Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Everything you wanted to know about goats and more will be displayed at the first USBGA (United States Boer Goat Association) Fun Match, this Saturday, October 11 at the Ripley County Fairground Park, Osgood.

“We put a lot of pride in our goats,” noted local goat farmer Betsy Baugh, and member of the Ripley County Goat Committee. She and husband, Anthony, raise about 50 goats on their farm and are proud of their blood lines. “There’s a lot that goes into raising goats now days,” Betsy told the Osgood Journal.

The local group is committed to seeing the Ripley County 4-H Meat Goat Project become the best in Southeastern Indiana. “Our goal is to have good goats shown by great kids,” their website notes.
Baugh says there are many activities planned for the day long event on Saturday. “We encourage people to come to the seminars,” she noted, saying they have gone to great lengths to bring special speakers who are experts in the goat industry. Annette Maze from Spicewood, Texas, will be judging at the match. “She is just a phenomenal person,” noted Baugh. Another presenter is the executive director of the goat association, Derial Bivens from Hickman, Tennessee.

Bivens will present the following seminars:

• Alternative Parasite Prevention

• A Guide to Reading Goat Registrations

Maze will present:

• Trim Your Goat’s Hooves with Air

• The Three R’s of Raising Boer Goats

Area farmers will also make presentations on tips for successful goat showing, how to raise a successful fair Wether, and growing up with goats.

The day will showcase local FFA judging with area high school chapters judging and placing goats. They will be given the opportunity to show their knowledge about Boer goats, according to Baugh.

Other events will include:

• Native On Appearance Training (NOA)

• Mini seminars with goat topics

• Youth showmanship

For the serious showman, points will be awarded, goats registered with the ABGA and the International BGA are welcome to attend. Any age can enter the Fun Match, and Baugh says the goats “do not need beauty parlor treatment, they just need to be washed.” No clipping is required.

For those who would like to try goat meat you can do so at a lunch that will feature grilled goat meat. There will be Billy Burgers and Country Goat Links (similar to a brat). Baugh says if you like deer meat but don’t care for the ‘wild’ taste, you’ll love goat meat. Lunch will start at noon and will also feature other more traditional offerings such as hamburgers and hotdogs.

All of the proceeds from the day will go to the local 4-H goat project, according to Baugh. She encourages people to come out and see the new “beef”, which she says is “goat.” She says this is a smaller show that will provide a great opportunity for farmers who might be interested in raising goats, or for kids who think they might want to get involved in goats as a 4-H project.

For more information and a complete schedule of the day’s events you can log onto www.freewebs.com/ripleyfallfunmatch. The day will begin at 8:00 a.m. with registration starting at 7:30 a.m.