Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all!

Our next GDC meeting is January 8th @ 7pm @ the extension office.

See you then!

Goat barn improvements - update from Maruska 11.06.07

Hello all,

I have some updates for you.

The Livestock committee meeting was November 1 at which time I submitted the proposal for the new pens in the goat barn. It was very well received. I had met with Ron Wenger, our fair manager, the day before. He looked everything over and thought it looked good. He was also at the November 1 meeting. Bill Bowers who helps his wife Beth put together the grant proposals also thought it looked good and said he would take it to the finance committee meeting November 6. I asked about attending, in case anyone had any questions. I did find out at the November 1 meeting that plans are drawn up for the new small animal barn and Bill Bowers said they were planning on submitting for a matching grant on that building either in December or April.

I have looked at the plans for a new small animal barn. For those of you who want to keep our own barn, it is inevitable that all 3 barns, goat, rabbit and poultry will be torn down. The new barn is coming it is just a matter of when. To reassure you I have some figures. Currently our pen space and milk room give us 1199 square feet. This is not counting public walking area, just the area our goats use in the barn. The new barn allows for 2000 square feet of pen space alone (not counting walking area) which would be very flexible and we could set up a quiet milking area also. Goats are not near the sheep or poultry and the center of the barn allows for a 40’ X46’ show ring. The new barn will host many other events besides fair, like the blue grass festivals and farmers market, other sheep events and we could do a day long separate goat show maybe in July if we wanted. The city of Lowell would also like to see such a building at the fairgrounds for other events and they are on board to help.

Last night at the finance committee meeting there was some discussion about when to propose for the grant for the new barn. I mentioned that even with the new barn we still would need the new pens and the cost would be higher by about 800.00 as we would need to buy the back ends for the pens. Currently the proposal has the pens mounted on the walls of the current goat barn. They decided to go ahead and submit the proposal which they will write using our figures. They will submit it in December so we should know in January if it is approved. They will submit the new barn for approval in April at the next grant deadline. So if all goes well we will have new pens for Fair 2008, with a new barn coming later, maybe 2009. I would be very surprised if it is approved in May and could be built before Fair 2007.

If anyone has any questions please email me at m_v_huf@att.net.

Thanks,
Maruska

Proposal for goat barn improvements

Below you will find the scanned pages from the proposal submitted by Marsuka to the Livestock Committee on 11.1.07 regarding the proposal for improvements (gates).

This information was also eMAILED - if you did not receive one and would a copy, please let us know.

Note from editor - I apologize for the way this document is uploaded. The program we are using does not allow for uploading PDF files and I am still trying to figure out another way to get this information on the blotspot so it is easily accessible/readable.

Thank you...

The GDC thanks you......Bovidr Laboratories, Inc.

Thank you to "Goat Nutri-Drench" by Bovidr Laboratories, Inc. for donating 3 bottles of their Nutri-Drench product and informational flyers for distribution during our Goat Fun Day 2008 event.

Goat Nutri-Drench is a glucose, high vitamin, trace mineral, amino acid additive specially formualted for goats off feed, newborns, and kids.

Thank you Bovidr Laboratories for supporting local 4-H programming!

Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser

Plans are in the works for a Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser for the Goat Families in 4-H Clubs in Kent County. Watch for more information on this event coming in Spring 2008!

The 2008 Calendar has been posted!

The calendar is posted on the bottom of the welcome page.

Our next meeting is schedule for Tuesday, January 8, 2008 @ 7pm @ Extension Office.

Everyone is welcome to attend and help plan for goats being GR8 in 2008!

Boar Goat Auction....

September 10, 2007

On behalf of the Michigan Boer Goat & Michigan Club Lamb Associations, I invite you to the 2nd Annual Partnership Sale. This event takes place on October 6, 2007 at the Barry County Fairgrounds. The sale starts with goats at 1 p.m.; sheep will sell after the goats, at approximately 3 p.m.

There will be over 100 prime breeding animals offered at auction.

