By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
Some were testy, some were fickle, and some of them just didn’t want to cooperate, no matter what the odds. The young junior fair exhibitors had to contend with a few stubborn goats at Wednesday’s Goat Show.
Even though goat bratwurst was the day’s specialty at the 4H booth, and while the goat sometimes gets a bad rap, one nameless animal in particular took Kendyl Guinther to senior showman victory.
“It’s actually nameless,” Guinther said of the goat she showed early that morning. “We didn’t name him this year, but sometimes they get random names, like my little brother will name them, but they don’t have any real names,” she replied.
The Dairy Maids & Gents 4H member made a smart decision with the nameless one, after the goat she originally wanted to show was being rather, well… testy and fickle.
“It stood better for me than my other one,” she said.
“My other one, he didn’t want to stand well for me today, because we’re just at the fair, and he’s probably stressed a little bit. There’s more people around, so he’s not acting right, and that’s why I took my other one out, and he did a lot better than I thought he was gonna do.”
The goal for Guinther this year was clearly to focus on winning goat showmanship, and the sweetness of hard won success struck her in hindsight.
“Amazing, I’m speechless! I’ve been working for this my entire life, I’ve shown sheep since I was two, so I’ve been doing this a long time. And I started showing goats when I was in my first year in 4-H and I’ve just really wanted to win this.”
Standing tall among the goats was the man in charge, one who knew exactly what he was looking for- judge Andrew Sloan.
The Shelby native started judging goats as a sophomore in college and has done so for the last four or five years.
“I’ve shown all kinds of livestock, cattle, pigs, sheep when I was growing up, and then you know, going to college and judging, I was learning about goats and got interested in them.”
The overall quality he looks for in a goat, regardless of who is handling it, is a meaty form.
“Any time you judge a market class, we’re definitely looking for muscle, that’s the main priority, these are going for human consumption, so we definitely want lots of muscle.”
Sloan was complimentary of the Crawford County kids, and was pleased beyond their level of competitiveness.
“An awesome set of kids, awesome sportsmanship. Kids giving each other handshakes and congratulating each other, that’s what I really look for.
“At the end of the day, they just won a purple ribbon… We want to see the kids have fun and enjoying themselves.”
As for Guinther, she’s raring to go for Friday’s Showman of Showmen, and is left reassured from handling all kinds of species throughout her young life.
“Oh, yes,” she said confidently, “I’ve been ready for this for years.”
The animal she believes will give her the least amount of trouble at the big show?
“Sheep, since I’ve shown them my entire life.”
Just don’t tell the goats!
Results
Senior Showmanship
- Kendyl Guinther
- Ethan Martin
- Kelsie Williams
- Alexus Burkhart
- Megan Gwirtz
Intermediate Showmanship
- Levi Hartschuh
- Alana Burkhart
- Emily Rudd
- Caitlin Schiefer
- Peyton Miller
Junior Showmanship
- Nate Schiefer
- Corbin Bloomfield
- Addie Kessler
- Justin Lester
- McKenna Zaebst
Skillathon
Senior: Kendyl Guinther
Intermediate: Caitlin Schiefer
Junior: Nate Schiefer