SEPTEMBER 2010
Important Announcements
Presidents' Letters
Meetings
Classified Ads
Educational Information
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
DEADLINE: The deadline for the October Newsletter is September 28, 2010. If you are submitting a flyer, please make sure the flyer is in pdf or jpg format and submit a few sentences that can be used to introduce the flyer. ~~Mary Dakis, Webmaster@meatgoatproducers.com
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
(1) Northern Division.
The Northern Division's third annual fall classic will be held this saturday, September 4th, in Chillocothe, MO. The 2009 winner won $1,500! Open to all exhibitors age 21 and under. Click here for a copy of the flyer (.jpg format).
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(2) Southeastern Division.
Hi Folks -
Well, around here the weather is the hot topic of discussion. On this farm, the weather has given us two bumper crops - ticks & poison ivy. Not many buyers, but the supply is abundant. On the plus side, we have one ornery weed that fights as hard to stay alive as we do to kill it - can't remember the name, but it answers to horsemint, and this dry spell is helping on that front. Those weeds are really hangin' their heads low.
Next, of course, are the shows and the upcoming Labor Day & fall sales. Plenty to choose from. Unfortunately, our production sale won't be one of them. We just couldn't get quite enough consigners this time around to have it. We are starting now, however, to plan for next year's production sale & should have things well underway by the first part of 2011. Jon Cowley will be the "go-to guy" on this.
Our August meeting was held on the 21st at Redhawk Ridge Ranch, home of Joey & Jane Haines. There were 17 members present & Jane had brownies, tea & coffee ready for us. Joey gave us an update on the SEMO Showdown VIII, to be held as always in Arena Park in Cape Girardeau, MO on 09/11/10 & 09/12/10. We're hoping to see a lot of your there. Judges will be: on Saturday - Fred Homeyer, who will also present a seminar for us after the show & on Sunday - Jesse Cornelius. We had originally planned a meeting for the membership after the Saturday show, but are foregoing that meeting for the opportunity to be present at Dr. Homeyer's seminar.
I (Charlie) gave a brief report on the Sping Fling in Cape. It was held over the Memorial Day weekend. We missed the June meeting, there was no July meeting, so you might say the report was sort of timely. There were several ways, evident after the show, where we could cut some expenses, so we plan to do much better financially next year, as well as having a bigger show. We already have volunteers to donate goats for our concession stand. They are: Alvie & Susan Richmond; Jon & Joanne Cowley; Mike & Shelley Lucas; & Charlie & Eva Rainwater. That's a good start & probably the easiest part.
There was also some discussion of the annual pooled sale. It was agreed to hold it earlier than usual this year in order to get in on a couple of holidays that we usually miss. We don't have a date for it yet, but will let you know as soon as we do.
Our annual picnic will again be held at Sam A Baker State Park on October 9, beginning at 11:00 am & lasting until we can't eat or talk any longer. More to come on this, but be sure to mark your calendars for that day..
I got a call from the nice people at Busch Wildlife in St. Charles County asking about the possibility of using goats to get rid of some unwanted growth in the park - bush honeysuckle. We talked for a while about the pros & cons - on both sides & I told her (Lea Hefferman) that I would contact some of the goat people who might be interested in getting in on this & putting them in touch with her. There are some I intend to call directly, but don't want to leave anyone out of a chance to check into this, so if you have any questions, just give me a call & I'll give you everything I know about this. I think I remember Debbie Sanders doing this a few years ago around the Springfield area, so I'm sure she would be happy to tell you about her experience.
A Board meeting has been scheduled for 09/01/10 at the Bread Company in Poplar Bluff, but, as always, all of our members are welcome & if anyone has anything they/he/she would like to put before the Board, please feel free to attend, or if you can't, just contact one of us.
Lastly - Here we are, going into September & before you know it , it's going to be 2011. Please don your volunteer hats as elections will be here before you know it. I say this each year, but I'll say it again - We Need New Blood - new ideas, new energy. Please think about throwing your hat in the ring for President; Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Board Member. We need you!
'Til Next Month
Charlie Rainwater, President
SEMO Division, MMGPA
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(3) Southwestern Division President's Letter
Hello to everyone!! Where has the summer went? Seems like we say this every year!! Have you started your Christmas Shopping yet? I know just the place to start. Go to the SW Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association 2nd Annual Production Sale, 18 September 2010. Go there, buy one of those exposed Doe’s and you just may have a little one to put a big red bow on for your spouse’s Christmas Present. We have bought numerous breeding bucks/doe’s with a Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas attached to the purchase.
Just in case you may have missed the details: The sale will be held at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield, MO. Gate 2 will be open and the sale will be held in Barn 3, Goat and Sheep Barn, kinda under the hill and to the right of the Expo Center. They are not going to have a concession stand this year, so you may want to pack a cooler or there are several restaurants within a couple of miles, to include Wal-Mart and Golden Corral located on Kansas Expressway.
