Fairgrounds plays host to seventh annual goat show

The Black Hills Dairy Goat Association (BHDGA) show welcomed almost 250 goats to its annual show on Saturday at the county fairgrounds.

Now in its seventh year, the show has become a bustling destination for dairy animals and their owners.

This year, 29 youth participated in the showmanship classes, says co-organizer Tanja Miller, and ten in the costume class. Meanwhile, 35 dairy exhibitors attended from six states.

"We had more local families, too, which is great. We're happy to have anybody, but it's great to see more and more local exhibitors as well," she says.

It's a busy day for everyone involved in the American Dairy Goat Association-sanctioned show.

"We sent all of those goats through the ring twice, so we actually showed 500 goats in eight hours," Miller says.

This year, the junior, intermediate and senior showmanship classes were all won by the same family, says Miller – the Neuharths of Pierre, South Dakota.

"It just shows you how families do really well in this and stick together and how our exhibitors put so much effort into this and let the kids participates. It's such a great family event," she says.

Support for the event seems to grow each year. Enough sponsors are now on board that BHDGA can offer a free lunch for exhibitors, delivered from Cowgirl Pizza & Laundromat, which was a "huge hit", Miller says.

Even Sundance Pond earned its share of admiration.

"The kids would go fishing in between and it was so much fun," she says. "Parents were just as busy showing goats as unreeling fishing poles."

The goat show is supported by the Crook County community in a number of different ways aside from participating in the showmanship events themselves.

"We had the 4-H stop by and look at the animals, and we always have locals pop in and ask what we're doing," she says, expressing gratitude also to the county for use of the barn and to the community for all the support, as well as to the Facilities department for the improvements that have been made to the barn, such as the new stands.

"Behind the scenes, Bearlodge FFA is always helping us, putting up pens and taking them down," she says.

"We have a bunch of extremely dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers that show up year after year, know what they need to do and are there from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we count on them. We don't need much help for most of the year, but we do need help for three days of the year and it's amazing to see people come in and just say 'where do you want me'."

Miller hosts the annual event with co-founder of BHDGA Frances Loehr, splitting the duties between them. While Loehr takes care of entries, class schedules, judges, ribbons and more, Miller handles local needs such as volunteers and the preparation of the barn.

If you are interested in sponsoring next year's show, contact Miller at 290-2324.