By GINA KINSLOW
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW —
Rebecca Hurley stood inside the show ring grooming her Boer goat before the Youth Goat Show on Tuesday afternoon at the Barren County Fair.
It was her first competition, but Hurley wasn’t nervous.
“I like messing with animals,” she said. “It’s pretty fun.”
Hurley, of Barren County, decided to begin showing goats after seeing a goat competition at the Kentucky State Fair. Her family was already raising goats, but after seeing them in competition at the state fair she knew it was something she, too, wanted to try.
The 12-year-old attended a workshop to learn showmanship skills in order to prepare for Tuesday afternoon.
The Youth Goat Show, which is only open to Barren County youth, is a rather new event at the Barren County Fair; having been available for only six of the 56 years the fair has taken place.
It is an event that 4-H’ers may choose as a livestock project, said Paula Tarry, 4-H Youth Development agent for the Barren County Cooperative Extension Service.
Many 4-H youth, especially those who are just beginning to show livestock animals, start with goats because they are smaller and easier for the youth to handle, she said.
4-H’ers can participate in the junior showmanship division, which is for youngsters ranging in age from 9 to 13 years of age, or in the senior showmanship division, which is for teens ranging in age from 14 to 18. There is also a division for Cloverbuds, which are youth who are between the ages of 5 and 8, Tarry said.
Some 4-H’ers start showing one goat and then add one or two more. There are also 4-Hers who show more than one type of livestock animal, such as Kristen Coomer, 14, also of Barren County.
Coomer shows goats as well as cattle.
“I think they are interesting little animals,” she said, about her goats. “They are fun to spoil.”
Coomer began showing Simmental cattle at a tender age, or as she describes it, “as a little bitty.” She has since begun showing goats and pigs.
Coomer said showing livestock at county fairs gives her something to do during the summer.
“I’ve always loved showing animals,” she said.
Twelve-year-old Jordan Prough, also of Barren County, began showing goats after meeting Coomer and her family.
Her mother, Dawn Hoffman, said she likes what her daughter gains from the experience, such as “taking responsibility for the animals — the care of them, competing and enjoying all the friends they make through 4-H.”
The number of youth taking part in the event increases each year.
“It just continues to grow each year,” Tarry said.
Youth who won at the event Tuesday night can now advance to the state fair for another round of competition.
Coomer won grand champion, while her younger brother, Kyle, won reserve champion.
“I’m very excited that my goat [did well],” Kyle Coomer said.
This year marks his third year for showing goats, and he said he prefers showing goats to cattle.
“They are a whole lot easier to show,” he said.
The trophy he received for the competition was not his first.
“I’ve won a lot more,” he said.
For his sister, however, it was her first grand champion trophy in the goat competition.
Both are planning to advance to the state level of competition at the Kentucky State Fair in August.
Other events that took place Tuesday night included an antique tractor pull, a gospel and bluegrass music concert, the 4-H and FFA Beef Cattle Show and the Open Beef Cattle Show.
