We attended the Red Bluff – North Valley DGA show last year for the first time. The fairgrounds have a lovely set up with pens large enough for the does to spread out and a beautiful grassy area where the owners can set up tents. Last year we had a great time camping and enjoying the people. This year we enjoyed seeing people – but the weather was as uncooperative as possible.
After a few days of 90° weather in late April we were inspired to clip everyone enough to be ready for the show. All the kids got a full clip and the milkers were mostly clipped (with an udder clip). Boy did the weather play a trick on us. The balmy 70-80’s dropped down into the 40’s with a wind and rain chill. Few things are less fun than tent camping in the rain with water blowing into the tent.
The does (who now have almost no hair) were very cold and miserable. They do not like being cold and the fact that water was involved was just too much. They all looked hunched up and cold. Even looking that way, Arizona had a great weekend. She placed first on the first day and second on the second day! Out of a large class of almost 8 other goats, we couldn’t be prouder! The rest of our does fell somewhere in the middle of their classes, but with that weather – I couldn’t fault them if they lay down on the ground and refused to get up. I certainly felt like doing that.
Our kids were somewhat of a mixed bag. Most of them we put coats on in an attempt to keep them warm. While it made it possible to keep them comfortable while in their pens, I think it made them colder when we took them off to put them in the show ring – creating the same hunched up appearance as their older counterparts.
Bermuda looked beautiful and incredible long and won her junior leg. This means that she probably won’t come with us in many future shows this year but still I’m excited to have another doe with that start to her show career. Bamboo took first in one ring and almost made reserve junior champion. When the judge announced she was going with a different goat, Bamboo was royally offended and turned and screamed (and yes, she screamed, not just hollered or maa’ed) at the judge. Thankfully the judge was good natured enough to laugh along with us at Bamboo. Berkeley really impressed us by placing second in her class several times just behind or in several cases, between several animals out of top herds. Overall we were really proud of our junior does and how they did in their classes.
Even our successes did not outweigh the relief we felt upon returning to our house which was significantly drier and a tad bit warmer. All the goats were glad to be able to wait out the storm in their own shelter and huddle with the rest of the herd for warmth.
Hopefully the next show coming up this weekend will be just as enjoyable with the people and the goats and several times more enjoyable with the weather.
Hi! Was great to see you there. Thanks for letting me hang around! I learned tons, and had fun. Sorry I didn't get to say bye when I left - I couldn't find you, and I was already a couple hours late picking up the kids, with a couple hour drive to get there.
ReplyDeleteI still don't have papers for my girls. If they don't show up in the mail tomorrow, I might skip REDGA. It's a long, expensive trip to not be able to show. Hopefully they will get here in time and I will get to see you this weekend, though!