*Denotes State Fair Entry
Purple, $4; Blue, $3; Red, $2; White, $1.50
The objective of the 4-H market goat project is to provide youth with life skills of being responsible, making decisions, planning, organizing and working with others. Most of all, the project member will learn about raising and feeding market goats. The market goat project is designed for animals showing meat qualities such as goats with Boer influence; no hair, dairy or miniature goats will be included in the project.
4-H members may show a total of 5 goats (Market or Breeding) in addition to 1 Lottery Goat.
All Market Goats are required to be born on or after December 1, 2025.
Market Goats are to have milk teeth and there shall be no evidence of breaking of the skin or eruption of the two permanent front teeth.
All goats must be dehorned or have horns blunted. Goats’ hair must be shorn sufficiently short from the knee up. Goats are to be shown with either a halter, smooth neck chain, smooth or pronged collars only. During showmanship, exhibitors are not allowed to slap animals, nor may they lift the front legs off the ground while in the show ring. Goats may be braced but must have all four feet on the ground. Only wether and female kids may be shown — no billies.
All market goats, regardless of breed, will be classified for judging purposes on basis of sex and weight. Market goats will be divided into divisions of wethers and ewes for showing.
Grooming Rule — See General Livestock Rules.
*G058010 Market Goat - Wether
*G058011 Market Goat - Doe
G058001 Bred and Fed Goat Division — This division is designed to honor the outstanding quality of animals produced by Buffalo County 4-H exhibitors on their family’s farm or ranch. Goats that are produced from the 4-H member’s own herd or the herd of the immediate family’s farm or ranch are eligible. The goat’s dam must have been bred and kidded at the family’s facilities and the goat must have stayed in the ownership of the family since its birth. Bred and fed classes will be divided by weight at the discretion of the supervising committee. An exhibitor is allowed three market goats. If an animal qualifies for Bred and Fed it may show in either that division or the traditional market division. Exhibitors will nominate their Bred and Fed goat(s) at weigh-in and can make the designation at the time of pre-entry.
PEN OF 3
All market goats have to be owned by a single exhibitor. These can be of different breeds and sex. Purpose is to match group as to uniformity of size and type.
G0058002 Three market goats
BREEDING DOE
*Denotes State Fair Entry
Purple 4; Blue, $3; Red, $2; White, $1.50
Animals jointly owned by siblings – ownership will be determined at check-in at fair.
Bucklings must be 12 months or younger. Breeding bucklings are not required to be dehorned. All breeding characteristics will be evaluated during judging including teeth, mouth placement, teats and correct scrotal characteristics. All doe kids must have all temporary teeth present. Yearling does can have yearling teeth but cannot have two-year-old teeth. All breeding does may be subject to mouthing to verify age. Animal identification will be required by submitting an animal affidavit to the Buffalo County Extension by June 15 to exhibit at fair. Breeding does can be identified by ear tag or tattoo.
*G059020 Breeding Doe — Doeling. Must have milk teeth.
*G059010 Breeding Doe — Yearling doe. Age 12-24 months.
G059030 Breeding Doe — Aged doe. Age 24 months and older.
G059040 Breeding Buckling – Age being 12 months or younger. Must have milk teeth.
LOTTERY MARKET GOAT
The purpose of the Lottery Market Goat project is to provide Buffalo County 4-H market goat members with a 3 to 4 month educational, interesting and competitive feature at the Buffalo County Fair. This project is intended to help exhibitors find quality goats at a fair and reasonable market price. Youth will learn about production traits, feeding and nutrition for goats, and showmanship techniques. There are two phases to the Lottery Market Goat Project: The Lottery Phase and the Production Phase. The Production Phase of the project will provide competition and demonstrated ability by the goat exhibitor.
Lottery Phase:
Eligibility
1. 4-H’er must be 8 years of age as of January 1 of the current year and enrolled in the market goat project.
2. The 4-H’er must sign up for the Lottery Market Goat project in which each exhibitor must read and sign a Lottery Goat Agreement form and put down a deposit toward the purchase price of the goat by the county deadline.
3. All Lottery Goats will be tagged, weighed and drawn for on the date they pick up their goat. Weighing and identification will be conducted by the Buffalo County 4-H Youth Educator and members of the Sheep/Goat Project Action Team. Goats will be identified with a scrapie tag.
Entry
1. Eligible 4-H’ers will make entry on a Nebraska 4-H Market Goat Ownership Affidavit.
Production Phase:
Eligibility
- Eligible 4-H’ers must submit their Buffalo County Pre-Fair entry form on or before July 3.
- Lottery Goats will be wethers. The top two purples from each class will compete for the Division Champion and Reserve Lottery Goat.
SCORING FOR OUTSTANDING LOTTERY GOAT EXHIBITOR:
Attendance at educational programs – three meetings, 10 points apiece – 30 points
Average daily gain (ADG) calculated from date of getting the goat to check in date of fair – 20 points
Lottery Goat Showmanship (Show day) – 25 points. The judges will assign points at their discretion with a maximum of 25 points. It is possible for more than one animal to receive 25 points.
Interview highlighting what was learned through the project. – 10 points. It is possible for more than one youth to receive 10 points.
Live placing in show ring – 15 points. The judge will assign points at their discretion with a maximum of 15 points. It is possible for more than one animal to receive 15 points.
Lottery Goat classes will be determined after the goats have been weighed in on entry day. Champion and Reserve Champion of lottery goat division will qualify for the regular market goat show and compete for the overall Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat.
G056001 Lottery Market Goat
MARKET GOAT SHOWMANSHIP
Each showman must show his own animal and will enter the class corresponding to his age. The animal shown must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. The judge has the right to ask the showman to exhibit abilities to fit the animal.
*Denotes State Fair Entry
Purple, $3; Blue, $2; Red, $1.50; White, $1
*G057009 Exhibitor 14 years and older (4-H age)
*G057010 Exhibitor 11-13 years old (4-H age)
G057011 Exhibitor 8-10 years old (4-H age)
Exhibitors must be at least five years of age and not older than eight years of age by January 1 of the current year and enrolled in
4-H Clover Kids program.
Pre-fair registration will be required for this show so that enough staff/volunteers can be available for show arena safety. 4-H member is eligible to show not more than one goat. Participation ribbons given only; no premiums given. The Clover Kid Goat Show will take place just after the regular 4-H Goat Show during the Buffalo County Fair. Each goat will be brought in the morning of the show and will leave the fairgrounds following the show unless showing a sibling’s goat that is already at the fair.
Clover Kids programs involving live animals must adhere to the following Nebraska 4-H guidelines:
1. Exhibition includes discussion with youth based on their knowledge of the care and raising of the animal.
2. Exhibitors show in a non-competitive setting for participation only without rank or placing.
3. Age, size, and temperament of animal projects must be appropriate for the exhibitor’s age and size.
4. There will be one adult/teen volunteer present for every two Clover Kids that are handling or exhibiting animals.