Well - last month we groomed our animals. They've had the benefit of a little relief from the heat, and they have now grown a beautiful, slick, shiny coat and are looking their best. This is the time that you may want to take your animals to a show. It can give you the opportunity (1)to meet some new people, (2) to get an evaluation of your animal(s), and (3) to get away from the daily grind after a long kidding season.
I don't think I'll ever forget my first show. It wasn't "sanctioned" - rather a county fair. It was the Jefferson County Fair, to be exact. Mind you, I didn't know where the show was to be held, but I was determined to give it a try. To overcome my ignorance of the logistics, I invited another breeder to come along. I'd gotten one of my does from her, so I felt comfortable having one of her does in with my prescious cherubs. At the appointed time, we got all the animals (my milker and three kids along with her dry yearling) into the truck, and away we went. We didn't have much time to spare, but I was driving happily along when my friend calmly said, "Sue, I think that was your turn." Well by then, I was already past the exit, and the next exit was at least 15 miles along the interstate. After some anxious glances at a map, we decided there was an alternate route that would still get us there on time. Indeed, we drove onto the fairgrounds right on time. The next task was to unload the animals from the truck and get them comfortably ensconsed in their stalls. I took one kid in each hand. Well those miserable little miscreants took off at 90 miles per hour with me still hanging onto their collars. They succeeded in dragging me through a nice, big, fat, juicy cow patty. I was not happy!!!!! Needless to say - my show whites were no longer white. I refrained from killing the little wretches, and got set up in my stall. I was scared to death, because I knew nothing about showing. My mentor assured me that all I had to do was watch everyone else, and follow their examples. Fortunately, this suggestion was superior to her directions to the fair, and I did just fine. I listened to the age classes and trotted my animals out in their correct age groups. I was so thrilled. My milker was the senior nubian champion. One of my purebred kids to 1st in her age group, and my grade kid (who looked like an Alpine) was the junior alpine champion. The dry yearling, that my friend took, was the junior nubian champion. It was an unsanctioned county fair, but none of the awards earned since then in ANY show - sanctioned or not - has ever been so exciting. It was well after midnight when we finally got home. I don't remember much about the drive back, but I think it was via Cloud Nine.
I'm not the greatest showman in the world. Any wins or ribbons have been garnered by the animals in SPITE of my showmanship - or lack of same. But I have a few suggestions that might help you avoid some of the mistakes I've made along the way.