News Flash!!!! We are very excited to have been able to add a seminar this year to our sales day event. Dr. Steve Hart from Langston, Univ. in Oklahoma will be our speaker. Langston, in my opinion is one of the top Universities doing research on Goats. Here is a link to their website: www.luresext.edu/goats/index.htm
Inspection:
- 17 Sep 2010, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM;
- 18 Sep 2010, 8:00 AM – 1 PM
Seminar: 9:30 AM - 11 AM, 18 September 2010
Speaker: PhD Steve Hart
Topic: Goat Management
Catalog will be available by 2 Sep 2010 for viewing and/or printing on the http://boergoats.com website. It may not be complete, so check back closer to the sale to view all of the items.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn something new “and” take home some great genetics to add to your herd. Make your plans now to attend, we’ll save you a seat!
Our September meeting will be a brief business meeting after the seminar.
We have been to several show’s this year and have seen the 4H and FFA kids showing their goats, we are so proud of the youth regardless of which end of the line they are on. All that matters is that they do their best, not everyone can be a winner on the same day. Below is a portion of a press release from State Fair Tammie Nichols, Marketing Director:
"The Grand Champion Meat Goat was exhibited by Skyler Scotten of Nevada. The Boer goat was bought for $5,050 by the Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association, Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.
ADM Nutrition Alliance/MoorMan Show-Tec, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support purchased the Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat for $3,000. The Boer-Cross was exhibited by Spencer Scotten of Nevada. The Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team. Picture below is of the top 4 Wethers. The two in front were the winners.
We’ll be looking for you on the 18th of September for the Seminar, Meeting and Sale.
Freman Elam
SW MMGPA President
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MEETINGS
SOUTHWEST DIVISION -- Saturday, September 18, 2010, a short meeting will be held at the Springfield Fairgrounds, after the Goat Management Seminar.
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CLASSIFIED ADS
Please contact the seller for additional information and/or pictures.
RABBIT RIDGE FARMS --For Sale: 2005 Bruton "Easy Pull" 6' 6" x 16' X-Hibitor X-Treme Trailer; low profile; A/C, heat, tack room/110 w/Romex/2 inside plugs/lots of hooks, porch light, 5 dome lights, 6 windows, 28" apron ramp, interior gates can be removed entirely or placed to make up to 6 compartments; gates pinned so goats can't lift them off; 42" tongue to hitch; spare; standard wiring; rubber floor covering; easy clean; back door (open top) slides for one-sided access or opens fully; removable full cover back door slides for one-sided access or opens fully; perfect for goats/miniature horses/hogs/Dexters - Real attention getter! $8,500.00. Click on this link rainwater@dishmail.net to send us a note. CONTACT: Charlie & Eva Rainwater, Wappapello, MO, (573) 712-8744 or (573) 776-8396.
HAPPY TAIL FARM -- If you are looking for a new sire to handle your fall breeding season, look no further. I have a few sons of *Ennobled* AABG NBG BIG TIME who would love to "git her done". All are ABGA-registered fullblood Boer bucks. Call to arrange a date & time to visit our farm to pick out your next sire. We are 8 miles outside West Plains. Click on this link goats@happytailsfarm.info to send us a note and/or click on this link www.HappyTailsFarm.info to visit our website. CONTACT: Mary or Don Dakis, West Plains, MO, 417-372-2789/3124.PEMBROKE WELSH CORGIS FOR SALE -- Born June 24, 2010; 1 female, 3 males; 1 tri female, 1 sable male, 2 tri males; AKC Registration Application; Current De-Worming and immunizations; Farm Raised – showing lots of interest in “herding” geese, goats, and chickens. $300.00. CONTACT: Katie Stewart, cell (417) 839-3184 or home (417) 345-6092.
MOJEJI RANCH -- We have three very nice full-blood Boer breeding bucks for sale, two grandsons of Twin Star Titan (Sire is Hillybilly Boers Dynomite) and one son of Hillbilly Boers Atlas. We are located 8 miles north of Mountain Grove on Girlstown Rd. Click on this link mojeji.ranch@gmail.com to send us a note and/or click on this link www.mojeji.com to visit our website. Asking price is $250.00 CONTACT: Roger or Carolyn Schrock, or Janelle Flory Schrock, 417-926-1064.
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BEAR CREEK BOERS: We have several Registered Fullblood Boer Doe’s and Bucks for Sale, priced $300.00 and up. Pictured is one of our Doe’s that is going to the SW MMGPA Production Sale, 18 Sep 10, check her out in the catalog that will be on http://boergoats.com 2 Sep 2010. Click on this link bearcreekboers@yahoo.com to send us a note and/or click on this link www.BearCreekBoers.com to visit our website. CONTACT: Freman or Connie Elam, Lebanon, MO, 417-532-6056
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EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
Attention 4-H/FFA members and parents of Missouri State Fair Boer Goat exhibitors:
FFA: if you would like to have the current substitution rule (which is the same as the open show rule – substitutions allowed only within the same class before a specified deadline) changed to allow substitutions to be made up to the day of check-in into any class in the FFA show, please e-mail Steven Rogers (Steven.Rogers@dese.mo.gov). He is willing to make the rule change, but he needs to hear from lots of parents and exhibitors who are in favor of the change.