Participation in club lamb and kid projects is strong throughout the Midwest; some of the competition pay-outs are reaching the $10K mark. There is a demand for quality lambs and kids. The breeders in Michigan and surrounding states are responding to this demand by raising high quality stock that will be strong in the show ring and continue to be healthy and productive throughout their lifetime.

An integral aspect of both our associations is promoting youth involvement – we know it is only through them that agriculture in this state will be sustained. And we want the children to have a good experience. Nearly all of us are present or former FFA or 4H parents and/or leaders; we have seen our children grow and learn through their involvement in livestock projects. We know they won’t continue in agriculture if they don’t have positive experiences. We would like our sale to be one of those positive experiences.

The cost of a bred doe/ewe is similar to that of a club animal with the advantage of the youth being able to raise the offspring from birth for a meat project or start a breeding herd/flock. This sale will offer an opportunity to buy from top breeders in the tri-state area and a place to network with them and our associations’ membership.

I have included 2 advertising flyers. I ask that you forward these flyers to the respective large/small animal associations in your county and plan to join us on October 6th. Please feel free to call us at the numbers listed below, we will help in any way we can.

Sincerely,

Karen Ibarra, MBGA Don Stebby MCLA
517-645-2303 616.891-2676
517-645-2304

Michigan Boer Goat Association
2nd Annual Breed Sale
October 6th @ 1 p.m.
Barry County Fairgrounds, Hastings

Champion Fullblood – Purebred – Percentage Boer Goats

Bred Does, Yearlings, Open Does and Bucks will be offered at this auction.

These are some of the Finest Goats in Michigan and Ohio.
Traditionals - Reds- Paints

Eggsfile – Muscadine – Pipeline – Bingo – Pit Boss – Dr. Pepper
Are just a few of the Bloodlines represented at this sale.

If you raise Champion Wethers, commercial meat Goats or show stock,
this is THE SALE for your Herd Improvement. Join US!

Online Catalogue at www.michiganboergoat.org

Planning Session in September

All 4-H Parents and Youth are invited to the next planning session of the Kent County 4-H Goat Development Committee.

The GDC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11th @ 7 pm @ the extension office.

If you are unable to attend but would like a copy of the minutes, please eMAIL me.

Lori_greenacres@yahoo.com

Enjoy the remainder of your summer!

Lori McCauley
GDC Secretary

Goat Barn Volunteer Opportunity & Leaders Meeting

The barn was hosed out this morning and the milk room cleaned. The barn still needs to be raked of some trash, and there is a little trash in some of the pens.

Also, the concrete area between the goat and rabbit barn should be swept, especially near the goat barn.

Anyone who complete these please let me know your names I will consider them towards the outstanding individual herdsmanship trophy that I will hand out at the end of the week.

Reminder of the leaders meeting Sunday at 4:30pm in the picnic area. Club leaders and representatives of small clubs should attend. There will be no announcements before the show Monday morning as it starts at 9 this year. We will cover a lot of ground at this meeting and hand out backtags.

Those who should attend -

Marianne DeJong
Jim and Kim Covell
Jim Schutt
Leigh Nelson
Kristi Bowers
Cindy Jones
Todd Macqueen
Kathy Trapp
Shelly Videto
Lori McCauley
Ed Donahue

Thanks,
Maruszka

http://goatdevelopmentalcommittee.blogspot.com

Goats coming to Fair....

The goat barn layout for pen assignments is done and will be hanging down in the goat barn Tuesday, July 31st - after 10am.

Please remember to bring 1.50 per goat for the vet check on Sunday which starts at 1pm.

No goat in pens until the vet has looked at them.

See you next week!

Maruszka

Thank you to the Fair 2007 Sponsors....

