AUTHORS: DR. DAVID FERNANDEZ is an Extension livestock specialist with the 1890 Cooperative Extension Program located at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. DR. CHELSEY ANN AHRENS is an assistant professor with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, located in Little Rock. PUBLISHER: University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture YEAR: 2016

The goat industry just got stronger with a new agreement between American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) and American Goat Federation (AGF). ABGA will now provide association administration and management services for the AGF. Both organizations entered into a contract on April 22. “We have a need for dramatic transformation in the industry and for our members’ agricultural businesses,” said Kathryn Carruth, Executive Director of ABGA. “We need the ability to provide data analytics and services to stakeholders in the markets we work in. By being thought leaders through the understanding of trends, we can allocate resources more effectively to move the goat industry forward.” Late last summer, Anita Dahnke, longtime AGF Executive Director, informed the AGF board she would like to retire at the end of 2022. Transitional contracts have been executed. “I am excited for the future of AGF and think this is a strong move in the right direction for all involved,” Dahnke said. This move will enable AGF to increase activities on behalf of the goat industry as well as members. The transition of administrative duties, including financial, membership, communications, and public relations will take place in the coming months. Dahnke will continue working with AGF as grants consultant as well as assisting with the transition. Carruth said she is eager for new opportunities this agreement will provide. It allows both organizations to have the staff required to fulfill the similar needs ABGA and AGF have for independent projects. “This will greatly increase opportunities for the goat industry as a whole, which is a shared goal of all goat associations,” Carruth explained. “We are all stronger together. There is an abundant market that is only barely being realized. The news is out about how efficiently these animals make an end consumer-product. It is an honor to be tasked with helping both organizations realize their goals. This industry is rapidly advancing, and integrated relationships help move us toward common goals.” As the AGF Board continues its current Strategic Planning process, Dahnke said it is a perfect time to look at all the opportunities for expansion, growth, and change this new agreement might provide. The new physical and mailing address for AGF is ABGA’s address: 4258 S Jackson St., Suite B San Angelo, TX 76903. Their new phone number is 325-716-4500. While the website can still be accessed using www.americangoatfederation.org, it can also be accessed now just using www.americangoat.org. Their email addresses will remain the same. Carruth’s new AGF email is kcarruth@americangoatfederation.org.

SAN ANGELO – The World Championship BBQ Goat Cookoff during Labor Day Weekend will be bigger this year. The American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) will be part of the cookoff for the first time, thanks to its National Show Manager DeLaine Schwertner. Born and raised in Brady, Schwertner was the Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce executive vice president from 1999 to 2006. “When I began working for ABGA, I knew immediately I wanted to join forces with the Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce to promote the World Championship BBQ Goat Cookoff,” Schwertner said. “Boer Goats are raised as meat goats, and I couldn’t think of a better platform to partner with than my own hometown cookoff.” She reached out to Chamber President Taylor Hoffpauir. By the end of the conversation, it was decided ABGA Executive Director Katie Carruth would be a judge. The former Masked Rider at Texas Tech University, Carruth grew up around horses, cattle and goats. She graduated with an agriculture communications degree in 2003. Carruth was the agriculture reporter at Fox 34, the Fox affiliate TV station in Lubbock, while a student at Tech. In 2016, she graduated with a master’s degree in sustainable agriculture and food security at Royal Agricultural University in England. Carruth thinks goats are the answer to many environmental, food access and economic challenges in the world today. “It is an honor to be a judge at the World Championship BBQ Goat Cookoff,” Carruth said. “A big fan of goat meat, I’m looking forward to this event and tasting the different dishes.” Schwertner agreed. She also serves as the Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) coordinator and is thrilled to share this event with her colleagues and ABGA and JABGA members. “This is sure to be a great event,” said Schwertner, who still remembers the sounds and smells from past cookoffs. “The mornings were cool, the afternoons blazing hot and the whole town had a smokey haze that let you know it was cookoff time. Every grocery store was packed. Everyone had their matching team shirts, and there wasn’t a folding chair or a hotel room to be found within 100 miles.” She hopes this year’s cookoff will be imprinted in the memories of her colleagues and members as well. To help make that happen, the association is bringing in Backyard Green Films, an agricultural production company, to film and interview several locals about the event. “We are thrilled to film this cookoff and help make it one for the books,” said Schwertner. “I can still remember when the cookoff was featured on the Food Network’s All-American Festivals. It was awesome getting to see Brady on national TV.” She’s looking forward to seeing an ABGA member cook this year and would like to encourage residents to come out and enjoy the fun. “The cookoff has always been that event that draws everyone together. Come enjoy family one last time as summer comes to a close.”

