Animal shows keep the fun going at fair

Early on Sunday morning, before the SEMO District Fair rides cranked to life and while many booths and food stands remain curtained and silent, a small crowd gathered in an open-sided building on the edge of the fairgrounds for the SEMO Showdown VI.

What sounds like a big-time wresting match was actually judging of American Boer goats.

More than 100 animals were paraded around the arena in divisions based on age and sex.

The sounds of their bleating punctuated air already filled by the crowd's genial murmur and the back-and-forth voices of announcer and judge.

Judge Beth Walker eyed each four-legged contestant as it was led into the arena on a short leash held by its owner or handler. As people lined up with their animals, Walker added up qualities on a mental survey, estimating now closely each goat's head matched the desirable half-moon curve; comparing how each carried its weight, what muscles, stance and teeth told her about a goat's ability to produce resilient offspring. Coloring, bearing and attitude influenced her decision, as well as relative elegance.

Not far from the goat show, a booth offering camel rides opened for business, and food stands began to operate. Some visitors to the goat show carried fair food -- hot dogs, soft drinks, or fried treats.

No one was selling goat meat, though that is one reason Boer goats have quickly risen in popularity among farmers, according to Joey Haines, of Pocahontas. The demand for goat meat in the U.S. is so high it must be imported. Haines, who recently retired from Southeast Missouri State University after 26 years as a track coach, and his wife, Jane Haines, have 25 goats.

RIGHT: Dylan Easley of Vienna, Ill., shows his quarterhorse filly in the yearling Western halter class of the SEMO District Fair horse show Sunday at Arena Park. FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com

Unlike cattle, which require seven or eight acres per animal, seven or eight goats will do well on a single acre. Joey Haines said the animals are known for being docile and fertile -- and they don't have as strong a smell as cattle or pigs.

Haines walked over to the pen where Blakester, the first buck he ever owned, stands. The Haines raised him from a newborn kid, Jane holding him on her lap for bottle feedings and Joey playfully wrestling with the young buck. It was fun until the goat tipped the scales at 160 pounds and impossible after he exceeded 200 pounds.

"My wife couldn't even go in the pen with him anymore," Joey Haines said. They sold him this year. On Sunday, as Joey Haines stood near the pen, the buck cast a doleful glance at his former owner and looked away, refusing to respond to a gentle call. After a moment or two, Haines returned to the arena.

"You try not to get attached," said Jeremy Gurley, of Huntington, Tenn., representing the Sunshine Ward Partnership which has more than 400 head of goats. Gurley, 26, held two Grand Championship ribbons for does and one for a buck by mid-morning Sunday. The prize-winning goats are, not surprisingly, among his favorites.

Doris McMillan of Jackson and her sister-in-law, Juanita Niswonger, watched the show from the stands. Both have lived on farms and wanted to check out several animal exhibits before heading over to the horse show.

"I just think their so cute!" said McMillan, a former 4-H volunteer, as she surveyed the goats.

Across the arena, Addison Purvis, 6, got ready to make one of several trips into the arena, her face half hidden by a white cowboy hat. She alternately tugged on the lead for her doe, Jasmine, or patted the goat's behind to move it along, at one point giving chase when the goat broke free and headed back to its pen. The two earned first place in the Peewee division for overall showmanship.

As she celebrated her win, across the fairgrounds several other little girls prepared their dogs for the pet parade.

The SEMO Meat Goat Producers Association meets monthly. For details, call Joey Haines at 833-6333 or e-mail him at haines@redhawkridgeranch.com.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

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Video from the fair

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