Derry Fair 2012 - 4-H Goats

 Recognize these two buff boys?

How about now?

 And here at days old with their triplet sister on the left.

Yes! Its the former Bingo and Boris, now winners Geo and Cash, at the Derry Ag Fair with their 4-H owners Elizabeth and John Clark.

Congratulations!

I am so impressed with how these goats look!

 Elizabeth and "Cash" won first in showmanship.

No wonder why. 

Enthusiasm alone!

 We still can't agree who looks better in the hat.

 Tough call.

And why are small dogs in the goat pens?

I had to wonder.

Then I moved to take another photo and realized that these are 4 month old Angora goats. 

I think I have a new love!

Time To Say Goodbye - Hello 4-H!

Last week-end was weigh in and sign ups for the Westmoreland Fair. A couple weeks before that was the same for the Derry Ag Fair.

John Clark and Elizabeth came to the farm and chose the two brother wethers out of Twee's triplets to go together to their new home, and they will show them in Derry in July.

Kayla came back for a third year and scooped up Britches, and also Anakin, to show at the Westmoreland Fair. Anakin's twin Angus will be shown there by Hattie.

Zola's twins will be shown by Philip. I am cheering for all the people kids and goat kids to do well at showing and at the auctions.

In the past month or so, our herd was up to 25 or 26 goats and kids.  Weaning was a noisy and painful process in April. Today, after seven kids going to 4-H homes, three going to start a new herd for future 4-H kids, and one sold to a chef (Sorry - the truth!), we are down to a most manageable fifteen. Of course, we have two goats waiting to kid yet, so our numbers will go back up as the farm has its first summer babies this year.
And speaking of babies...

We sold Ariel and Abi, who are both due in the next two to six weeks, to a local family who have a lovely farm just north of town. They have two young boys that will have the joy of kids born on their farm, and all the fun of seeing them grow.

Belle, our triplet doe, also went with them, and by next year they will have a nice little herd to breed on their own.

I happened to find my way there today, and here is their home. What a lovely sight for the passers by!

Putting Our Best Foot Forward

Bingo, one of Twee's triplets born January 9.

 Its time for the kids to look their best to be chosen to compete in this year's agricultural fairs.

4-H participants have been emailing and calling and the visits have begun. They are looking for stocky, square kids that they hope will make good weight gains. 

They also look for a goat that already keeps his tail up and head high.

Britches has grown fast from his February 22 birth

A natural stance doesn't hurt at all.

And attitude!

 Belle, the triplet doeling, may be sold for future breeding purposes.

 Ariel is ready to breed and actually was exposed to Alex, but we need a little more time to see if she is bred. We will keep her Reserve Champion twin Adeline to show again. She also may be bred already.

 Abi is a favorite of mine and has really matured as a yearling.

Here she is behind her twin Ali, who was the 4-H Blue ribbon winner at Westmoreland Fair last August.

I expect most of these goats will find new homes this year as the summer goes on.  We started kidding with 14 goats and had 12 kids - so far. We still are waiting for Saba. We like to reduce our herd by winter for barn purposes, and for our sanity. Going into the winter with a dozen goats would be ideal, but by next year, the count will be up again!