FFA and 4-H youth gathered around the livestock arena at the Scotts Bluff County fair to watch friends and family members participate in the meat goat show on Tuesday, July 29.
Jaelynn Engel with the Fairview 50 Club had already shown her market goat, Fluffers. “We did good, we got 2nd in market class.” Engel had two goats at the fair. Along with Fluffers, she also had one named Butter. “They’re good but try to eat stuff like my hair and anything else.”
The meat goat show had begun early, and many of the youth had shown their goats. Sisters Rowyn and Bryndle Ozuna, with the Panhandle Livestock Club, were in several events with horses, goats, and sheep. Rowyn said she’d been showing horses for four years and did pretty well on Saturday, July 26. She was showing their Boer goats with Bryndle, her sister, who has a genetic disability that delays her motor skills and is non-verbal, but can do some signing.
“We’re just showing the goats this year, since they didn’t make weight,” Rowyn said. “I like them, they’re easy to show and have good personalities. I have sheep but also wanted to do goats.” Showing the smaller animals helps Bryndle with her motor skills and strengthens her muscles. The girls have been practicing outside of the ring for the big day. “I act like the judge and help her (Bryndle) set up her goat, to look at the judge and teach them how to get square.”
Not far from the Ozuna stalls, Lily Mosher with Gering FFA and her mother, Melissa, were shearing her sheep, Wanda, for Wednesday’s show. “They’re market sheep, I bought in February, they’re easy but can challenge you,” Mosher said. “She’s (Wanda) sassy, but nice and likes to chew on my fingers.” Mosher will keep her sheep after the shows for breeding and plans to show the babies in the future.
The shows continued on Wednesday, July 30, with the fiber animals and poultry show.
Awaiting her time to show Wrayla Fitts in the East County Cluckers Club was practicing with her Speckled Sussex Lady Featherton. “I got her one and a half years ago. They are calm and gentle, and I like the way they look,” she said. “The feathers are different colors and patterns.”
Fitts has been working with Lady Featherton for around six months to get a good relationship with her, so she’s easy to handle.
Fitts has a flock of about 30 laying chickens and has been showing chickens for two years. Along with Lady Featherton, she was also showing a Silver Laced Wyandotte, a layer.