There is a member in the making in Howe, Ind. Three-year-old "KiKi", the granddaughter of ABGA member Jack Baird, showed her first goat at the Michiana OctoBoer Bash ABGA Show. “She absolutely loved it,” this proud papa said. You’ve heard the saying following in his father's footsteps. Well, it’s following in her grandfather’s footsteps this time. “I believe she is hooked on goats now. She loves going with Papa and the goats.” In true Cowboy fashion, "KiKi" sports pink cowboy boots and a pink shirt, even though she calls herself a cowboy, explained Jack, who grew up in a horse family. He’s been raising Boer goats for the last 3 years. Talking about his granddaughter carrying on the family tradition at Bairds Boer Goats makes him smile. “I did 4-H, and we’re looking forward to “KiKi” doing it.” Then Jack stopped and said, “Actually, we’ll get her involved in whatever she wants to do.” Regardless of if it’s 4-H or FFA or something else, he just likes the fact that “KiKi” enjoys what he does. “She’s not blood-related, but she’s our grandbaby.”

As a country-city kid growing up in a Dallas suburb, ABGA member Joetta Boyd’s mother wanted her to be a socialite. She married a cowboy instead. 46 years later, agriculture is still life to her. “I am very thankful for marrying my husband Shelton,” she said. “I grew up in Garland, Texas. We had raccoons and squirrels. I didn’t know anything about goats.” But that changed in 1990 when they bought 400 head of Spanish goats. “We knew we needed brush control,” said Joetta, who had been running cattle since they got married. Her love of livestock came from her grandfather, who worked at a sale barn. “It’s perfect goat country where we live. We were running a Spanish herd for brush control.” Then came 1994. “My husband heard about this new goat coming to America,” Joetta recalled. “We needed to check this out. Up to that time, we had a buyer in California who would come and get the Spanish goat kids.” She called Texas A&M, and they gave her Frank Craddock’s number, and Frank gave them Norman Kohls’ and Don Smith’s numbers. At the first ABGA convention in San Antonio, Joetta and Rena Lynch were standing outside talking. “They started signing up for memberships, so I ran inside,” said a laughing Joetta. “I had to find my husband.” She said it took a while. Again laughing, Joetta said: “If it wasn’t for that, our membership number would have been lower. We’re No. 109.” Learning about Boer goats began immediately, because there were quite a few people at that first convention. Joetta said they bought their first recipient doe carrying fullblood Boers from Norman Kohls. She carried twins: a buck and a doe. They then bought semen from Ewing Downing, Joetta explained. “We took 30 Spanish goats, and we AI-ed them,” she added. “Ten of them took. The AI was all new.” But it worked. “Everything we did, we made money off of, and we went a step further. The first goat cost $15,000. We sold that buck sight unseen at 3 months for $20,000.” They got rid of all their Spanish goats, and the rest you could say, is history. Later that year, they purchased frozen embryos at a cheaper price from a group who brought them back from New Zealand. “We bought 100 frozen embryos from LandCorp for $400 an embryo,” Joetta said. “We sold 25 frozen embryos for $1,500 a piece.” Over the years, she’s only missed four nationals. “I’ve been in ABGA since the very beginning,” she added. “It’s like a big, huge family.” So much so, Joetta even shared this story. When her youngest daughter, who has asthma, was showing Boer goats, they would take a breathing machine with them. “Norman Kohls is the judge. He stops the show when he sees she can’t breathe. He calls a 20-minute break, so she could do the breathing machine. It was priceless,” Joetta shared. But that’s not the only thing Norman did for the Boyd family. “Norman told me 10% will rise to the top easily,” Joetta explained. “They’re for shows. You get 10% that just don’t turn out which you sell for meat. Then you have the 80% that make really good breeding stock, which we keep a few and sell the majority of.” In addition to Norman, Joetta said many others have helped her along the way. The ABGA has become a family tradition for the Boyds. At one point, there were three generations of members. At their peak, the Boyd family had 450 head of Boer goats. Two years ago, Joetta had heart surgery, so they had to cut back. They now run 70 head. “I am not retired, but the grandkids took over the daily chores,” Joetta said. “I am blessed to have a son, daughter-in-law and five grandkids who live at the ranch. Agriculture is a wonderful way of life.”