THANK YOU to our 2007

Trophy and Prize Sponsors



Andy Biermacher Family

Blue Ribbon Feed

Boondockers 4H Club

D&D Fabricating

Ron & Mindy Dunn

Giar & Sons Equipment

Gleaner Life Insurance

Phil & Vicky Graham

David & Megan Harding

Tim Hufstader Family

John & Sons Auto Sales

Rob Koehl Family

Jim & Kim Covell

Leigh Nelson

Lowell FFA

Todd Macqueen Family

Kim Meyers

Storey Books Publishing

Uyl Family

Carl VanSpronsen

Steve Vickers Family

Wallington Family


2 Anonynous Donors who made so much possible

Wednesday - July 18th PAINTING DAY

Reminder - tonight is picnic table painting down at the fairgrounds.
Wear old clothes! 7pm. This is a great volunteer opportunity and the
fair really needs the extra help.

Trophy Sponsors Needed....

We still need a few goat trophy sponsors ($11.50 each). See FAIR 2007 for note from Maruszka.

Fair Update from Maruska posted 7.13.07

See FAIR 2007 link for Fair Update from our goat superintendent. A copy has also been eMAILED to all GDC members.

RE:

* barn schedules
* goat leaders meeting
* weigh in
* giveaways & prizes
* finances

Thank you Goat Barn Families!

Yep that's right - the goat barn had filled up all the slots for volunteers for the Guest Services booth on Tuesday afternoon @ Fair.

Thanks everyone!

Guest Services Volunteers - update

1. Reminder - Goat Clinic @ Fairgrounds 10am on July 14th.

2. A note from Maruska on Guest Services during Fair week.....

Everyone,

We have 2 of our 3 time slots filled.

2-4 pm Lori and Christie McCauley of Sparta Livestock
4-6 pm open
6-8 pm Shelly and Katelyn Videto of South Boston 4H

I have not heard from any of the 3 bigger clubs, I am hoping that last slot is filled soon so I can get the names in to the committee chair. There will be an optional training session on the first 2 Saturdays in July, you would only have to attend one of them. Please help us fulfill our obligation for the goat barn to staff the office for the second half of Tuesday of fair week.
Thanks,
Maruszka

photo's, record books & survey

PHOTO's
Please encourage your youth to submit photo's of their goats to be posted on the website under the photo's and stories link. This is a great way to help clubs recongizing each other - and why wait for fair to start building friendships! [Check out the new post on JOY!}

RECORD BOOKS
Does every youth who is taking a goat to Fair have a record book printed? They should have it by now. If they don't, or your having trouble getting it printed off the web, please let me know and we will help figure it out. Please remember that you need to print 2 different files for the record book - the book and the questions. [Market goats must also print a second "market" book and the drug form.]

GOAT HEALTH SURVEY -
ask your club and respond back by June 30th

1. Have you dewormed your goat this spring? when? what brand?

2. When was the last time you trimmed your goat hooves?

3. Do you have any health questions or concerns?

SEND survey responses to Lori_greenacres@yahoo.com

New Sharing Photo's added

We encourage all the youth in Kent County to share photo's of their goat projects! Check out the Photo's Sharing Link.

Fair update from Maruska posted 6.5.07

See "FAIR 2007" link for the Fair update from the goat superintendent, Maruszka Hufstader.

New link added - For Sale or Trade

Check out the new link added to the GDC website. It is a place for the Kent County group to list goat(s) and goat related items that they have available for sale or trade.

Right now we have 2 American Saanen kids for sale - the link is in the lower right corner fo the GDC website.

This would also be a great place to list the white or black showmanship pants that your youth has outgrown from Fair last year and maybe trade for a pair for this year!

Reminder - declaration forms due June 1st

NEW updates posted on 5.15.07

See "Other Michigan Goat Events" under GOAT LINKS for information regarding two Michigan goat events:

1. the LEGS goat event on June 30th at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds

2. the 3rd Annual Fibert Arts event on June 9th in Marshall, MI

NEW Updates posted on 5.11.07

See the "FAIR 2007" Link for updated information

RE: Market Wethers and Volunteering for Guest Services

State Goat Show coming 6.23.07

The MSU State Goat Show is scheduled for June 23, 2007

Registration is due by May 25 at the local MSU Extension 4-H office.

You may call the Kent County Extension Office to get additional information and a registration packet - PHONE 336.3265.