East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza Nov. 9-11 in Henderson

A full weekend of goat-related activities is planned for Nov. 9-11, 2012, at the Rusk County Youth Exposition Center, in Henderson, Texas. Billed as the East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza, the East Texas Goat Raisers Association has expanded its annual Spectacular Goat Showdown to include events sponsored by the National Kiko Registry and the Myotonic Goat Registry.
 
Activities will begin on Friday with a full day of educational seminars and hands-on workshops sponsored by the NKR. The Piney Woods Meat Goat Conference will feature three of the nation’s best-known goat experts: Dr. Frank Pinkerton “The Goat Man”; Ken McMillin, Ph.D., Professor of Meat and Animal Science, Louisiana State University; and Dr. Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Extension. And for the beginning goat producer, there will be hands-on demonstrations of meat goat basics such as hoof trimming, injections, ear-tags, tattooing and micro-chipping. All seminars are free and open to the public.  

Also on Friday, the Myotonic Goat Registry will be hosting a judges clinic. If you are interested in learning how to judge Myotonic goats, contact Tara Lawrence at 205-425-5954 or myotonicgoatregistry@yahoo.com to reserve your spot. (Class size is limited.)  

Saturday will feature the ETGRA’s 3rd Annual Spectacular Goat Showdown. This event combines an instructive open jackpot goat show for all ages, for all breeds of goats under one roof in just one day. The “Showdown” format offers the opportunity for hands-on help for the exhibitors and provides the opportunity to ask questions during and after the shows. Keep watching www.etgra.com  for more details.

Running concurrently with the Goat Showdown on Saturday will be a sanctioned show hosted by the 600+member Myotonic Goat Registry. The sanctioned show will be followed by the MGR’s National Show that afternoon. Myotonic goat fans will be treated to an additional sanctioned show on Sunday. Whether you call them fainting goats, stiff legs or myotonics, some of the best in the nation from New York to California and states in between will be on display at these events. More details on these shows will be available in the near future at http://www.myotonicgoatregistry.net.
 
Also ongoing Saturday will be the National Kiko Registry’s second all-breed regional pen sale. The first such sale was held this past October in Kansas and was a huge success for local producers. This sale will be an ideal opportunity for producers to market their goats in a well-publicized, well-attended sales event. This sale is open to registered as well as commercial breeding stock. For more information on the goat conference or the pen sale, contact Terry Hankins at 662-519-9697 or e-mail kikogoats@hughes.net. NKR plans to hold more of these regional sales in the future in other areas of the country. To learn more about NKR, visit www.nationalkikoregistry.com.
 
For those in the family who prefer activities not so “goaty”, make plans to attend the Heritage Syrup Festival, also going on that Saturday. This annual event includes cooking real ribbon cane syrup, musical entertainment, antique cars and tractors, arts and crafts, and vendors of all types. The activities take place a short drive from the goat show in beautiful downtown Henderson.

If individuals or businesses would like to help sponsor the East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza or would like to donate items for raffle, contact Rene’ McCracken 903-683-5416 or lrmccracken@ag.tamu.edu to reserve a booth today.
 
The second weekend of November promises to be a fun-filled, educational and exciting weekend for the whole family. Make your plans now to attend.