Ballots for the 2024 National Show Judges have been emailed. Watch the tutorial on how to vote using the electronic voting system. To be eligible to receive a ballot, you must be a member in good standing (renewed by January 1st, 2024) and an exhibitor in the 2022 and/or 2023 National Shows. If you have not received your ballot and meet the criteria to be eligible to vote, please send an email to mail@abga.org

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some cute (and punny!) e-Valentines to send to your sweetheart... or your best barn buddy. Download these e-Valentines below: "The Baaaaaaaaa-chelor" Download here: "I Goat You Babe" Download here: "HERD you were looking for a Valentine" Download here: "I'm Never Boer-d" Download here: "I'm Not Kidding" Download here: "A-BOER-Able" Download here:

Many goat producers have succeeded in targeting various ethnic markets by planning their production and breeding schedules around specific religious holidays. The traditions of these holidays vary widely between different religious belief systems and can affect the preferred size, weight, sex, and harvesting method of the animals usually consumed. The holiday calendar below is a great resource for producers to plan the breeding and sale of specific animal groups for slaughter at auction or directly to the consumer. Dependent on the number of days within each religious year, the actual timing of these holidays may shift from year to year. Here’s a guide to the preferred size, weight, sexes, and animals preferred at each holiday (courtesy of Ohio State University and Cornell University): Christian Holidays: Western/Roman Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 20-40 lbs Acceptable: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 40-50 lbs Less Acceptable: Milk-fed kids weighing less than 20 lbs Eastern/Greek (Orthodox) Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 25-50 lbs Christmas: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 50 lbs and under Islamic Holidays: Eid ul Adha – The Festival of Sacrifice: Preferred: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-80 lbs Acceptable: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-100 lbs Muharram – Islamic New Year: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Ramadan: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Eid al Fitr – The Breaking of the Ramadan Fast: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Jewish Holidays: Chanukah: Preferred: Young milk-fed goat kids

The Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) is now accepting applications for the JABGA Board of Directors. Applications completed by the nominee for the JABGA Board of Directors are due to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail on or before March 1, 2024. The JABGA Board of Directors works alongside the ABGA Board of Directors to represent JABGA members across five areas of the United States as the main governing body of the Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA). JABGA Directors volunteer their personal time and effort in service of JABGA programs like the JABGA Regional Show Series and by promoting core JABGA values like scholarship, leadership, good sportsmanship, and character development. The JABGA Board of Directors also serves as youth ambassadors for the improvement and promotion of the Boer goat breed through the breeding, raising, and exhibition of American Boer Goats. Board seats are open for the following JABGA Areas: Area 1 (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming) Area 2 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois) Area 3 (Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York) Area 4 (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) Area 5 (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) In accordance with JABGA Bylaws, applicants must be JABGA members in good standing (renewed for 2024 by January 1, 2024) in order to run for or hold a seat on the JABGA Board of Directors. For more information, see the ABGA Bylaws and the JABGA Bylaws. Required: Application (completed) Contact Information page and Certificate of Application (completed) Digital photo Directors Responsibilities page (signed) Responsibility Release, Information Release, Photo Release, Authorization Form Conflict of Interest Statement (completed) Code of Conduct form (completed) Brief statement (less than 250 words) – “Why do you want to be a JABGA Director?” Optional: Applicants may submit a resume that highlights the following: Involvement in JABGA and/or the goat industry School activities 4-H & FFA activities Leadership activities Volunteer work/community service Eligibility Applicants for the JABGA Board of Directors must: Be 16 years of age or older on January 1, 2024 Reside in the JABGA Area for which the applicant is running/elected Have renewed their JABGA membership on or before January 1, 2024 Questions or Concerns? Contact JABGA Youth Coordinator Hannah Jenkins at jabga@abga.org with any questions or concerns regarding JABGA Board of Directors nominations. Ready to Apply? Applicants should complete the JABGA Board of Directors application below and submit it to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail by March 1, 2024. ONLINE FORM: DOWNLOAD PDF FORM: About JABGA: The Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) supports ABGA in its mission to improve and promote the Boer breed and encourage the breeding, raising, and exhibition of American Boer Goats. JABGA fosters the personal growth of its youth membership through training in scholarship, leadership, good sportsmanship, and character development as individuals and in groups.

ABGA has blocked off hotel rooms for 2024 National Show exhibitors and attendees. Book your hotel rooms today, because they will go fast! Be sure to let your hotel know you're there for the 2024 ABGA & JABGA National Show! Hotel Location Phone # Website Dates Available Book By: Comfort Suites 6535 Paramount Park Dr., Louisville, KY, 40213 502-315-8085 Website 6/7/24-6/16/24 May 6, 2024 SpringHill Suites Louisville Airport 820 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY, 40209 502-361-9009 Website 6/6/24-6/17/24 May 16, 2024 Tru by Hilton Louisville Airport 810 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY, 40209 502-792-8800 Website 6/7/24-6/16/24 May 16, 2024 Residence Inn by Marriot - Louisville Airport 700 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY, 40209 502-363-8800 Website 6/7/24-6/16/24 May 16, 2024 Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport 2735 Cirttenden Drive, Louisville, KY, 40209 502-637-2424 Website 6/7/24-6/16/24 May 7, 2024

The 2024 ABGA & JABGA National Show will take place in Louisville, Kentucky from June 7-14, 2024. National Show Superintendents are responsible for the enforcement and adherence of all exhibitors to ABGA National Show Rules. For the 2024 National Show, there will be 3 Ring Superintendents and 1 Barn Superintendent. View the job descriptions below: Ring Superintendent Job Description Barn Superintendent Job Description Click the button below to apply! Apply before January 1, 2024! Questions about the superintendent position, or anything regarding the 2024 ABGA & JABGA National Show? Contact Katherine Klug at nationalshow@abga.org

This survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated. ABGA Members, we want to hear from you! Should elf or gopher ears be considered a disqualification in percentage animals? CLICK HERE to take the survey!

