Show Wins

[hoofinitnorth]

The Alaska Dairy Goat Association sponsored a last-minute Summer Harvest Show yesterday in Wasilla, Alaska. We sanctioned several classes and divisions and I'm told we ended up with 120 does and 23 bucks entered. Judge Heather Arts did a dual-sanctioned ADGA and AGS show.

I am proud to report that my yearling SilverAurora TH Xbean took Reserve Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Junior Doe and my yearling SilverAurora TH Xenya *S took Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Buck! I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least, especially considering that Xenya is a yearling and I believe my two older boys are a bit nicer looking. The judge did not agree yesterday, though, and she really took a shine to Xenya. I can't say I blame her as the first time I laid eyes upon him, when he was just a few months old, I told his breeder I MUST have him, even though I had already committed to purchasing his dam, Sandy Hollow SS Butterscotch 3*D 2*M.

Both Beanie, as we call her, and Xenya are out of SilverAurora's Jobi LA Thunder *S. This buck has thrown some really wonderful kids and I currently own two bucks and two does out of Thunder. I am really looking forward to next year's kid crop when more of his grandkids will be on the ground.

We also had some nice placings in the individual classes at the show, most notably my second-freshener SilverAurora SB WaitingForMe 2*D 2*M who took second behind a fabulous doe in a field of 10 milkers between 24 and 36 months old. Her udder has really balanced nicely this year with better foreudder blending and capacity over last year. In fact, this doe earned her dairy star on her first lactation last year but this year she posted 4.7 pounds milk in 24 hours on standard DHI 305-day test at just 4 weeks fresh! We are really impressed with these animals and they continue to improve every day.

Kudos go to Suzanne Nevada at SilverAurora for her tireless determination in developing her herd over the past few years. She has really produced some exemplary animals and I feel fortunate to have such a wonderful selection of high quality animals in a clean, tested herd, just down the road from my home. And of course a huge thank you goes out to all those that helped handle. They were all so willing and patient and I could not have shown 8 does and 7 bucks without their help!

[HollyBearFarm]

Congratulations! Wow...good for you. It sounds like it was a great day.

Stacie

[hoofinitnorth]

Thank you! It was a total impromptu show where a judge was in Fairbanks (a few hundred miles north of here) for their fair and so the local group asked her to come down and do a one-day event for us and she agreed. We had wonderful weather and great sportsmanship all around. I think that showing, at least here, brings out the best in people. It's hard work but we all enjoy it so much and we all jump in and help each other. What wonderful folks to grab a goat they've never seen before to walk it into the ring and set it up for the judge. I especially appreciate the big breed gals that so willingly bent over to show my little ones, even the babies that REALLY make you bend down.

[manygoatsnmore]

Congrats on the wins!

[Minelson]

WOW Heather that is AWESOME! I think extra treats are due for YOU and the goats

[6e]

Awesome!!! Congratulations!!!

[hoofinitnorth]

Thanks so much, everyone! I don't think it really hit me until today when I was getting my paperwork ready for next week's Alaska State Fair in Palmer. We are going to have 2 ADGA shows and at least 1 AGS show, if not 2 (haven't figured that out just yet). Keith Harrel & Daniel Considine are judging. I am excited about showing my NDs under both because the first is a long-time ND breeder (who used to breed pygmies and nubians) and the second was a strong force against letting NDs into ADGA. I think I can learn a lot from both of them so I can't wait!

We'll also have an Open Whether Show, an Obstacle Course Race, Open Livestock Shows, and Goat Mountain Exhibit.

I just clipped 18 goats and I have to go pick up a couple more this week that I can clip and inspect for showing. PHEW!

[Patty0315]

Great job...now were are the pictures ?


Patty

[nehimama]

Congratulations on those wins, and those fine li'l goats of yours!

I also must ask; "Where are the pictures?"

NeHi

[hoofinitnorth]

Alas, I have no pictures. There were people there photographing but I haven't seen any yet. My husband could not help out that day and even if he had, he would have been showing goats so no pictures then either! We didn't get any from June or from August. We will have some for the Fair. My camera is JUNK and I have been trying so hard to get some nice shots of the goats since I trimmed them in June. Now they have been trimmed again (and the boys have been slimmed down... ahem!) and I need new photos!!!