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Region 12 Director, Chuck Fitzwater Back to Board of Directors Rodney Wilson Jr. President, Region 10 Email Born and raised in Georgetown, Delaware, Rodney Wilson Jr. now resides in Montrose, West Virginia, where his passion for agriculture and education continues to thrive. His journey with goats began in 2008 as a 4-H project, eventually evolving into a successful FFA supervised agricultural experience, culminating in earning the prestigious American FFA Degree. Today, Rodney owns and operates Wilson Acres , a family-run operation based in Delaware, managing a herd of approximately 100-head of registered show stock. A solid academic foundation complements his hands-on experience with livestock management. Rodney holds a bachelor's degree from Delaware State University and a master’s degree in Biology with an emphasis in education from Grand Canyon University. Professionally, Rodney serves as the Clinical Coordinator and Nursing Program Technologist at West Virginia Junior College. In this role, he combines his love for education with the opportunity to mentor students as they grow and achieve their goals. Rodney’s passion for the American Boer Goat Association stems from his journey with raising goats, which has fueled his passion for mentoring youth. Rodney believes the goat industry offers unique opportunities for hands-on learning, self-development, and growth, which have deeply influenced his life. His dedication to mentoring youth and fostering self-development within the industry underscores his commitment to the ABGA’s mission. In 2022, Rodney founded the Mid-Atlantic Buckle Series, a collection of eight sanctioned shows designed to spotlight and support youth in the industry, fostering a stronger and brighter future. Recently certified as an ABGA judge, Rodney brings his expertise and enthusiasm to the show ring and beyond. Serving as the Region 12 Director of the ABGA Board of Directors is an honor he deeply values, and he is eager to represent his region with dedication and integrity while contributing to the growth and success of the industry. Previous Director Next Director

Watch American Boer Goat Association interviews, instructional videos, National Show content and more here. All Videos Play Video Play Video 02:44 How to Transfer a Goat on iCompete Play Video Play Video 04:07 How to Register a Goat with Two Registered Parents on iCompete Play Video Play Video 03:49 Registering Embryo Transfer (ET)/Flush kids on iCompete Play Video Play Video 04:18 Registering a Percentage Goat with an Unregistered Dam ALL VIDEOS How-To Play Video Play Video 03:42 How to Sign up for iCompete and Renew Your ABGA Membership iCompete, will fully replace ILR2 and the Blue Screen. iCompete is equipped to handle ABGA memberships, renewals, registry work, and show points within a single platform for all members. ABGA hopes iCompete will provide a more user-friendly and streamlined interface for members, making it easier to manage and utilize your ABGA membership. ABGA is rolling out iCompete in three phases. Members will only be able to renew their membership and view animals they own during Phase 1. Phase 2 & 3 will be announced in the near future. Play Video Play Video 01:51 Renew Your ABGA Membership on iCompete With the new year quickly approaching, it's time to renew your ABGA membership. Renew before January 1, 2024, to gain voting rights for new board members, run for a Board of Directors seat, and actively participate in changes to the Bylaws. Play Video Play Video 04:07 How to Register a Goat with Two Registered Parents on iCompete Play Video Play Video 02:44 How to Transfer a Goat on iCompete HOW-TO'S 2023 NATIONAL SHOW 2023 ABGA & JABGA National Show Play Video Play Video 03:43:12 JABGA Market Animal Show - Part 1 Play Video Play Video 07:04:20 JABGA Market Animal Show - Part 2 Play Video Play Video 15:04 JABGA Bred & Owned Show - PeeWee Showmanship Play Video Play Video 03:29:10 JABGA Bred & Owned Show - Part 1 Interviews & More Play Video Play Video 16:33 ABGA National Show 2022 Interview with Judge Phil Myers ABGA Executive Director Katie Carruth spoke with Judge Phil Myers about what goes into being a judge at the national show. Play Video Play Video 33:59 Interview with American Boer Goat Association Executive Director: Kathryn Carruth An energetic entrepreneur and seasoned non-profit manager, Carruth’s global agricultural knowledge brings a wealth of experience and leadership to American Boer Goat Association (ABGA). She has a passion for the livestock industry and engaging members for positive change. She and her family are relocating to San Angelo from Colorado where she has served as ED for the LEAD (Learning and Educating About Disabilities) Foundation and before that, as ED for American National CattleWomen (ANCW). ANCW is a nationwide membership-based, trade association and foundation which lobbies for and educates about the United States beef industry. Carruth holds a M.Sc. in International Rural Development: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security from the Royal Agricultural College, UK and has a B.Sc. from Texas Tech University in Agricultural Communications. She brings a tremendous communication skill set with experience as a former TV reporter and public relations professional for multiple philanthropic organizations. She brings a fresh and innovative perspective to the opportunities ABGA faces today and into the future. Her deep and broad business acumen and livestock industry experience will help drive solutions for the challenging initiatives ABGA is committed to achieving. Play Video Play Video 00:58 ABGA @ The World Championship BBQ Goat Cook Off We are at the 47th annual World Championship BBQ Goat Cook Off this Labor Day weekend in Brady, Texas. INTERVIEWS & MORE 2022 National Show Play Video Play Video 08:14:40 ABGA National Show 2022 - Day 1 - Second Half Live from Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE Play Video Play Video 05:05:48 ABGA National Show 2022 - Day 3 Live from Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE Play Video Play Video 07:49:02 ABGA National Show 2022 - Day 3 - Second Half Live from Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE Play Video Play Video 07:46:42 ABGA National Show 2022 - Day 4 Live from Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE 2022 NATIONAL SHOW 2021 National Show Play Video Play Video 07:49 ABGA National Show 2021 Highlight from the 2021 ABGA National Show in Grand Island, Nebraska. Play Video Play Video 07:12 ABGA National Show 2021 Hello and welcome to the highlight video from the first couple days from this year's ABGA National Show in Grand Island, Nebraska. Play Video Play Video 45:50 American Boer Goat Association National Show 2021 The American Boer Goat Association was in Grand Island, Nebraska from June 12th through the 18th. The following is a video from this year's show with interviews, from members, vendors, staff, and the board. We hope you enjoy it and please join us for next year's show. 2021 NATIONAL SHOW

