The Junior American Boer Goat Association holds a special place in the heart of Jodi Scholl, our JABGA Area 2 Regional Show Secretary.

“It's where I saw my daughter bloom in her personality and find her niche after a life altering accident,” Jodi explained. “She has now served on the JABGA board for three years. I believe that if we give our youth the tools they need, they will thrive.”

That’s exactly what she’s doing with the JABGA Area 2 Regional Show. She said the livestock industry is such a powerful tool to keep kids involved and teaches so much more than showing. The JABGA highlights some of those skills with the contest and activities they do at the regionals and nationals.

“We have a great group of friends that help run our shows,” Jodi explained. “We all love to help the youth and promote Boer goats.”

While it’s a lot of work, they have a great time doing this, she added. “Life is just more fun when you are around ‘family’,” Jodi said.

Along with a group of individuals that helps run her shows, Jodi said she had access to a facility that was not utilized enough.

“We thought it would be a great place for an ABGA show, and it just came together the first year,” Jodi explained. “We each took a job that we had strengths with. Mine just happened to be organizing, so that's how I got to be show secretary that I share with Lori Wickman.”

That was 5 years ago, and the rest, you could say, is history.

“We now have three separate shows that we have turned into a series, The Little Sioux Showdown Triple Crown,” Jodi said. “We try to do something new and different each year. This could not be done without the help of my amazing committee!

While she joined the ABGA in 2011 so her daughter could be in the JABGA, Jodi said she’s found opportunities within the ABGA that have helped her operation. She’s also had the chance to get to know so many people.

“I have two more children who are starting to really get involved with the JABGA,” Jodi said. “I hope to see the same growth in them as I did my oldest.”

This is important to Jodi because she was also raised in the agriculture industry.

“I grew up on a family farm where we had a cow calf operation, farrow to finish operation, and row crop,” she added. “I was always outside with my Dad helping with things on the farm. I was involved in FFA during high school.”

Some things never change.

“My husband and I with our three kids have been highly involved in agriculture,” Jodi said. “We have a small cow calf operation, our son has a small sheep herd, and we have around 100 head of goats at all times. I am still highly involved with my family farm helping my folks with their row crop. I definitely would not want to raise my kids any other way!”