We'll be at the MN State Fair!

AnnaS · #1 08/23/06, 07:23 PM

Me and a few of my Toggies will be at the Minnesota State Fair Friday Sept 1 through Monday Sept 4. Our goal is to NOT stand last in our classes- the competition is so good!

Our farm name is "Knotneer" and we'e a banner up over our stalls. I'm always happy to talk goats and/or meet other HTer's in real life.

BearCreekFarm · #2 08/23/06, 07:57 PM

Anna-

Good luck at the fair. I don' think we'll be going this year, so post an update and let us know how you did.

Elizabeth and Craig

BearCreekFarm · #3 08/23/06, 07:58 PM

Oh, and if you need any help at the farm while you're gone, let us know.

Cheers

AnnaS · #4 08/24/06, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearCreekFarm

Oh, and if you need any help at the farm while you're gone, let us know.

Cheers

Thanks for the offer! I have Al from BWGA milk for me. Do you guys still have #3 & #5?

BearCreekFarm · #5 08/24/06, 03:34 PM

Yep, still have the boys. We also adopted three 3yo Alpine wethers and another 1yo wether that is part, or maybe all, La Mancha- the last 4 were pets that the owners no longer wanted, so we put them all to work as weedeaters. They do a great job- they suck down burdock like it's candy, and they also love thistle ans stinging nettle. They're saving me and Craig a lot of work clearing brush.

I think we spoiled the boys a bit too much- they were very demanding of our time and attention. Now that they are part of the "bachelor's club" they are much more mellow and, I think, happier. I think they know they are goats and not little people, lol!

By the way, thanks for the advice re: Boer goats. We recently purchased 8 grade doelings and a grade buck. We will use the buck this fall for breeding, but if all goes well this year we will replace him next year with a registered buck. And, thanks for getting us off to a good start with the goats- we have avoided a lot of problems which might have arisen out of our ignorance without all the advice you gave us. We are really happy with the goats, and hope to keep expanding our herd. It has been a really great experience for us.

fishhead · #6 08/24/06, 05:37 PM

I thought burdock was poisonous?

AnnaS · #7 08/29/06, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhead

I thought burdock was poisonous?

Nope, you must be thinking of another weed. Burdock is a cultivated vegetable in Japan.

AnnaS · #8 08/29/06, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearCreekFarm

Yep, still have the boys.

Hey, I'd be curious to see how they have turned out. #3's twin is going to the State Fair. She made a really nice udder & was Gr. Ch Togg at the Todd Co Fair. "The boys" half sister Rhone won her class at the National Show this year- not that it makes any difference for a wether, but kinda cool.

And, thanks for getting us off to a good start with the goats- we have avoided a lot of problems which might have arisen out of our ignorance without all the advice you gave us. We are really happy with the goats, and hope to keep expanding our herd. It has been a really great experience for us.

Yep, always glad to get someone else addicted to goats!

AnnaS · #9 08/29/06, 01:29 PM

Only three days left... I'm so excited! I have ANOTHER truck appointment this afternoon to try and solve the Mystery of the Thirsty Truck. The S10 is getting 10 mph when normally it gets 35. If it doesn't get fixed this round, I'll have to take the car again.

I took the car last year because Trucky Truck wouldn't start at all on fair day. Imagine this little red Saturn in the livestock unloading line among all these F350s with 50 foot stock trailers. The traffic guys kept waving me out of line and I'd have to call them over and show them the two doelings sleeping in the fold down trunk.

If I was in the wrong line and didn't have livestock, why did I have a bale of hay seat-belted in the passenger seat?

fishhead · #10 08/29/06, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnaS

Only three days left... I'm so excited! I have ANOTHER truck appointment this afternoon to try and solve the Mystery of the Thirsty Truck. The S10 is getting 10 mph when normally it gets 35. If it doesn't get fixed this round, I'll have to take the car again.

