an exasperatin' day!!

Well, it was one of those crazy days. Goats needed to be checked in by 10. Piece of cake, right? Well, normally, but when you stay up too late and oversleep, it becomes difficult. I NEVER oversleep. Well, until it’s a big day—on which I don’t want to let my son down. So I roared out of bed at 8:00, in an attempt to get him to the fair by 9:30. Chores, packing, showers, and we were there by about 9:53. Before 10.

We stuffed our supplies and goat in the back of my SUV and headed down there like the Klampetts. Total newbies at this.

The superintendent was nice, and told him how to go about doing things, and he listened and acted accordingly. Cindi was behaving, and looked great, actually.

The judge must have thought so too, as she came away with the first blue ribbon and trophy: senior doe, first lactation. He noted that she was a bit on the overconditioned side (That means fat. Nobody in my barn or house is starving.). She is not fat at all, but she is too conditioned for a dairy goat. She looks skinny to me next to the boers.

So he thought she was great, and only remarked about her condition. OH, and the fact that her udder was soft. DUH! The boy’s STUPID MOTHER told him to milk her before the show!!! DUH DUH DUH! His mother should be beaten with a 2x4. I have no idea what I was thinking. So she shows up with a soft udder and the judge thinks she looks great, but wonders why she doesn’t have much milk. No problem, she still steals the blue.

Second show was the grand champion drive, where they show all of the 1-2 place goats in their respective classes. She took grand champion senior doe, beating all does in milk. That was phenomenal, as there were several large Saanens there that were in heavy milk. Some are reputed to give 4 gallons a day!!

Third class was “grand champion goat” and it was basically a class of all the winning goats. Basically a grand champion drive of all the grand champions. She walked away with that trophy and purple ribbon also!

Then it was on to junior showmanship. I was convinced that L would not do well, as he has not practiced showing much. He does spend a lot of time with his goat, and she trusts and adores him, but he does not work with her enough. I was proven wrong when he again took the purple ribbon and the trophy.

Lastly he had to participate in “master showman” which was basically the grand champion drive of showmanship. He just could not outshow the older kids—some 17 & 18 years old. But I was proud of him, as the judge gave him some pointers in the previous class, and he put all of them to use in this class. So it sank in.

So, he came home with 5 trophies, 3 purple ribbons and a blue ribbon. Woo hoo!

The greatest thing of all? He is always shocked that he wins. He looks like Miss America out there when he wins! He always looks at me with his mouth open, like he can’t believe it, and then he ALWAYS hugs his goat. : )

Tomorrow we go back for the milking competition. Once again, I think we may not win, but hell, I have been proven wrong this entire day. Go Cindi!