THE AMERICAN DAIRY GOAT ASSOCIATION NATIONAL SHOW IS COMING TO EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION, JUNE 26-JULY 3
The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) National Show will take place at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., from June 26 through July 3. This competition is widely recognized as the largest dairy goat industry event in North America.
This event compliments the robust calendar of national shows that occur at ESE annually, showcasing the achievements of dairy goat owners and breeders, highlighting the results of the hard work they pour into producing high-quality dairy goats. The ADGA strives to ensure exhibitors’ experience is exciting, rewarding and comfortable. The show is a week-long event held annually from late June to mid-July. The location changes year to year and is determined two to three years in advance based on bids received by the ADGA National Show Long-Range Committee, which is based in Spindale, N.C.
“The ADGA’s choice to host their national show at Eastern States Exposition affirms our place as the premier agricultural showcase,” said ESE Director of Agriculture Elena Hovagimian. “It is important to have national shows come out this far east, as this gives many farmers and youth within our region the chance to show on a national stage close to home. National shows are often in the Midwest, which creates a travel time of well over 12 hours.”
Winning animals and their owners receive awards and recognition at the event and across many agricultural publications. More importantly, owners earn prestige among the dairy goat community. Last year’s installment in Grand Island, Nebr., featured 541 exhibitors and more than 3,000 dairy goats. ESE anticipates similar entries from across 39 states.
The history of dairy goats in the United States begins in Virginia and right here, in Massachusetts. During the 16th century, dairy goats were already as far west as California, and they were most popular in the southwestern parts of the United States.
The ADGA was organized in 1904. Their goals are to collect, record and preserve the pedigrees of dairy goats and to provide dairy goat breeders with genetic, management and other relevant services. They also head promotion and regulation of all matters pertaining to the history, publicity, breeding, exhibition and improvement of dairy goats. The ADGA boasts more than 20,000 members and greater than 2 million dairy goats.
Categories and breeds being exhibited include Alpine, Lamancha, Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, Oberhasli, Recorded Grade, Saanen, Sable, Toggenburg and Youth. A panel of reputable, distinguished industry professionals will serve as the competition’s judges
Anna Thompson-Hajdik of Madison, Wis., was born into the world of dairy goats because her parents, Douglas and Mary Thompson, purchased their foundation animals about a decade before she was born. Today, with the help of her parents and sister, she raises Toggenburgs under the “Legendairy” herd name and assists in the breeding and management of the “Kara Kahl” Alpine herd.
Thompson-Hajdik obtained her judging license in 1998. Over the years, she’s had the opportunity to judge dairy goats in 35 states as well as Canada and Brazil. She serves as director of ADGA’s District 4, is the chair of the ADA Awards Committee, has judged for the national show and is vice president of the Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association. In her professional life, Thompson-Hajdik is a professor of film history and English at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. She lives with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Daisy.
Scott Bice of Sebastopol, Cali., is the farm manager at Redwood Hill Farm, a family farm founded in 1968 that has been home to many ADGA National Champions over multiple breeds throughout the years. In addition to caring for their goats, Bice breeds and owns Lamancha and Saanens under the Vineyard View herd name.
Bice has been an ADGA-licensed judge since 2010. He judged many prestigious shows, including the Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin State Fairs. In 2024, he judged the ADGA National Show in Louisville, Ky. Beyond judging, Bice has worked with many big dairies on the west coast as the milk producer liaison for Redwood Hill Farm and Creamery. He is employed by the ADGA as a licensed linear appraiser.
“Having bred and owned ADGA National Competition champions and a premier sire is an honor,” said Bice,” and so is being able to judge at Eastern States Exposition. This show has been on my judging bucket list.”
Todd Biddle of Boalsburg, Penn., has been an ADGA judge for more than 35 years. Biddle has judged type at three national shows and youth events at three additional national shows. He breeds competitive Saanen Dairy Goats under the herd name “Royal Colors.”
Biddle prefers judging to showing, so he does not show his herd as often as he once did. However, he has bred multiple national class winners, a national junior champion and two Reserve National Best Udder winners in years past. He is a high school agriculture and FFA advisor and enjoys competing with his Dutch rabbits and Belgian Draft horses as well as coaching his students with their many projects in horticulture and public speaking.
Other judges include Mark Baden, Bob Bartholomew and Trinity Smith Malmanis, and Eastern States Exposition is thrilled to welcome each of them to the ADGA National Competition and wider fairgrounds.
In addition to the ADGA National Show, ESE hosts the Northeast Classic Dairy Goat Shows for Junior and Senior Does at the start of October, during The Big E. Entries close on Aug. 15, with late entries accepted at a higher entry fee until Aug. 31. Find more information about these shows, which are also sanctioned by the ADGA, at TheBigE.com.
Beyond judging, guests can expect lectures, demonstrations and goat milk product tastings. If you are interested in attending, head to the events page on EasternStatesExposition.com for more information!