I took the car last year because Trucky Truck wouldn't start at all on fair day. Imagine this little red Saturn in the livestock unloading line among all these F350s with 50 foot stock trailers. The traffic guys kept waving me out of line and I'd have to call them over and show them the two doelings sleeping in the fold down trunk.

If I was in the wrong line and didn't have livestock, why did I have a bale of hay seat-belted in the passenger seat?

That's great.

I remember once in college I had 20 goslings in the back of my Mercury Lynx.

Good luck at the fair!

Doeseatoats · #11 08/29/06, 02:06 PM

I have a couple of friend going to watch...Want to see Thompson's and Considines entries. I would love to go but it would be a 6 hour drive and I am old

One is from South Dakota and she is skinny 40ish blond. and the other is 50ish boysterous big boy. They will just be there for the togg show and then leave. I don't think they will socialize...

L

Let us know how you do...

BearCreekFarm · #12 08/29/06, 09:24 PM

Anna-
If you'd like to see the boys you're welcome to come by any time. We moved since we saw you last- we're at the NW corner of CR 24 and CR 11. The driveway is west of the intersection on CR 24, just before you get to the Amish schoolhouse.

I should warn you however, that someone might be going to freezer camp soon, and it may wind up being #3 or #5.

Wish we could come and root for Team Knotneer, but we're up to our necks in alligators here, so we'll have to be patient and wait to hear the results when you get back.

AnnaS · #13 08/29/06, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doeseatoats

I have a couple of friend going to watch...Want to see Thompson's and Considines entries.

L

Let us know how you do...

There's going to be some nice Toggs. Paul Plummer/Neshaminy is expected. A breeder from Little Falls is bringing some doelings from White-Hawk and Waiilatpu.Quite a variety!

cmonkey · #14 08/30/06, 11:18 PM

I'm coming Saturday! I absolutely plan on hitting the goat barn so I can pick brains. Maybe see you there!

AnnaS · #15 09/05/06, 02:55 PM

We are back and are somewhat recovered. The Fair turned out to be a wonderful and terrifying adventure!

It was pouring rain Friday morning so there was a delay until tarps could be attached to the sides of the stock rack. Then, the usual white-knuckle drive through a major metro on a four lane interstate.

We finally got on Snelling, the road to the fairgrounds. You could have walked from curb to curb on car hoods, the road was so packed. About a half mile north of the fairgorunds- I could see the water tower- it happened. Trucky-Truck started missing.... threw an SES light... made a "whack!" noise under the hood and died. Would not start again.

A few people helped me push it onto the side of the road. And there I sat. No cell phone (I have no coverage in my area) and I didn't dare leave the goats. They were starting to stick their heads out between the tarp roof and side rails as a prelude to escape.

Several people stopped and let me use their cell phones. There was no answer at the Goat Barn and an aswering machine at the Livestock Office.
I contemplated walking the rest of the way to the Fair with all five girls on a leash, but realized there was no way I could unload and tie them by myself. One escapee would run into traffic and get killed or cause a massive traffic pileup, or both.

After TWO and a HALF hours and thousands of cars passing, a police car from St. Anthony P.D. pulls up. No-one called, he just happened to be heading to the Fair to work. Turns out Ofc. Lebens grew up on a dairy farm and knew just what to do. He called for the St. Anthony P.D's SUV.

Ofcs Lebens and Quick, along with me and Ofc. Quick's laughing ride-along, carefully unloaded my goats and shoved them in the back seat of the police SUV. My suitcase and tack box went in the back of Ofc Lebens' squad car and they radioed in for permission to leave. We had to wait for an OK. In the meantime, other police cars started showing up. They wanted to take pictures of the arrested goats.

Our parade began. Ofc. Lebens had to explain at each gate and checkpoint that he was in fact escorting livestock. More cameras came out at every gate. When we got to the Goat Barn, the other goat exhibitors jumped to help (once they stopped laughing). Some helped me unload the goats while others bedded my stalls and filled water buckets. I got the goats checked in and went back to the truck with Ofc. Lebens to get it towed to an impound lot.

