We are honored and humbled to be selected by our peers as this year’s Ambassador of the Breed. Of all the ribbons, trophies, banners, and titles received through the years, this honor you bestow will be our most cherished. We are Sue and Terry Taylor, and we live in Smyer, Texas, where we own and operate Windy Acres Boers. We have been married for 30 years, are Native West Texans and have three children and three grandchildren. Some 25 years ago, we bought our first goats for our son’s FFA project to show at the county show. Later, we met Darwin McLeod and bought his 12 head of Fullblood registered goats, including a Mojo Magic son and a Pipeline daughter. We will miss Darwin’s knowledge and sense of humor. This industry has given us the unique ability to help young people with their projects and exhibitions, stay in touch with the many friends we have made, and share knowledge of the breed that others have taken the time to do with us. We take a lot of pride in these animals and are humbled by our success; it is a passion that gets in your blood. We have had a tremendous amount of help along the way from great friends, but a few sort of stick out. We went to our first show in Goldthwaithe, TX, where we met Wayne Ables. Wayne could see we needed a lot of help, and for years thereafter, he taught us everything he knew about goats.  At that show, we heard the words “flush” and “AI,” which led us to know John and Jackie Edwards. John & Jackie continued to teach and mentor us in the breeding and production aspect of the breed, and with our first flush to Cannon, set the foundation of our program. Later, we met Dr. Robert Dressler, who, with his expertise, helped teach us to develop the marketing side of the business that introduced our program to the industry.  Last yet most importantly, we thank Floyd and LuDean Taylor, Terry’s parents, for their help and support. Success is determined by those whom you surround yourself with. Everything we have accomplished regarding success in production, the show or sale ring, was because of help along the way, and many individuals have helped us forge our path.  We have always done our best to repay that and be remembered as givers to those who asked. Again, thank you for this honor!

With Spring here, it’s time to talk about barbequing! Here’s a recipe from ABGA member Paula Parker. "I begin with a 50-80 pound goat, depending on the number of people I have to feed. Butcher a day to 4 days before cooking. Always remember that cutting the glands out while processing makes for a nice mild flavored meat. Groin + in front of the shoulder where it goes into the neck." Parker Family Marinade and Basting Sop 1 quart cooking oil 1 quart vinegar 1 pint mustard 2-3 ounces whiskey Place ingredients in a squeeze bottle and shake well. Bar-B-Que Goat Marinate overnight or at least 2 hours before smoking. Wet meat down thoroughly with basting sop. Season meat before putting on to smoke with plenty of Smoke fajita Seasoning Mix. (I use LOWE’S Store Brand.) I add plenty more pepper to it. Smoke at 200-250 degrees F for 2 hours for a smaller goat and up to 4 hours for a larger goat. Start with the bone side down. Halfway through smoke time, drizzle with basting sop on both sides and flip. Continue smoking. Remove meat from pit and place in an 18-quart roaster oven with ¼ cup or less water to retain moisture. Put into a preheated, 225 degree F oven. Cook for 4-6 hours, or until meats begins falling off the bone. Allow meat to cool before deboning and cutting into chunks. Pour liquid over meat until juicy but not sloppy. Serve as a tortilla roll-up or on a hamburger bun.

The remaining ringside tables & end caps go up for auction on April 17, 2024 on Herd Builder Pro. There are only three (3) end caps and one (1) ringside table available! Click the link below for more information. https://www.herdbuilderproauctions.com/auction/24961

If you’re hosting a get-together or need to bring an appetizer to a party, we have the recipe for you: Appetizer Goat Kabobs. This is former JABGA Area 4 Director Issac Ridding's recipe. It was featured in our JABGA's cookbook. Bon appetite! INGREDIENTS: 2 lb. goat meat cut into squares 1/2 cup of lemon juice 1/2 cup of vegetable oil 1/4 cup of soy sauce 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley 2 tablespoons of chopped onion 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of pepper 1 clove garlic, minced DIRECTIONS: Mix all ingredients together. Marinate 2-3 hours. Thread goat on wooden skewers. Broil 3-4 minutes, 6 inches from heat, on each side. Baste occasionally with reserved marinade.

The Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) is now accepting applications for the JABGA Board of Directors . Applications completed by the nominee for the JABGA Board of Directors are due to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail on or before March 1, 2024. The JABGA Board of Directors works alongside the ABGA Board of Directors to represent JABGA members across five areas of the United States as the main governing body of the Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) . JABGA Directors volunteer their personal time and effort in service of JABGA programs like the JABGA Regional Show Series and by promoting core JABGA values like scholarship, leadership, good sportsmanship, and character development. The JABGA Board of Directors also serves as youth ambassadors for the improvement and promotion of the Boer goat breed through the breeding, raising, and exhibition of American Boer Goats. Board seats are open for the following JABGA Areas: Area 1 (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming) Area 2 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois) Area 3 (Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York) Area 4 (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) Area 5 (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) In accordance with JABGA Bylaws, applicants must be JABGA members in good standing (renewed for 2024 by January 1, 2024) in order to run for or hold a seat on the JABGA Board of Directors. For more information, see the ABGA Bylaws and the JABGA Bylaws . Required: Application (completed) Contact Information page and Certificate of Application (completed) Digital photo Directors Responsibilities page (signed) Responsibility Release, Information Release, Photo Release, Authorization Form Conflict of Interest Statement (completed) Code of Conduct form (completed) Brief statement (less than 250 words) – “Why do you want to be a JABGA Director?” Optional: Applicants may submit a resume that highlights the following: Involvement in JABGA and/or the goat industry School activities 4-H & FFA activities Leadership activities Volunteer work/community service Eligibility Applicants for the JABGA Board of Directors must: Be 16 years of age or older on January 1, 2024 Reside in the JABGA Area for which the applicant is running/elected Have renewed their JABGA membership on or before January 1, 2024 Questions or Concerns? C ontact JABGA Youth Coordinator Hannah Jenkins at jabga@abga.org with any questions or concerns regarding JABGA Board of Directors nominations. Ready to Apply? Applicants should complete the JABGA Board of Directors application below and submit it to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail by March 1, 2024. ONLINE FORM: DOWNLOAD PDF FORM: About JABGA: The Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) supports ABGA in its mission to improve and promote the Boer breed and encourage the breeding, raising, and exhibition of American Boer Goats. JABGA fosters the personal growth of its youth membership through training in scholarship, leadership, good sportsmanship, and character development as individuals and in groups.

This survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated. ABGA Members, we want to hear from you! Should elf or gopher ears be considered a disqualification in percentage animals? CLICK HERE to take the survey!

Online Live will permanently go offline on Monday 6/19/23 in order to prepare for the launch of iCompete. The expected launch date for iCompete is Saturday July 1, 2023. Members will need to submit their work to the office via our Contact page, email, or regular mail. Please plan accordingly. If you didn't renew your membership on iCompete, and would like to manage your herd and online account, you will need to create an iCompete account. If you renewed your membership on iCompete, there are no additional steps you have to make. Once iCompete goes live, you are ready to go. View instructions to create your iCompete account HERE . We are extremely excited to streamline your ABGA membership experience and improve online usability for our members.

Check out the Summer 2023 edition of The Boer Goat, ABGA's digital magazine! Click the cover below to view.

The updated Speech Topics were passed by the JABGA Board of Directors at the 2023 Summer Face-to Face meeting. Novice Regionals: What is your favorite part about showing goats? Nationals: What should you do in the show ring? Junior Regionals: What is the importance of building a bond with your show goat? Nationals: How do you decide what buck to breed your does to? Intermediate Regionals: How can barn/pen construction affect your animals? Nationals: Why/ Why not is record keeping important for the care of your herd? Senior Regionals: What is the importance of a balanced feeding program for your herd? Nationals: Pick a biosecurity issue and how would you overcome it in your herd.

Current Junior (4-8 years old) Intermediate (9-13 years old) Senior (14-18 old) Updated Novice (4-7 years old) Junior (8-12 years old) Intermediate (13-16 years old) Senior (17-21 years old) JABGA Board of Directors proposes that the age change be implemented on September 1st, so it would be effective for the start of the 2023-2024 Regional Show Series and all JABGA shows.

It's almost time for the 2023 ABGA & JABGA Summer Board of Directors Face-to-Face meetings. The ABGA Face-to-Face meeting is open to all ABGA members. When: ABGA: July 14 - July 15, 2023 JABGA: July 13 - July 14,2023 Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton 2401 Bass Pro Drive Grapevine, Texas 76051

The ABGA office will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023 in observance of Memorial Day. Thank you to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.