The American Boer Goat Association: Protecting, Promoting, and Recording the American Boer Goat Breed. Goat Care and Management Find a list of goat care and management tips, tutorials, and articles from goat professionals and ABGA members.

The American Boer Goat Association's office is located at 4258 South Jackson Street, San Angelo, Texas. Our office hours are Monday thru Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Our phone number is 325-486-2242, and our email address is mail@abga.org. Contact Us 9 AM - 5 PM (CT) • Monday - Friday Closed • Saturday - Sunday 325-486-ABGA (2242) mail@abga.org 325-486-BOER (2637) Submit a Work Order Frequently Asked Questions

JABGA Board of Director Applications Now Open! Apply Now!

Member Services Administrator - Corinna Belman joined ABGA in 2021, gaining goat expertise and assisting members. She enjoys family time, dancing, and outdoor activities. Corinna Belman started working with ABGA June 22, 2021, she has gained much knowledge and experience with goats since working at ABGA. She enjoys helping members with questions about registrations and membership. Corinna is also bi-lingual. When not in the office she loves family time, especially her 3 grandchildren, her dog Moe, and dancing. She also loves the outdoors, going camping and fishing. She finds it very relaxing. < Back Corinna Belman Member Services Administrator Email All work orders must be submitted to mail@abga.org , or through our Contact page .

Bookkeeper - ABGA Bookkeeper Sheila Richardson Born and raised in Texas, Sheila Richardson loves colloquial sayings, continuous learning, and Texas history. Her daughter Jessica and her son Jacob bring her the greatest joy in life. She spent twenty plus years in the metroplex where she earned both an Associate’s and Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Human Relations. Most of her career she worked in the IT arena as the Office Manager. Her responsibilities included managing a staff of 130 employees, full-charge accounting, and Human Resources. Currently, Sheila is the Bookkeeper at ABGA. Hobbies include crafting, decorating, gardening, continuous learning, and spending time with her family. < Back Sheila Richardson Bookkeeper Email All work orders must be submitted to mail@abga.org , or through our Contact page .