My brother in law, a mechanic, diagnosed a broken timing belt and bent valves. Trucky-Truck has stalled and died for the last time.

Both Ofc Lebens and Quick stopped by with their families later in the fair to see how I did and make sure everything worked out. Really wonderful people!

I hitched a ride back with Doug & Anna Thompson- I'm only a few miles out of their way- and had a great time talking Togg with them.

AnnaS · #16 09/05/06, 03:22 PM

First I have to say how very competitive the MN State Fair is. Herd names in my classes include Sunshine, Poplar-Hill, Waiilatpu, White-Hawk, Neshaminy, Legendairy Darken Dandy (Loren Larson) and Marshland (Linda Libra)

Just to give an idea of the quality of animals, the Togg Champion Challenge class had last year's and this year's Reserve National Champions, a doe appraising 93, and the Champion of the Day who was first place 2 Year Old at this year's Nationals.

So-
My dry yearling Nova beat KremeKaramel, who won Jr Dry Yearling at 2006 Nationals!

We also got 4th place produce of dam and I stood there like an idiot when the judge pulled us out of the line. Couldn't believe I would place so high with a milking yearling and kid in a beautiful class of uddered does!

My milking yearling Tomato was fifth. Kids did not do so well, 12 & 13th of 18 and my Recorded Grade was second to last. (winner of that class had also been 1st pl Rec. Grade kid at Nationals) Breeder's Trio we were 7th place, again only one udder in my bunch.

I spent part of the Fair talking to other breeders which was so educational, and answering goat questions for the general public which is also fun!

goatkid · #17 09/05/06, 11:52 PM

That sounds like a big goat show. Out here in Montana, we don't even get enough Toggs to sanction. We have to combine Toggs, Obers, Saanens, Sables and Nigerians in an AOP class. I breed Nubians and the classes are usually competative, too with Saada there. One of my doelings went Junior GCH this year. My friend's Alpines from Waailatpu lines did very well. I'm glad to hear your goats did well. That trip there sounded frustrating. It must have been a hoot, though, when you and the goats showed up with the police escort. Guess you'll be hauling them in the car again. We have 2 older Chevys that only get about 10mpg, so I usually haul the goats in my Subaru wagon for small trips. I show my goats with a friend and use her truck and trailer for the long hauls. When some folks from town saw me hauling a few goats to my friend's farm, they assumed we were just taking the goats out for a ride and were amused by it.

fishhead · #18 09/06/06, 08:57 AM

AnnaS,

I am going to bring my goats over to Margies for the winter and my Alpine doe (Rainey) will be bred at that time. She said you might be using one of her bucks too.

AnnaS · #19 09/10/06, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhead

AnnaS,

I am going to bring my goats over to Margies for the winter and my Alpine doe (Rainey) will be bred at that time. She said you might be using one of her bucks too.

Margie has an incredible collection of bucks this year. I'll be using Rowe's Raven Frostline II. Talked to Dr. Rowe about him and she said his dam is the best udder she's ever bred- coming from someone with multiple EX90-93 does that's something. Margie also has a Schmidt/ECF buck out of a 2 year old doe I really like.

Do you know which Alpine buck you'll use? Her Alpine lineup has Sunshine, IR-Ranch, Kara Kahl, and Nixon's bucks. I used her Sunshine buck Segno on one of my Togg does last year and was very pleased with the improvements he made in strength and general appearance. He is also linebred on Aries so should make nice udders too.

fishhead · #20 09/10/06, 01:08 PM

Sorry but you're talking to Mr. Magoo here when it comes to goats. I am still learning the different breeds. I'll let Margie decide who she wants to use. My doe (Rainey) came from Gina Williams herd. You may know her too.

At this time I don't have any plans to build a herd but then I never planned on keeping 13 either.