“I’ve had my heart and soul in this organization.” ~ Norman Kohls These are the words of Norman Kohls, the man who founded the American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) in 1993. He said it all started with his children. “My children had picked up kids here, there, and yonder,” he explained. “We were raising sheep. Everywhere we went, we would come home with a goat.” While Norman got into the Boer goat industry because of his kids and their interest in goats, it’s his wise words that still ring true almost 30 years later. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right with Boer Goats,” he said. “I think it’s extremely important for everyone who raises animals to have a place to register them. Genetics and phenotypes are both important to a breeder’s future. The quality of the livestock has to carry the mail.” Norman said founding the ABGA wasn’t his idea. There was a group trying to find direction, and the compass just pointed to him. “The current importers decided we needed an organization,” Norman explained. “The next thing I was elected the president.” And he’s never looked back. When asked what it means to be ABGA member No. 1, Norman said this: “I’m honored to have that number. That’s a cool thing.” The ABGA membership topped more than 9,000 in 2021 making that a cool thing too. Norman has some sound advice for those considering joining the association. “If you want to be in a register industry and goats interest you, make sure you buy goats from the right person,” he explained. “Just buying a white goat with a red head will not make you a living. You’ve got to buy quality from a reputable breeder. You need a mentor who knows a ‘good one’.” For Norman, raising Boer goats is a no-brainer. “They are the natural environmentalists,” he said. “They prune all our trees and eat our shrubs we don’t want. You can’t be in the Hill Country and not have goats. The central part of Texas is made for running cattle, sheep, and goats.” Norman also enjoys eating goat meat. “You can cut goat meat up and eat it fried or cook a whole shoulder in the crock pot,” he explained. “You can make sausage. Goat’s great to put on the grill.” He even shared his secret! “It’s 50% goat meat and 50% pork, a pound and half of salt, 15 ounces of pepper to 100 pounds of meat,” he said. “Then you can alter that. Take an ounce of pepper away and add red pepper. The options are so many.” If you haven’t noticed, agriculture is life for Norman. “It’s everything,” he said. “2% of us feed all the people in this country. You have to be dedicated to your task and taking care of your land and your livestock. It’s a never-ending chore, but when you’re out here, you never go to work. It’s what you live for. You love it, and there is no better place to raise a family.”

Being part of the American Boer Goat Association is more than a membership for Sheila and Bobby Anderson. It’s a family tradition and legacy. “Agriculture is a way of life, it is our way of life, and I love every minute of it,” Sheila said. “I am so happy my daughter Danielle Hubin and three of my grandkids Wyatt, Lexus, and Kase Hubin absolutely love raising and showing goats as much as I do.” Her grandkids are even starting to show kids out of their previous show does. “Sometimes I tell them piano lessons would have been cheaper than getting them hooked on goats,” Sheila jokingly said. While her grandkids are following in her footsteps, it was Sheila, who first followed in her grandmother’s footsteps. She grew up in Lawrence, Kan. “I spent the weekends and summers on my grandma’s farm, which is a couple of miles from where I live now,” explained Sheila, who operates Anderson Boer Goat Acres. In addition to raising goats and helping run 100 plus cow/calf pairs, she is an RN. While her husband is a welder, he has farmed his whole life. In fact, it was her father-in-law who gave them their first goat. They started raising goats and joined the ABGA when her daughter Danielle and sons Tyrel and Trevor were kids. After a few years, Sheila had to take a hiatus from the ABGA when the kids got more involved in sports. But she rejoined the ABGA when her oldest grandson Wyatt was 5 years old. “I bought my first registered ABGA dapple buck and fell in love,” she said. “I was hooked!!” When asked what agriculture means to her, Sheila said everything: “Cattle, horses, goats, row crop, and hay. Everything that is involved in farming: late nights, hard work, sweat, and tears.” The icing on the cake for this grandmother who loves her family and agriculture: “I think another grandson Grayson is starting to like the goats!”.