4-H/FFA: I’m sure if you, as an exhibitor, or as a parent of an exhibitor in either of these shows were lucky enough to win champion or reserve in a division or overall in the breeding shows, you noticed the lack of division rosettes and overall champion prizes. We don’t know if this was an oversight in the ordering procedure, or a budget cut, but as parents and exhibitors I’m sure we all expect to get more than was awarded in this years’ shows. Please e-mail Steven Rogers (FFA, address above) or Ben Gallup (GallupB@missouri.edu) with your concerns. Do this soon – if these were cut for budget reasons, I’m sure there are more than enough Boer Goat breeders and Meat Goat Associations in the state that would be willing to chip in and sponsor these awards, but we need to get it taken care of well in advance of next year’s State Fair.
If anyone has any questions regarding the above issues, please contact Katie Stewart 417-839-3184 or e-mail cstweart001@centurytel.net.
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USA - Goat Research
Trent University and an Ontario, Canada organization that facilitates the commercialization of research are partnering with other groups to create a centre to promote the growth and competitiveness of the goat industry. The incorporation of the Centre for Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation was announced in Stratford on Wednesday. Trent, the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, the University of Guelph, Ontario Goat and the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative are the partners behind the centre. The centre doesn't have a physical location, it's more of a collaboration between the partners, explained Jennifer Haley with Ontario Goat. "It's essentially going to foster research opportunities for the goat industry… to be able to do more to help the goat industry prosper," she said in a telephone interview from Stratford.
The centre will take advantage of the different laboratories and researchers at Trent University and the University of Guelph, Haley said. "It's using existing resources and it's focusing them into the research priorities," she said. "They're already looking at the properties of goat milk, they're already looking at the different animal diseases that impact goats." There are about 2,000 goat farmers in Ontario that produce milk, meat and fiber, Haley said.
Source: newsroom - meattradenewsdaily.co.uk (19 Aug 2010)
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First Goat Meat National Conference in Florida
Goat meat production is recognized as one of the fastest growing areas of the livestock industry in the United States, as a diverse ethnic population has created a greater demand for it. So it's fitting the marketing of goat meat would get its own conference. The National Goat Conference, the first sponsored by an educational institution, will be held next month at Florida A&M University from Sept. 12-15 at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee. The four-day event will tackle critical issues related to the goat industry and focus on the need for proper training and utilizing innovative technology available today to operate a profitable farm of livestock, the university said in a press release. The conference will provide a multi-faceted forum for goat producers, students, educators, researchers, industry professionals and organizations to come together and address key issues related to supporting and maintaining the rapid growing goat industry. The theme for the conference is "Strengthening the Goat Industry.'' The keynote speaker will be David G. Pugh, DVM, veterinarian, and internationally recognized expert. Pugh is the author of a book entitled ``Sheep and Goat Medicine.'' Some 600 participants from across the country are expected to attend. Focus will be on topics such as nutrition and pasture management, herd health and management, marketing and processing, reproduction and biotechnology, genetics and breeding, food science and safety, and technology transfer. There will also be a session on sheep production and management. ``We are proud to host this unique conference that focuses on a national agenda designed to promote both profitability to farmers and opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in animal science and veterinary medicine,'' Ray Mobley, D.V.M., conference co-chairperson and director of the FAMU Cooperative Extension Program. Sponsors for the conference include: the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program; Association of Extension Administrators (AEA); the University of Florida; Risk Management Agency/USDA and Farm Credit. Online registration is currently open at http://www.famu.edu/goats.
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All About Email/Web Links -- (This article was written at the request of one of our members who is not computer literate. If you are computer literate, skip this.) The MMGPA membership list contains links to our members' email addresses and websites. You can identify a link because it appears in blue and it is underlined. When you see an email link you can click on it to automatically send a message to that member. Likewise, when you see a website link, you can click on it to go to the member's website. Try it--click on these 2 links: rocknbgoats@hotmail.com and www.rocknbgoats.com.
Because usernames cannot contain spaces, some members use a period (.) or an underscore (_) in their email address (examples: kramer.linda@gmail.com and noel_bruce@yahoo.com). When these names are linked and automatically underlined, the period remains visible but the underscore disappears (examples: kramer.linda@gmail.com and noel_bruce@yahoo.com). Therefore, if you are adding an email address to your personal address book and the username appears to contain 2 separate words, you need to connect the two words with an underscore in order for the address to work (example: noel_bruce@yahoo.com not noel bruce@yahoo.com). To verify the correct email or website link, place your cursor over it and the correct email or website address should appear at the bottom, left hand corner of your screen.