What National Agriculture Week Means To Me JABGA Board Member, Alaina Blair, reflects on what National Agriculture Week means to her. By Alaina Blair JABGA Board Member Alaina Blair Agriculture has provided me with vast opportunities and has impacted my life in many great ways: from skills learned and values instilled in me to hard work and responsibility are a way of life. It teaches perseverance, to hold tight to my faith, and know the sun will rise again tomorrow. Agriculture is not only cultivating the land, producing crops, and raising livestock, but it’s being a caregiver. It’s setting roots that run deep with family, history, and community. One day I will become part of a legacy left on the land as the next generation is raised. Agriculture is vital for all, for it produces the necessities that maintain life. ABGA has helped me find my passion and fuels my drive for the Boer goat industry. It’s given me the opportunity to be involved in the industry I so deeply love. Hopefully, one day I will be able to have a livelihood in becoming a veterinarian that specializes in small ruminants and giving back to the industry that has given me so much. Therefore, celebrating National Agriculture Week makes me think of gratitude and harvest time. Gratitude for the backbone of our nation that provides our food and a way of life to be proud of! It’s the past, present, and a promise of the future. It gives me a reason to celebrate the industry I love and settles my soul. Here’s to a lifestyle worth celebrating! #JABGA #news Related Posts

Nick Hammett, along with his family, resides in Ashland, MO. In 2013, they began raising and showcasing ABGA registered goats throughout the country under the name of Cola Show Goats. They rebranded themselves in 2020 as Hammett Showstock, focusing on raising wethers and commercial show doe prospects. Nick's career in the beef industry started after obtaining degrees from the University of Missouri and Colorado State University. He now works for Neogen, where he markets beef cattle genomic testing. His passion is to help producers transform data into sustainable and profitable management decisions, and he hopes to offer these same opportunities to the goat industry. Nick has judged many shows, including the ABGA National Open show in 2018, the National Market and Commercial Doe show in 2021, and the first National Carcass contest in 2022. #2023NationalShow #news Meet 2023 JABGA Meat Goat Evaluation Judge: Nick Hammett Introducing JABGA National Show Meat Goat Evaluation Judge: Nick Hammett

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By Logan Hollen When joining any program or association it can be easy to feel as though you are always one step behind. Everyone already has a routine and a set way of doing their selected tasks. How can you find yourself within a new program or association? From my own experience I would say that finding a mentor can be very beneficial. I have had the pleasure of growing up in the Junior American Boer Goat Association atmosphere and while growing up in this association I have met so many people who have kept me focused and on track to meet my goals. By having these teachers in my life, I have reached many of my set goals but more importantly I have created a strong and set path that helped me reach those goals. With a mentor you are not only learning but experiencing what they have gone through in the past and present. This alone gives you more experience to then build a stronger program of your own. I have had the opportunity to be a mentor myself while working on the JABGA board of directors. It has been a wonderful experience getting to meet so many young individuals that have fallen in love with the same association that I fell in love with many years ago. At the end of the day, we all have the same goals and passion and by being a mentor you can give the experience to help others reach those goals pushed by their own passion. So, the next time you find yourself needing a guide or looking for a push in the right direction just remember that this association is filled with people who want to see you succeed! Logan Hollen JABGA Vice President Area 3

ABGA is now accepting candidates to judge the 2025 ABGA & JABGA National Show held in Louisville, Kentucky from May 28 - June 6, 2025. Submissions must be completed via this form by 5:00 PM CST on Friday, February 14, 2025. Submissions made past this deadline will not be considered to judge the 2025 ABGA and JABGA National Show. Judges are needed for the following shows:  ABGA National Show (Team of 3 judges) JABGA National Show (Team of 3 judges) JABGA National Bred and Owned Show, JABGA National Breeding Showmanship, Coni Ross Class (Team of 2 judges) JABGA National Market Goat Show, JABGA National Commercial Doe Show, JABGA National Market Showmanship (One (1) judge)   Eligibility: All eligible judge submissions will be listed and sent to eligible members to vote for their picks for the 2025 National Show judges. Judges must be an ABGA member in good standing (renewed and dues paid for 2025 by January 1, 2025). Judges must be approved as an ABGA Certified Judge by January 1, 2025. Judges may not have judged in any ABGA or JABGA National Show in 2024 including the JABGA Bred & Owned, JABGA Commercial & Market Shows. Judges will be requested to talk reasons through at least 10th place in all show classes. Judges will be required to use a placing method set forth and approved by the ABGA Board of Directors. The JABGA Board of Directors will invite 5 non ABGA-certified judges to submit for the JABGA National Market Show, in addition to the ABGA-certified judges that submit their nomination to judge. Each team member must complete an application. There are no regional restrictions within teams.