A familiar face recently rejoined USDA’s Indiana Farm Service Agency (FSA). ABGA member Julia Wickard is their new State Executive Director. “Agriculture runs deep in my roots, and I am a proud fourth generation producer on our 176-year-old Hoosier homestead,” Julia said. “It is an honor, duty, and pleasure to live and take care of the land that was founded by my ancestors decades ago.” Julia, who held the same position from 2009 to 2017, sees her role in the public policy arena as a caretaker of the agricultural sector. “I have so much respect for the American farmer who works every day – sunup to sundown – to produce food, feed, fuel, and fiber for Americans and global consumers,” she explained. “During my professional career, I have always gravitated to public service positions.” Before rejoining the Indiana FSA, she served in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for more than five years. There, she led a team as the Assistant Commissioner and Agricultural Liaison. But Julia said she missed “working 24/7/365” for American agriculture. “As I live on our family farm that was homesteaded in 1846, I am reminded daily and am truly thankful to professionally serve agriculture every day and then to go home to it every night,” she added. “I enjoy agricultural policy, public and government affairs, and advocating for the greatest industry in America.” Her new position allows her to do all of the above. When she’s not in the office, you will find Julia at Wickard Livestock, which is in eastern rural Hancock County about 30 minutes east of Indianapolis in Indiana. There they have registered Boer Goats and raise registered Angus cattle. “The farm prides itself on quality animals that are going to be functional producing females for both the breeding and exhibition industries,” Julia said. “We have learned so much from breeders from across the country, and we are excited to take our operation to the next level.” Wickard Livestock joined the ABGA six years ago, and Julia, her husband Chris, son Jacob and daughter Jordyn are all members. “We knew there were choices for different organizations in the Boer goat industry, but after researching and talking to other ABGA members, we decided ABGA was the organization that worked best for our operation, our son’s herd, and our developing Boer goat operation,” she explained. Their herd consists of fullblood traditional, dapple, and percentage does. Julia said they are focusing on color and quality for their herd, because they know diversity is important. They flushed their first donor doe in 2021 and have been happy with the outcome of this new foundational female’s offspring. “We have learned a lot about the goat health, breeding, and general care over the years,” Julia said. “We feel with the foundation does we have, we are building our herd to satisfy customers from many different parts of the industry and country. Look for consignments from Wickard Livestock in upcoming sales later this year. We look forward to serving your needs in the future.” Julia said her family has found their home for registrations with the ABGA. “We are thankful to so many Indiana and Midwestern breeders for their support and assistance as we have grown our operation,” she explained. “Our farm Wickard Livestock is excited to be a part of the American Boer goat industry and to do our part in moving the Boer goat species forward in our great country.” It's also something Julia and Chris are passing down to their kids. Their daughter showed market lambs, beef cattle, and meat goats during her 4-H career. After graduating from high school in May 2021, Jordyn was elected as a full-time Indiana FFA State Officer. She will complete her term in June 2022. In the fall, she will follow in her parents’ footsteps and attend Purdue University. Jordyn will major in agricultural communications. While their son is utilizing his herd as his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) for Indiana and National FFA, he plans to attend Purdue as well and major in veterinary science and/or agribusiness management. If Jacob is not at school participating in FFA activities or varsity football, he is most likely in the barn caring for his goats and cattle. “Our son Jacob started his goat herd to add diversity to our livestock operation and is the one I credit for bringing the goat into our farm logo,” Julia said. “Our farm has raised registered Angus cattle since 1946, and Boer goats were a natural addition to our beef cattle operation.” When asked why agriculture is important to her, Julia quoted Thomas Jefferson: "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."

If you missed Spice Island Grill on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, you can still get the Jamaican Curried Goat recipe at www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jamaican-curried-goat-3203837. It sounds delicious!

For Terry Brown, raising goats and being part of the American Boer Goat Association (ABGA), is not only a family tradition, it’s the circle of life. “Crystal and Maddie didn’t own bucks for a long time, only using mine,” said Terry, who owns Capriole Goat Ranch in Touchet, Wash. “My herd is now reduced to just a handful of does.” Her granddaughter Maddie is ABGA Board of Director Maddie Fenton Clemens. Along with her daughter Crystal and Maddie, Terry said they would haul goats all over the Northwest to exhibit goats when Maddie was growing up. “Maddie learned early on to be a top showman like her mother,” Terry said. In fact, she started when she was just a toddler. “Maddie showed her first goat - a pygmy - when she was 2 years old.” And she didn’t slow down. “When Maddie was 5, I had a set of triplet Boers and put one on the bottle,” Terry recalled. “Maddie came over every day to feed her and earned the right to own her. She named her Rosie Goatie.” As a kid, Maddie even made her own breeding decisions, Terry added. “I may not have always agreed with those decisions, but Maddie learned what makes a top animal,” she said. “Her ability to assess a goat passed mine a long time ago.” Even though she’s known for goats, Terry was not raised in agriculture. “The best I could do was raise hamsters in my bedroom and rabbits and pigeons in the backyard,” she explained. But that all changed when she got married. “After I married Jerry, we were able to start with a small acreage, eventually moving to a larger ranch to accommodate the expanding goat herd,” Terry said. Their daughter Crystal and son Levi grew up showing dairy goats and ponies. “Crystal especially excelled with the animals and won the Round Robin 4H showmanship title 9 times.” In 1995, they added Boer goats to the herd, Terry said. “When it came time to move my goats to an American registry, there were 2 or 3 options, but it was clear to me that ABGA was the strongest organization,” Terry recalled. “That first year I registered with ABGA, I was surprised to get a plaque for the most goats registered in one year.” While her son moved on to a different lifestyle, her daughter is still raising and showing Boer goats. “She made sure Maddie had the opportunities to choose her path in life, and that path has never wavered,” Terry said. “Maddie met a young man, who shares her love and dedication to this industry.” Maddie, her husband Trevor, and Crystal operate Dust Devil Ranches with prefixes of DDR and MADI-TRV. “I don’t own bucks anymore but have such a stable to choose from at Dust Devil,” Terry said.

ABGA member Randy Dusek spoke on behalf of the goat industry at the 2022 American Sheep Industry Association Convention in San Diego today.