4-H goat show brings nerves, excitement

A participant in the pack class in the goat show at the Coshocton County Fair guides her goat over one of the many obstacles the goats had to maneuver over, around and through. Jen Jones | Beacon

COSHOCTON – The goat barn at the Coshocton County Fair was a busy place on Saturday, Sept. 29 as local 4-H members got their goats and themselves ready for the goat show.

Sisters Jacklin and Katelin Morgan both said they were a little nervous about showing their goats, but that once they get into the ring, they feel better. Katelin said she feels better when she gets in the ring and smiles – the nervousness goes away. The 16 year old has been showing goats for six years and said she chose a goat as her project because no one else in her 4-H group was showing goats and she wanted something different.

“They are so cute and the competition makes me try harder to win. I want to make my parents proud. They have good and bad days and you have to work with them to help them calm down,” said Katelin.

Jacklin said, “The best part of showing goats is the competition, but it’s also the hardest – trying to set them up when they don’t want to cooperate and trying to keep your cool and not show anger when they won’t do what you want.” Jacklin showed hogs, but now shows goats and lambs because they are more hands on and she has more involvement with the goats.

Taylor Brehm, 10, was showing goats for the first time. “My sisters did it for a lot of years and they are so sweet and fluffy. I love goats!” She added that it’s difficult sometimes to get the goat to walk with her, but that she enjoys working with them because she gets to bond with them and help them grow up.

Taylor’s sister, Kaylee Brehm, was showing six goats at the fair. She has been bringing goats to the fair for five years and said her neighbor got her started with goats. “I would go over there and I just love them. Goats are my thing.” She enjoys working with her goats to learn what they like and don’t like. “It’s hard to get them to walk with you, sometimes, and they might try to pull you.”

Megan, Jenna and Lynsey Stonebraker have been bringing goats to the fair for four to five years. Megan said, “I always wanted to show goats and tried it and fell in love with it. The hardest part of showing goats is working with them all year so they are ready for the show, but that’s the best part, too, because I get to spend so much time with them. I like talking to people at the fair about them. This is my last fair, so I’m excited. I want to enjoy every minute of it.”

Jenna shared that she has always loved animals and that her goats have big personalities. “Training is always a task and if you don’t keep up with it, it shows.  You have to be prepared because you never know what they’ll do in the ring.” She said being around animals is the best part of showing goats.

“My sisters were involved in 4-H and I saw the bonds they were building with animals and it made me want to be part of showing goats, too,” said Lynsey. “It’s been a great experience – learning responsibility. The hardest part is keeping the goats calm in the ring.  Sometimes, in a new environment with new animals, they don’t cooperate very well.”

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