​Goat meat has grown in popularity in the US thanks to ethnic markets which center their goat consumption around religious holidays. Holiday Goat Meat Marketing Calendar Goat meat has grown in popularity in the US thanks to ethnic markets which center their goat consumption around religious holidays. Holiday Religion 2025 2026 2027 Chinese New Year Jan 29 Feb 17 Feb 6 Eid ul-Adha - Festival of the Sacrifice Muslim June 6 - 7 May 27 - 30 May 16 - 19 Muharramm/Hajra - Islamic New Year Muslim June 26 - 27 June 16 June 5 Mawlid al-Nabi - Prophet's Birthday Muslim Sept 4 - 5 Aug 25 Aug 14 Ramadan - Month of Fasting Muslim Feb 28 - Mar 29 Feb 17 - Mar 18 Feb 7 - Mar 8 Eid ul-Fitr - Festival of Fast Breaking Muslim Mar 30 - 31 March 19 - 20 March 9 - 10 Pesch (Passover) Jewish April 12 - 20 April 1 - 9 April 21 - 29 Rosh Hashanah Jewish Sept 22 - 24 Sep 11 - 13 Oct 1 - 3 Chanukkah Jewish Dec 14 - 22 Dec 4 - 12 Dec 24 - Jan1 Western (Roman) Easter Christian April 4 April 5 March 28 Easter Orthodox (Greek) Easter Christian April 20 April 12 May 2 Christmas (Western) Christian Dec 25 Dec 25 Dec 25 Epiphany, Feast of the Nativity Christian Jan 6 Jan 6 Jan 6 Many goat producers have succeeded in targeting various ethnic markets by planning their production and breeding schedules around specific religious holidays. The traditions of these holidays vary widely between different religious belief systems and can affect the preferred size, weight, sex, and harvesting method of the animals usually consumed. The holiday calendar below is a great resource for producers to plan the breeding and sale of specific animal groups for slaughter at auction or directly to the consumer. Dependent on the number of days within each religious year, the actual timing of these holidays may shift from year to year. Here’s a guide to the preferred size, weight, sexes, and animals preferred at each holiday (courtesy of Ohio State University and Cornell University ). Christian Holidays Western/Roman Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 20-40 lbs Acceptable: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 40-50 lbs Less Acceptable: Milk-fed kids weighing less than 20 lbs Eastern/Greek (Orthodox) Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 25-50 lbs Christmas: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 50 lbs and under Islamic Holidays Eid ul Adha – The Festival of Sacrifice: Preferred: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-80 lbs Acceptable: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-100 lbs Muharram – Islamic New Year: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Ramadan: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Eid al Fitr – The Breaking of the Ramadan Fast: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Jewish Holidays Chanukah: Preferred: Young milk-fed goat kids Strategic Goat Production: Aligning Breeding with Ethnic Market Demands and Religious Holidays Optimize goat production for ethnic markets by aligning breeding with religious holidays for better sales and consumer targeting. Meat and Marketing Related Posts & Updates Jun 11, 2026 Japanese Delegation Visits the 2026 ABGA National Show The 2026 ABGA National Show welcomed a distinguished international delegation from Japan, highlighting growing interest in American Boer Goat genetics and the potential for future export opportunities between the United States and Japan. The five-member delegation traveled to Grand Island, Nebraska, to learn more about the American Boer Goat industry, meet with breeders and industry leaders, and evaluate the quality of genetics currently being produced in the United States. The delegation... Read More Oct 4, 2025 USDA Quarterly Grass Fed Lamb and Goat Report View the USDA National Quarterly Grass Fed Lamb and Goat Report. Read More Sep 2, 2022 Goat From Farm to Table With the growing popularity of Caribbean and Indian cuisine in America, goat meat is finding its way into many more recipes. Read More May 13, 2022 Nutrition of Meat Goats Nutrition of Meat Goats. A study by Dr. David Fernandez and Dr. Chelsey Ann Ahrens of University of Arkansas. Read More

Office Manager - Porschea Penn is a Veteran and business graduate with 6 years of management experience, eager to contribute to ABGA's success and growth. I am a native of San Angelo. Two weeks after my high school graduation, I enlisted in the United States Army to serve my country. Stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY in December 2010, I was deployed to Iraq from June 2011 to 2012. Following an honorable discharge, I relocated to the beautiful state of Tennessee, where I raised my daughter. In 2017, I returned to the great state of Texas and began my civilian career journey. The following year, I accepted a position in the trucking industry, initially working with over-the-road truckers. Mid-year, I transitioned to operations manager and dispatcher for frac sand haulers in the oil field. During this time, I pursued and obtained my bachelor’s degree in business management. Since then, I have furthered my professional and personal development, including getting engaged and holding roles as an office manager and accounts manager. With six years of management experience under my belt, I am confident that I am well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities presented by the fast-paced environment and diverse team at ABGA. I am excited to contribute to the success of the organization and look forward to being a part of its journey for years to come. < Back Porschea Penn Office Manager Email All work orders must be submitted to mail@abga.org , or through our Contact page .