🎉 Get Ready for the 2025 ABGA & JABGA National Show!  🎉 Mark your calendars! The 2025 National Show is set to be an unforgettable event, and we can’t wait to see you there. Whether you’re a JABGA or ABGA participant, there’s something for everyone, including market shows, breeding showmanship, fitting contests, and more. Show Entry Show Entry will open April 1, 2025 Age calculated as of June 1, 2025 Entry Closes Your entries and payment must be submitted by May 16, 2025 (11:59 PM CST) to avoid late fees. Age Calculated as of June 1, 2025 Herd Book Herd Book will close May 16, 2025. If your work order is in the office before the Herd Book deadline, but your goat is still not registered, your entry will be honored. Late Entry Late entries will be accepted from May 17, 2025 until May 23, 2025 (11:59pm CST) with added late fees. Age Calculated as of June 1, 2025 Schedule May 28th - Office Move In (Wed)   12 PM - Office Staff Move in May 29th- Tack Unload & Early Pass Move in (Thurs)   10 AM - 4 PM Early Pass Move In* (Committee and Early Pass Holders ONLY) 12 PM - 4 PM Optional Tack Unload    May 30th - JABGA & ABGA Move in Day (Fri)   6 AM - 4 PM JABGA & ABGA Move-In Day Welcome Event   May 31st – Contest and Meat Goat Eval (Sat) 6 AM - 8 AM JABGA & ABGA Move-In All JABGA exhibitors must be in place by 8 AM (Sat) 8 AM - Noon JABGA Check In 11 AM - 1PM Market and Commercial Weigh In 12 PM - Meat Goat Evaluation Record Books due to Office     12 PM -  Fun Activity, Boot Scramble  1 PM -   Stock Show University – Sponsored by Sullivan Supply 2 PM -   Judging Contest with Senior Reasons Following  1 PM - 5 PM - Public Speaking, Sales Talk and Skill-a-thon open  5 PM - Meat Goat Evaluation – Live Class 6 PM - Fitting Contest   June 1st – Market Showmanship, Market/ Commercial Show, Breeding Showmanship, PeeWee Showmanship (Sun)   8 AM - Market Showmanship – OLDEST to YOUNGEST Market Wethers to follow Showmanship Lunch Commercial Does following the lunch break Presentation of Premier Exhibitor 5 PM - Breeding Showmanship- YOUNGEST to OLDEST 7 PM Meat Goat Eval Load Out   June 2nd– Bred & Owned Show, Costume Contest (Mon) 6 AM - Noon ABGA Goats Move In (All ABGA Animals in by Noon) 8 AM - JABGA B&O Show Lunch- Costume Contest & Invitational Sale Preview   June 3rd – JABGA Fullblood Doe & Buck Show (Tue)   8 AM - JABGA Fullblood Doe & Fullblood Buck Show Lunch  - Pee Wee Showmanship 7 PM- Invitational Sale Online Sale & ABGA Members Banquet   June 4th – ABGA Buck Show, JABGA Awards Ceremony (Wed)     8 AM – JABGA Percentage Doe Show Lunch ABGA Buck Show 5 PM – JABGA Awards Ceremony   June 5th– ABGA Fullblood Doe Show (Thurs)   8 AM – ABGA Fullblood Doe Show  Lunch - Old Timers Showmanship Coni Ross class before the Fullblood Doe Grand Drive   June 6th – ABGA Percentage Show & Move out (Fri)   8 AM – ABGA Percentage Doe Show June 7th – All Animals out by 8am (Sat) Schedule subject to change Stay tuned—the official National Show website will be launching soon with more details. We can’t wait to see you all and share this exciting journey with you. Let’s make the 2025 National Show the best one yet! 🦜🌴🦩