Every year, we toy with the idea of going to the ADGA National Show. After all, the last time we exhibited at the Nationals was 2004 in Harrisburg, Pa. We had a great experience then and wanted to go for it again. But for one reason or another, it just wasn’t in the cards to go. Either it was too far, we had our own health issues or maybe the old truck just wouldn’t make it.
When it was announced that the show was being moved to Louisville, we were determined to get there. After all, the does were looking really good and the doelings were exceptional. So we broke down and bought a new truck, and it didn’t seem as though there would be any other obstacles in our way. We were only going to take milkers, but those doelings…..WOW! So we decided to take 4 of them.
We also made the very tough decision for Eileen to stay home. There were goats here to take care of and since kids in New Jersey were still in school, and we could not get help at home, Nelson (aka Scotty) set out to Louisville, with AJ in tow. AJ is now one of our grown 4her’s.
All arrived, healthy, except Scotty, who had a terrible sinus infection.
Our goal for going to the National Show, was to gain some exposure and hope that our does would show respectably. But, what happened was beyond anything that we could have ever imagined.
Araby Farm CCA Hocus Pocus, became the ADGA National Junior Champion! We had the first place Junior Get of Sire, sired by Companeros Clinton Admiral, and Best Three Junior Does! Araby Farm SKM Magnum was the third place Junior Get of Sire. In the Intermediate Kid class, Araby Farm CCA Martina placed second, Araby Farm CCA Araby Queen, placed 12th and Araby Farm CCA Miranda placed 19th. In the Senior Yearling class, Araby Farm SKM Joli placed 3rd, Araby Farm SKM Joyelle placed 7th and Araby Farm SKM Janell placed 17th. Our milkers did us proud as well. In the Two Year Old class, Araby Farm MCDD Joanna, placed 13th. In the Three Year Old class Araby Farm SKM Arabella placed 9th and most exciting of all Araby Farm SKM Monique placed 3rd in the Four Year Old class, behind the National and Reserve National Champions Congratulations to them, they are exquisite!
All in all, our National Show experience far exceeded our expectations and we will remember it all of our lives! Thanks to all our friends and family, that helped us get to that point in our lives with goats.
We hope that you will take the time to look at the beautiful girls of Araby Farm and perhaps choose your next herd sire or a foundation doe from them.