Doting over goats
Candice Boutilier/Columbia Basin HeraldJess Darnall, 11, George, clowned around with his border collie-Australian shepherd dog Max during the obstacle course rally Thursday.
More than 100 entered this year
GRANT COUNTY - Fifteen-year-old Ephrata resident Katie Thornton gave her horse a goat for companionship.
"I ended up wanting another one to keep (the goat) company," said Thornton.
This year, Thornton's two goats joined roughly 100 other goats at the Grant County Fair. The male, named Jeoffrey, is a Nigerian Dwarf, she said.
She said the breed originated in west Africa and is great for dairy.
"They have like 21 percent butterfat in their milk," Thornton said.
Quincy resident Glenn Knutson, 14, brought Spots and her two babies to the competition. Spots had cow-like splotches on her fur.
Jessica Low, 13, was showing one of the babies. Knutson's friend Riley Gates, 14, was showing a goat around the same age.
Both mentioned Knutson as their reason for showing goats this year.
"I started (showing) because he started," said Gates.
"He had an extra goat so I'm showing for him," said Low.
Glenn Knutson's mother, Darlene Knutson, said her son bought Spots from the fair's petting zoo four years ago.
"She loves Glenn," Darlene Knutson said.
Goat Superintendent Terry Parker said the number of goats entered in the fair this year is consistent with previous years.
What sets this year apart is the number of dairy goats in the fair, Parker said. Forty were entered, all registered.
"They're gorgeous, and people need to come down and see them," Parker said.
The goats are from two herds - Purple Thistle LaMancha and Woest Hoeve Nubian, Parker said.
A family who moved to Grant County from Idaho entered them, she said.
The fair used to offer a sanctioned dairy goat show during the fair, but meat goats gained in popularity over dairy goats at local fairs.
Dairy goats are still popular, she said. Interest in breeds other than boar goats, rose with the popularity of boar goats.
Parker has been superintendent of the goats for several years because she loves it. She raises registered south African boar goats and show wethers.
Goats need not be registered to be shown and adults can enter their goats in the open exhibit, she noted. Many adults are showing their goats at the fair, she said.
Showing at the fair promotes a herd and raises public awareness. Parker noted goat meat is gaining popularity.
"Our fair has a really good exhibit of goats this year, and it's getting better all the time," she said.