TO THE BLEAT OF THEIR OWN DRUM: THE AMERICAN DAIRY GOAT ASSOCIATION NATIONAL SHOW CONTINUES AT EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION
The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) National Show has commenced at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) in West Springfield, Mass., and it will continue through Thursday, July 2. This is the largest dairy goat show in the United States, and it seldom takes place on the East Coast. The show has not been hosted at ESE in more than a decade; it was last held at ESE in 2001 and 2011.
“This week, we have the privilege of hosting one of the largest dairy goat shows in the country, with more than 3,000 goats entered and exhibitors representing 39 states,” stated ESE Director of Agriculture, Elena Hovagimian. “If your schedule allows, consider attending and experiencing this incredible event. Many of our guests have traveled great distances to be here, and this is a tremendous showcase of the agricultural traditions that make our organization shine.”
Over the weekend, youths competed in a series of Intermediate, Junior and Senior Showmanship. On Sunday, this was followed by the fitting contest, where teams of four take a shaggy goat and trim its hair, clip its hooves, clean its udders and otherwise ensure the animal is show-ready, with some teams preening their goat in just a half hour. Last year, when the national show was hosted in Nebraska, ADGA President Dan Greene served on the panel of judges for the trimming contest.
“It teaches them how to work together as a team,” Greene explained. “The majority of the week is dedicated to the open show, but the ADGA is rapidly growing youth programming that we’re really proud of.”
Though the youth portion of the national show highlights promising talent among rising agriculturists, Thursday’s Spotlight Sale is the most anticipated occasion of the showcase.
“Goats are one of the most versatile animals,” said Heidi Vanderloop, ADGA Communications and Marketing Specialist. “They can be used for milk, meat, cheese, fiber, lotion, soap and more. The Spotlight Sale gives breeders a prime opportunity to purchase an award-winning, genetically superior animal capable of producing the best of all these things.”
The Spotlight Sale is the most prestigious buying opportunity offered by the ADGA. The dairy goats featured in the sale are selected based upon their previous show wins, linear appraisal and production, and the animals in question boast elite genetics. They have been meticulously screened to ensure that they are performing as they should be for a production breed.
When asked why the Spotlight Sale is so significant, Greene explained that all signs point to an increased interest in dairy goats.
“Across the world, people drink goat milk more often than any other kind of milk,” he said. “In the United States, it’s part of our culture that dairy cattle dominate, but worldwide—and even within pockets of the United States—the dairy goat industry is growing rapidly. There’s a lot of goat cheese being made and an increasing amount of liquid milk products. This sale is how you produce the best of the best…This is the Westminster of goat show—it’s really the premier dairy goat show of the world. Absolutely, it’s the Super Bowl of goats, and there is no other in the world that compares to the number and quality of the goats at this show.”
The Spotlight Sale, which is open to the public, will take place from 3-5pm on Thursday, July 2, and an awards ceremony will immediately follow the occasion. After both events end, the show will conclude and all exhibitors will be released. You can find the full schedule on the ADGA website or at EasternStatesExposition.com.