Farm show has got their goats
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The many facets of goats will be on display with two back-to-back events at this year's Farm Show.
The much-loved and highly competitive annual goat costume contest is scheduled for noon Aug. 8 in the Dairy Pavilion.
Right after that, spectators can stick around for the goat obstacle course at 1 p.m., a new premium event to the show this year.
“We're very excited about this. This is going to be great fun. We're trying to elevate the goats in the world of livestock and farming, especially dairy goats,” said Jennifer Thornton, assistant superintendent of the goat department.
Thornton was sworn to secrecy about the types of obstacles that would be in the course, but said it would be similar to a dog agility course. The goats will have to go up, go over and weave through a handful for obstacles.
They did an obstacle course a couple years ago as an exhibition, Thornton said. It went so well that they're doing it again as one of the show's premium events.
Each goat must at least attempt the obstacle, she said, and get two chances to complete the obstacle before moving on. The goats have to have been shown in a previous class, whether that be showmanship, market or dairy, to be entered in the obstacle course, Thornton said.
Entrants will compete in one of three age groups — 8 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 21 — for the fastest time around the course. There are more than 30 children already signed up for the obstacle course, Thornton said.
The children will not know what obstacles lay in front of them until the time of the event, but Thornton said they were instructed to practice working with their goats as they would for any other event. It's not only a test of the fastest goat and human pair, but also the pair that has the most trust between the handler and animal.
“We tell the kids to practice your normal routine with your goats. Walk them around, talk to them. Whether you're using them for the obstacle course or showmanship, you need to work with your animal,” she said.Also back is the goat costume contest where the kids and their goats dress up in matching themed costumes. Although it's a fun contest, it's also competitive, Thornton said. The kids keep their costume ideas close to their vests until the time of the event, she said.There's usually a mix of homemade costumes and store-bought, but each child puts a lot of creativity and effort into their costumes, Thornton said.“Every year these kids get more inventive,” she said.
