KERRVILLE — A unique program this summer called “A Gathering of Goat Producers” features a speaker list that reads like a “who’s who” of today’s meat goat industry.
“If they’re in the business, chances are they’ll either be here talking or listening from June 29-July 1,” said Dr. Rick Machen, Uvalde-based Extension livestock specialist and an event coordinator.
The event will be headquartered in Kerrville’s YO Holiday Inn. The program’s live animal activities and trade show exhibits will be at the Hill Country Youth Exhibition Center. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service-sponsored program is dubbed the most comprehensive educational event ever offered to the meat goat industry. Registration is June 29 from 4-6 p.m. at the Hill Country Youth Exhibition Center.
“Many of the industry’s sharpest minds and thinkers with a vision toward the future of the meat goat business are scheduled to participate,” said Machen. “If you are involved in any aspect of the meat goat business, this is the place to be this summer.”
“A Taste of Cabrito,” featuring finger foods prepared with chevon, will greet participants the first night. The offering will include sausages, snack sticks, jerky, and chevon prepared several ways by Extension District 10’s family and consumer sciences agents.
The evening’s program begins with selection and live animal evaluation of show kids, commercial and Boer goats. Speakers scheduled for the session are Dr. Frank Craddock, Extension sheep and goat specialist at San Angelo; Preston Faris, Sutton County Extension agent; and Machen. The evening continues with a live evaluation of does, bucks, and wethers.
The wethers will be slaughtered and their carcasses evaluated during the June 30 program. The wether judges are scheduled to be Edwards County Extension agent Russell Kott, moderator; Charles Turner, Dublin Boer goat producer; David Wolfe, La Salle County Extension agent; Eddie Holland, Kerr County Extension agent; and Rex Stultz, show judge, producer and retired Extension agent from Eden.
The meeting’s second day opens with 7 a.m. registration at the YO Holiday Inn.. The first speaker for the morning session is Wayne Snyder, manager of Ranchers Lamb of Texas in San Angelo, who will discuss marketing goat meat into the 21st century. For the rest of the day, the program splits into concurrent sessions for show goat and commercial meat goat production.
Bob Bailey, Kendall County Extension agent, will moderate the show goat segment whose speakers include Norman Kohls of N&K Ranches, Eldorado; Terry Blair, San Angelo Boer goat producer, and Faris.
A panel discussion on the future of the show goat business will include Stan Schilling, Boer goat producer from George West; Harley Loso, meat goat producer of San Angelo; and Ewing Downen, owner of Downen Livestock at Early.
The commercial meat goat production sessions will be moderated by Dale Brandenberger, Kimble County Extension agent. Session speakers include Craddock, Machen, Dr. Sam Castleberry of Veterinary Reproductive Services at Castroville, Dr. Robert Lyons, Extension range specialist, Uvalde; and Dr. Larry White, Extension range specialist, College Station. The show goat and commercial goat sessions will come together at 2:30 p.m. for a talk on diseases and health by Eldorado veterinarian Dr. William Edmiston.
At 5 p.m., the sessions are scheduled to move to the Hill Country Youth Exhibition Center. The show and commercial goat sessions will once again divide for the final two panel discussions — one on facilities and management and the other on breeders suggestions on culling and keeping. The discussions will be repeated so both groups can hear what is said.
The facilities panelists include: David Whipple, Twin Mountain Supply, San Angelo; Eddie Holland, Kerr County Extension agent; and Warren Thigpen, Bandera County Extension agent. Panelists for the exercise discussion will be Kohls; Claire Powell, Powell-Holman Boer Goats, Eldorado; and Matt Brown of Trueheart Meat Goats, Eldorado.
The day will conclude with a cabrito dinner directed by Joe Taylor, Bexar County Extension agent, and a stock dog demonstration coordinated by Faris.
The final day will open at 8:30 a.m. at the YO Holiday Inn with a panel discussion on meat goat marketing led by Bill Botard, Gillespie County Extension agent. Panelists include Wayne Geistweidt, Gillespie Livestock Co.; Larry Crenwelge, Junction Stockyards; and Al Strube, Strube Packing Company, Rowena.
Don Kuker of the Texas Department of Agriculture in Austin will discuss marketing chevon, and Dr. Davey Griffin, Extension meats specialist from College Station, will discuss the carcasses from the wether goats evaluated earlier in the program.
Steve Olson, a USDA marketing specialist from Washington, D.C., will discuss national perspectives on marketing chevon. The program concludes at noon July 1.
Registration by May 15 is $75 for the first family member and $50 for each additional family member. There is no charge for childrren under age 8. Late registration, after May 15, is $125 for the first family member and $75 for each additional family member.
For further information, contact Machen at (830) 278-9151 or any of the County Extension agents involved in the program.
-30-
