No kidding around

Tom Forquer

The midday heat of the Orange County Fair was saturated by kids

crying “maa” as they behaved like animals. Listening to the cries

were not frustrated mothers but children making final preparations

for the Junior Market and Showmanship goat judging.

Last week’s event marked the culmination of a process that began

three months earlier when youth involved in Future Farmers of America

and 4-H purchased their goats and began their projects.

Getting a goat to show it’s loins to a judge can be tricky.

Decked out in the white pants and uniforms of their respective

organizations, the owners held their goats by the collar in the

livestock ring, repeatedly lifting and placing their feet so that

they stood squarely, placing back legs in a slightly extended

position to give their hindquarters flex.

Out of 18 entries in two weight classes, Roxana Khan of Mission

Viejo was deemed market Grand Champion with her goat, Douglass.

“It hasn’t really kicked in yet but I’m really excited,” she said

after the event concluded.

During the showmanship event, the owners were required to lead

their goats around the arena, keeping the goat between them and the

judge, maintaining continuous eye-contact with one hand tucked behind

their back, at times executing a technical hand swapping rotating

maneuver similar to a pirouette.

Mission Viejo resident Austen Palmer shared the secret to success.

“Keep your eye on the judge and make smooth movements,” said the

owner of goat Captain Cornelius and champion of the showmanship

event.

At the end of each event, the judge announced the placing of the

entries, explaining over the PA system the rationale for his

decisions, citing both qualities and faults.

Orange resident Jennafer Russel, who’s goat Houdini won the

heavy-weight class, explains the atmosphere of the judging.

“It’s a little nervous because there is a lot of people watching,”

she said.

All but one entry were from either FFA or 4-H, both organizations

that aim to enrich people through agricultural education and

projects.

Winslow Mosley, tending to his goat Pinky, a spunky Boer-Nubian

cross who at one point in the day escaped and led his owner on a wild

goat chase, listed off the daily chores involved in raising a goat.

“Feeding, watering, sanitizing the pen, exercising, making sure

the goat is healthy,” Mosley said.

Anne Wokenhauer, a recent graduate of Fullerton High School who

was returning for the third year in the goat category, found tending

to goats similar to caring for canines.

“It’s a lot like it, you have to exercise and walk it just like

you would a dog,” she says, adding “though they don’t seem as

intelligent.”

The conclusion of the process happened Saturday during the

livestock auction when the youth got to see how much money their goat

would fetch. Though some goats will be purchased for future fairs or

pets, most will be slaughtered.

The participants had mixed feelings about the fate of their goats.

“I don’t want it to go but I knew this was going to happen when I

first started,” Khan said.

Russel admits that “It’s pretty heartbreaking.” She noted however,

that this emotional sacrifice is worth it.

“I think everyone should know what agriculture is all about,” she

said, after a brief pause adding that “It’s the way of life.”