of his life, Elaine.
(They celebrated their forty-fifth wedding anniversary on December 27,
2005.) Five more children were added to the family, the last and twelfth
being born at an ADGA convention. The family moved back to Portage in 1972
and has lived on the same farm since. In 1976, he became one of the first
classifiers for ADGA.
Differences of opinion and policy occurred in the 1980's, and he started
his own evaluation service which he operated through 2005. He loved dairy
goat shows, whether as an exhibitor or as presiding judge. He has been a
perennial favorite as a National Show judge. He can rightfully be
remembered as the father of ADGA judges, as ten of twelve children have at
one time or other held official licenses. Three sons are still actively
involved with operating goat dairies and ADGA activities, such as past-
President and co-chair of Judges Training Committee. In 2003, he was
awarded the Helen C. Hunt Distinguished Service Award by ADGA. In 2004, he
was made Director Emeritus.
His sphere of influence extended far beyond the borders of the United
States, much of this due to his prolific writing. Since 1976, he has
provided Dairy Goat Journal with the popular Dairy Goat Judging feature. He
is co-author of the textbook on Dairy Goat Judging Techniques, as well as
two other full length books. He has made numerous judging and speaking tours
internationally. The name of Harvey Considine is certainly the most widely
acknowledged in dairy goat circles around the world.
The family will be establishing a memorial fund in his honor to
financially assist first and second time candidates at ADGA Judges Training
Conferences. Contributions can be mailed to the attention of
Shirley McKenzie at ADGA,
PO Box
865, Spindale NC 28160.
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Great Loss to the Goat World...
