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Youth prepare goats for ‘Classic’ competition
The popular costume contest for both goats and exhibitors will return for the second Heart of Tennessee Goat Classic set for Oct. 5 and 6 in Murfreesboro.
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Enterprising youth exhibitors and their prize goats from all areas of the state will be heading to Murfreesboro to compete in the Second Annual Heart of Tennessee Junior Meat Goat Classic on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5 and 6, at the Tennessee Livestock Center.
Last year’s inaugural event attracted some 42 young people and their 160 goats, and organizers say interest in the 2012 classic is running high.
“There are many people in Tennessee who enjoy raising these fascinating animals,” says show manager Mitchell Mote. “Goats fit the rural lifestyle that is very much a part of Tennessee. Goats and the people who raise and show them are fun and enjoyable to be with.”
Competition in the show ring will definitely be heated as the youngsters and their goats battle it out for top honors. The show includes divisions for wethers, commercial does, and registered does. Premier exhibitors will be named in each of the show divisions, and the champion and reserve champion wethers will be auctioned at the end of the show.
As was the case with last year’s premier goat classic, Co-op will have a prominent presence at the 2012 event. Besides being a major sponsor and giving a free bag of Co-op goat feed to each class winner, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative will also double the winnings for any winner of champion or reserve champion wether that was fed Co-op feed.
Colton Dotson of Lincoln County cashed in on the Co-op reward last year to the tune of $600. After his champion wether received TFC’s premium of $300, he had the amount doubled simply because he used Co-op feed (purchased from Lincoln Farmers Cooperative).
“Co-op is committed to investing in our youth because they are the future of agriculture,” says John Houston, sales manager for TFC’s Animal Nutrition Division. “Goats are a growing sector of animal agriculture in our state, second only to Texas in numbers, and Co-op wants to serve that industry by encouraging young people to get involved and providing them with feeds that will enhance their opportunities to succeed.”
Besides the show ring competition, exhibitors will participate in other fun activities during this year’s classic. With the event being staged in the same month as Halloween, a costume contest for exhibitors and their goats will again be a part of the festivities. Last year, judges said the 12 costume entries were so creative that they couldn’t decide on a winner and split the prize among the competitors.
For more information, contact Mitchell Mote at mmote1@utk.edu or 615-898-7710 during business hours or Mark Anderson, tnmeatgoats@aol.com or 615-967-1415.
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