By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
In April, three Nobles County 4-H members wrote essays explaining why they wanted to win a goat. Ann Schieck-Solomon decided to do something different in memory of her daughter, Shelby. She and her husband Kal purchased three Nigerian Dwarf female goats, and awarded them to three lucky winners. “Take them to the fair and show them. Just have a good time with them,” Ann told the winners, Torrin Clarke of Fulda, Claire Hoffman of Rushmore and Mackenzie DeGroot of rural Worthington.
We decided to check back in with the 3 goat owners and see how they and their goats are faring-with the Nobles County Fair starting Wednesday.
Claire Hoffman
The first of the three I tracked down was 11 year old Claire Hoffman. Claire and her family, Mom-Erin, Dad-Mike and brother-Lane live in Rushmore. Claire and Lane’s show animals live on their grandparents farm (Don and Phyllis Brink) about 1/2 mile south of Rushmore.
Claire named her goat “Nugget”. Nugget was born in March and is now almost 5 months old. “She is almost twice the size as she was when I got her,” says Claire. “She sat on my lap on the way home. Now she probably weighs about thirty pounds,” she commented as she wrangled Nugget out of her pen that she shares with a companion goat named “Max”. “She used to be able to squeeze out of these squares,” she said pointing to a metal gate. “She was quite a sheister. We’d find her out in the pasture. She was good at getting out. We had to get a new gate.”
Claire told me she’s been in 4-H since kindergarten, she’s now going into 7th grade. “I love 4-H because I get a chance to do things myself. Like with Nugget, I knew nothing about goats. I’m learning as I go. I’ve showed sheep and holstein calves before, but this will be my first goat. Besides showing animals she does photography and fine arts and crafts projects. She will also be showingher projects at the fair.
To get Nugget ready for the fair takes time. Claire goes out twice a day to feed Nugget. She walks her and works with her to get her to stand for the judges. Treats are involved when Nugget performs well, and Nugget knows exactly where these treats are kept. Claire has to provide clean bedding for Nugget and Max, as well as feed them. “Goats are a pretty clean animal,” Claire tells me. “I don’t have to give her a bath very often, but I do brush her and she will have to be trimmed up before the fair. Eventually I’ll have to have her hooves trimmed, but right now she’s pretty easy to care for.
The fair schedule is pretty packed for these young 4-H’ers. Their animals are registered on Wednesday and spend the next 5 days at the fair. So everything they need will have to be hauled with them to the fairgrounds. They are required to keep the pens neat. They are judged not only on show skills, but herdmanship (presentation of the pens) as well as how the kids present themselves to the judges explaining their projects. They also have to spend time with their other projects during judging and spend time working in the 4-H foodstand.
Claire’s brother Lane will also show a pig named “Buster” for the first time this year. These kids’ excitement is contagious as they both get ready for the fair. If Claire should win Champion, she would have the opportunity to take Nugget to the State Fair next month. Good luck to both Claire and Lane!
Mackenzie DeGroot
The second goat is the twin sister of Nugget. She got to go home with Mackenzie DeGroot. Her name is Lois. She lives on a farm northwest of Worthington. The advantage that Mackenzie has over Claire is that Mackenzie has had goats before. She has already experienced how goats are masters of escape, so they were ready for Lois. There is only Lois and a companion goat, Char, who is a fainting goat, left on the farm. Kim, Mackenzie’s mom, had a story to tell about Lois and her escaping antics. One morning early, the family dogs were barking non- stop. When Kim finally got up to check out the commotion, she found the two goats in with the cattle. They had apparently gotten out during the night, foraged around the yard for hours (there were footprints everywhere on the yard), and then joined the cattle in their yard and were happily awaiting morning.
This will be Mackenzie’s first time showing a goat. She has been showing cattle since she was 5 years old. Mackenzie is now 10 years old and has officially been showing in 4-H for two years. “I’m not sure how Lois will be without Char at the fair. I’m not taking Char because everyone always laughs at fainting goats,” Mackenzie told me. Besides Lois, Mackenzie will show her 1300 lb. steer that she showed last year, her breeding heifer and three calves, which she leased for showing purposes.
Her routine for training Lois for the fair is similar to Claire’s. She feeds Lois twice a day. In between she works with Lois, walking her with the halter she will use for showing. She also just talks to the goat so she will be comfortable with Mackenzie’s voice. Lois will be competing against her sister Nugget. “Mackenzie will be judged in three areas”, Kim explains. “The goat will be judged on how it walks and stands as well as appearance. Lois loves to jump and lay down.” (She may be learning from the fainting goat). Mackenzie will be judged on her showmanship and herdmanship. The judges will interview Mackenzie with questions about goats in general, her goat breed, as well as other breeds, to see what Mackenzie knows and has learned. Herdmanship is the presentation of the stall and the care of the goat. “They also watch to see how I treat the animals. If I were to hit Lois with a show stick that would not sit well with the judges!” Mackenzie shows all her animals on Thursday.
Mackenzie loves 4-H. She said she loves talking to other 4-H’ers. She likes to see how they do things and listen to what they know. She has decided to focus her time on showing animals, and will not do other projects at this fair. She intends to stay in 4-H until she is too old to belong. Mackenzie’s mom is a 4-H lifer. She showed with Claire’s mom, Erin, back in the day. Mackenzie is planning on being a lifer also.
Good luck with Lois at the Nobles County Fair!
Torrin Clarke
Torrin Clarke of Fulda was the third winner of Ann Scheick-Solomon’s essay contest. Torrin was chosen because of the essay he wrote explaining that he liked to show goats with a cousin, and loved being on the farm and helping his grandpa with the animals. When he went to pick up the goat, he said all three names were put into a hat to draw for first pick, and he won. He picked the big- gest goat and named her Lucy. “I named her Lucy because it seemed to fit her,” Torrin explained. He feeds her corn, protein pellets, and she gets to free range on grass. She hangs out with a lamb and a pot-bellied pig. The pig just showed up on the yard. The family has attempted to locate the pig’s owners, but no one is admitting to its ownership.
To get her ready for the Nobles County Fair, Lucy is put on a leash and walks with Torrin. “She is not always cooperative,” he said. A couple of weeks ago, her horns were cut off and this past week she was getting a haircut. Along with Lucy, Torrin got a book on caring for a “Dwarf Nigerian Goat”. “That book has been very helpful to us,” said Torrin’s mom Kayla.
Torrin, who will be a fifth grader at Fulda Elementary School, is a member of the Graham Lakes Braves 4-H Club. “I really like being in 4-H, because I get to learn a lot of stuff and I get to show animals”, Torrin stated. Besides showing Lucy, Torrin will be showing a Prospect Dairy Steer, a Market Barrow and a Market Gett, along with chickens. He is also entered in vegetable gardening, self-determined projects and crop sciences. He will do livestock demonstrations with his cousin, Molly. He will also be working in the food stand, which he enjoys a lot. “The memories made are unbelievable,” comments Kayla. “People don’t realize how good 4-H is for these kids. Torrin has learned great speaking skills. The older members are so good at helping out the young members.”
Torrin is the son of Phil and Kayla Clarke, of Fulda. Torrin has 2 brothers, Kaston, age 8, and Brodick, age 6, and a stepbrother Desmond who is 16, who are members of the Graham Lakes Beavers 4-H club. They have a younger brother, Holden, who is only 3, but will undoubtedly be a 4-h’er in the future. Good luck at the fair Torrin!
