Sam Houston State University
Hosts Meat Goat Event
Huntsville - The Agriculture Complex at Sam Houston State
University in Huntsville was the site of the 12th Annual American
Meat Goat Association Membership Meeting June 20-21.
"The meat goat industry in the United States has expanded
tremendously in the past 10 to 12 years," said Bobby Lane,
chair of the SHSU Department of Agricultural Sciences.
"This was our second year to host this event, and it
provided a great opportunity for anyone interested or involved
in the meat goat industry to see some outstanding animals and
have a chance to start their own flock or add to an existing
one," Lane said.
"Of course, producers in the East Texas region are already
producing some excellent breeding stock, and this gave producers
from this region a chance to exhibit and market some of their
best livestock along with those from Central, South, and West
Texas," he added.
Goats were checked in between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 20.
An "anonymous show" where goats are released into
a ring with no handlers and are judged anonymously began the
activities that day at 3 p.m. Awards included ribbons, plaques,
and prizes for the grand champion buck and grand champion doe.
Frank Craddock of San Angelo was the judge.
Also, at the show, Joe David Ross of Sonora spoke on scrapie---a
degenerative and eventually fatal disease affecting the central
nervous system of goats, and David Holubec of Melvin spoke
on what buyers and feeders look for in goats they purchase.
The nomination and election of officers of the association
took place during the general membership meeting, which followed
the show. Also, the Willie B. "Bill" Whitehead Jr.
Scholarship was awarded to a 2003 graduating high school senior.
On June 21, presentations took place from 9 a.m. until noon.
A silent auction featured donated items including feed, feed
troughs, a director's chair with the AMGA logo, home made jams
and jellies, caps, shirts, and other items.
A sale took place following lunch, and any association member
could consign animals to the sale. Goats did not have to be
shown to be included in the sale.
The American Meat Goat Association was formed in 1992 in Mertzon.
Initially the largest majority of members were in Texas, but
membership now includes representatives from almost 40 states
and provinces in Canada.
For additional information about the association or the membership
meeting, contact Bill Laning at 830.895.5886 or visit http://www.meatgoats.com.
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