Goat project gains popularity
By Janet Kubat Willette
jkubat@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 03/01/2010 2:11 PM
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The meat goat project is growing in popularity in Waseca County.
Three or four years ago, there were few meat goats at the Waseca County Fair, said Amy Nelson, county 4-H coordinator. In 2006, there were six meat goats. In 2009, the number had grown to 34.
"It's growing because it's an easy project to get into," Nelson said. "Goats don't require a lot of care."
It's a good project for those who want to show livestock, because goats don't require a lot of equipment and they don't take up very much room.
"I haven't seen this much excitement in 4-H since the exotic breeds came in for cattle," said Cary Larson of New Richland, 4-H goat superintendent at the Waseca County Fair.
His daughter, Jill, 18, started with dairy goats, but found meat goats were more practical for her to show and raise. The meat goat community is close and eagerly shares information. There are few other resources and that's one reason Jill wants to become a veterinarian specializing in goats.
Her sisters, Sara, 20, and Erin, 15, are partners in raising meat goats. Their dream is to become well-known Boer goat breeders, Sara said. They want to be the breeders to whom 4-H and FFA members come to find the right show animals. The girls have all been active in 4-H since they were 4 or 5 years old.
The Larson family is involved in several 4-H projects and helps out wherever they can, Nelson said.
She expects the goat project to continue to grow in Waseca County, with a few new families joining each year. That creates another problem: A need for space at the county fair. That's a good problem to have, she said.