Back to Board of Directors Sue Hobby Region 6 Email Previous Director Next Director

Events/Show Logistics Lead & JABGA Liaison - Jaelynn Reyes, a Texas native, excelled in agriculture, leading FFA, starting a consulting business, and graduating in December 2023. Jaelynn Namio-Grant is a proud Texas native who currently resides in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband Connor, their son Samuel, and their German Shepherd dog, Bubba. She earned her B.S. in Agricultural Science and Leadership from Angelo State University, where she served as President of Collegiate FFA and was involved in Block & Bridle, the Meat & Food Science Association, and the Texas Trophy Hunters Association. Jaelynn was also a member of the 2021 Collegiate Meat Judging Team and gained applied experience in meat science while working in the university’s Food Safety and Product Development Lab, assisting with harvesting, processing, and evaluating livestock to support meat quality and safety research. Dedicated to youth development in agriculture, Jaelynn established a livestock consulting business focused on mentoring students from urban backgrounds. She has completed internships at Texas major shows, actively volunteers at both local and county shows, and serves as a judge for Leadership and Career Development Events across Texas. In 2023, Jaelynn began working in registration and DNA services and now proudly serves as the JABGA Youth Liaison, where she is dedicated to empowering youth and cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders. Her passion lies in creating opportunities, fostering growth, and inspiring young people to carry forward the legacy of the livestock industry. < Back Jaelynn Namio-Grant Events/Show Logistics Lead & JABGA Liaison Email All work orders must be submitted to mail@abga.org , or through our Contact page .

The American Boer Goat Association identifies animals based on age and ownership tattoos in the right and left ear of the animal. These tattoos must follow ABGA rules and guidelines. All goats must be tattooed at the time of application for registration. Each goat must have a unique tattoo sequence. The applicant’s HERD PREFIX shall be tattooed in the RIGHT EAR of all goats submitted for registration. (If a doe is sold to a new owner during pregnancy, offspring resulting from that pregnancy shall have the herd prefix of the owner of the doe at kidding tattooed in the right ear of each offspring submitted for registration). The LEFT EAR of all goats submitted for registration shall be tattooed with a letter to indicate the year the animal was born, followed by a serial number to designate the order of birth. (See ABGA Tattoo Letters ). No goat shall be registered by ABGA with the same tattoo (combination of right and left ear tattoos) within a 22 year period. Permanently implanted microchip identification will be accepted by ABGA as official identification in addition to, or in lieu of, tattoos. ABGA Tattoo Letters Tips for Successful Tattooing of Your Goats Halter or muzzle the animal, if necessary. Insert the correct symbols in the pliers. Check the correctness of the symbols by making a mark on a piece of paper. Smear ink on the skin, choosing an area free from freckles and warts, if possible. Place the symbols parallel to and between the veins or cartilage of the ear or the veins of the tail web. Green paste is much better for permanent tattoo identification, particularly where the tissue receiving the tattoo is black or very dark. Do not disturb the area until the healing process is complete, which may be from five to twenty-one days. Keep a list of tattoo numbers with names of animals and enter it in your private breeding record. To read the tattoo in a dark-ear animal, hold a lighted flashlight against the outside of the ear. Equipment Needed: Baking soda, tattoo digits, numbers and alphabet, tattoo ink (paste or roll-on; green is the most versatile), tattoo pliers, wet wipes, toothbrush, and towel. Clean the ear. Scrub the middle of the ear with a wipe. Dry the ear thoroughly. Apply ink to ear. Tattoo the ear using tattoo pliers. Push down hard. The herd prefix goes in the right ear, and the year letter and goat's number go in the left ear. Apply more ink. Apply baking soda. Work baking soda into tattooed area. Finished product after one year. Learn More Tattoo Guidelines ABGA identifies animals by their left and right ear tattoos These tattoos must follow ABGA rules and guidelines.