ABGA members with an email address on file should receive an email invite to renew with ABGA for the 2023 year using iCompete. If you are an ABGA member and did not receive an email invite to renew via iCompete, please contact the ABGA office. JABGA memberships cannot be renewed until the associated adult membership is renewed. Adult memberships must renew FIRST through iCompete in order to renew JABGA memberships. If you are an adult member and you are missing an associated JABGA membership in iCompete, contact the ABGA office immediately. Below are instructions to create a new iCompete login and link to your existing ABGA membership: Creating an iCompete Login and Linking to Your ABGA Membership: To link your existing American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) membership to an iCompete login, have your ABGA member number and associated email address ready and follow the steps below: Navigate to https://abga.icompete.net/ in your Internet browser Find the green box "NEW TO ICOMPETE" On mobile, select the red button "Register new account?" Select the green button "Create your iCompete Account Now" In the green box "CREATE ICOMPETE ACCOUNT": Enter the email address associated with your ABGA membership Create a new password to be used for iCompete (This will be the password you use to access iCompete going forward.) Confirm the new password to be used for iCompete (This will be the password you use to access iCompete going forward.) Click the green button "REGISTER" Return to https://abga.icompete.net/ in your Internet browser Find the blue box "LOGIN TO ICOMPETE" Enter the login credentials (email address and password) you created in Step 4. After logging in, you will link your existing ABGA membership with your new iCompete account: Enter your ABGA member number in the blank field "ABGA Member Ident" Select the green button "+Associate" Enter the email associated with your ABGA membership in the blank field "Email" Enter the postal/ZIP code associated with your ABGA membership in the blank field "PostCode" Select the green button "Validate" You will be notified on the screen of any outstanding balances for ABGA work and/or pending ABGA membership renewals at this point. Outstanding Balances for ABGA Work You cannot renew your ABGA membership through iCompete until all outstanding balances for ABGA work are paid in full. Select the red button "Pay Balance" to pay outstanding balances for ABGA work. Pending ABGA Membership Renewals You cannot access the ABGA iCompete Dashboard ("My Membership", "My Animals", Show Entries") until you renew your ABGA membership. Select the red button "Renew Membership" to renew your ABGA membership. Once outstanding balances are paid and your ABGA membership is renewed, you can access your ABGA iCompete dashboard. (You should receive an email invoice confirming your renewal from iCompete. Check your 'Spam' or 'Junk' folders if you do not immediately see your email invoice.) View these instructions in PDF format: If you are an ABGA member and did not receive an email invite to renew via iCompete, please contact the ABGA office to opt into electronic notifications. If you do not know the ABGA member number or email address associated with your ABGA membership, please contact the ABGA office. Outstanding balances for ABGA work must be paid before members can renew in iCompete. Members must renew for the 2023 year in order to access iCompete. JABGA memberships cannot be renewed until the associated adult membership is renewed. Adult memberships must renew FIRST through iCompete in order to renew JABGA memberships. If you are an adult member and you are missing an associated JABGA membership in iCompete, contact the ABGA office immediately. ABGA members will not be able to manage, register, or transfer animals through iCompete until Phase 2 (coming soon). PLEASE CONTACT THE ABGA OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

Online Live will permanently go offline on Monday 6/19/23 in order to prepare for the launch of iCompete. The expected launch date for iCompete is Saturday July 1, 2023. Members will need to submit their work to the office via our Contact page, email, or regular mail. Please plan accordingly. If you didn't renew your membership on iCompete, and would like to manage your herd and online account, you will need to create an iCompete account. If you renewed your membership on iCompete, there are no additional steps you have to make. Once iCompete goes live, you are ready to go. View instructions to create your iCompete account HERE. We are extremely excited to streamline your ABGA membership experience and improve online usability for our members.

Check out the Summer 2023 edition of The Boer Goat, ABGA's digital magazine! Click the cover below to view.

It's always inspiring to see young individuals achieve academic excellence and be rewarded for their hard work. It's important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that goes into winning a scholarship. It requires not only academic excellence but also leadership skills, community involvement, and a strong commitment to personal growth. Congratulations again to the 2023 Scholarship winners, and may their academic journeys continue to be filled with success and fulfillment. ABGA Scholarship Winners: Helena Almli Madison Reis Baughman Avery Holman Candice Mitchell Drew Pontious Jenna Gronewold Natalye Scholl Carly Olson Peyton Miller Haylee Finley Coni Ross Memorial Scholarship: Alaina Blair

The updated Speech Topics were passed by the JABGA Board of Directors at the 2023 Summer Face-to Face meeting. Novice Regionals: What is your favorite part about showing goats? Nationals: What should you do in the show ring? Junior Regionals: What is the importance of building a bond with your show goat? Nationals: How do you decide what buck to breed your does to? Intermediate Regionals: How can barn/pen construction affect your animals? Nationals: Why/ Why not is record keeping important for the care of your herd? Senior Regionals: What is the importance of a balanced feeding program for your herd? Nationals: Pick a biosecurity issue and how would you overcome it in your herd.