SVMGA to Host Booth at Farmers’ Market

The Halifax Farmer’s Market grand opening will be held June 23rd.  The Farmers’ Market has again invited
SVMGA to host  a booth at the market.

We can have goats, recipes, brochures, products, etc.  This is a great opportunity to expose the public and potential new members to SVMGA.  Hudson Heritage Farms will be selling goat meat again at this year’s market, and Chef Steve Schopen from Molasses Grill will be doing a cooking demonstration at the grand opening.

WE NEED A FEW VOLUNTEERS to help staff the booth, talk with the public, bring brochures and recipes, and help with set up, etc.  Also, if anyone can bring a goat or two to the event it would be great to let the public see what a goat is all about.

If you are interested in helping with this event please contact Denise Hudson at 434-753-9327 or hudsonheritage@aol.com.

###

Grand Champion Comes From SVMGA Family

When Jerry was crowned Grand Champion market goat in this year’s Halifax County Livestock Show, it was no surprise to his “parents,” SVMGA members Fred and Beth Blackburn.  They knew Jerry was destined for fame from the beginning.

The Blackburns, accompanied by two of Fred’s grandchildren, filmed Jerry’s birth in April 2011.  Jerry’s mother, Bumper, was born at Strange Farms and found abandoned in the field.  SVMGA icon Ned Strange gave the goat to the Blackburns, who bottle fed the orphan until she matured and eventually became the herd leader.

Jerry’s father, Stewie, was born at Soleil Farm and ultimately found his way to the Blackburns where he sired the champion buck.

Jerry was large and healthy from the start, and the Blackburns had many profitable options for his future.  But they chose a path based on principle, not profit.

“We donated Jerry to FFA [Future Farmers of America] because we believe very strongly in contributing to the interest of future farmers,” said Beth Blackburn. “Many of these kids don’t have the money to buy these animals. If not for this early experience, they may not develop a lifelong interest.”

The Blackburns were a little tentative about losing one of their beloved goats, but once they were put into contact with FFA member Sabrina Covington, their trepidation dissolved.  Covington nurtured Jerry to become a handsome, 130-pound champion.

“From what I heard, he could be seen by anyone driving by their home because he was out in the yard roaming and eating any browse that came along,” said Beth.

Many animals are sold to FFA members so they can be raised and entered in the livestock show.  But the Blackburns feel that farmers have an obligation to support the organization without using it as a profit center.

“This shouldn’t be an avenue to make money,” Beth said. “There is a time to profit, however this is not it. As we see it, giving to FFA is a responsibility of current farmers to keep farming alive and active for future generations to enjoy.”

Beth said the experience was very rewarding for her and Fred.  They were reluctant to receive any publicity, but felt it was important to encourage support of the FFA.

SVMGA is proud of everyone, especially the Blackburns, for their support of the FFA and their contributions to the raising of quality goats like Jerry.

###

May Meat Goat Consignment Sale

The Southern Virginia Meat Goat Association is having a meat goat consignment sale on May 26, 2012. The sale starts at 7:00 A.M. and ends at 10:30 A.M.  The sale will be held at the Halifax County Agricultural Marketing Center, 1001 Farmway Lane (Route 922), Halifax, VA 24558.

This sale is for good quality kids (35 lbs — 70 lbs).  Kids will be sold by the pound at a premium price. The price will be posted five days prior to sale on this website.

Commission Fees: $1 per head for SVMGA members. $5 per head for non-members. You can join SVMGA at the sale and pay the member fee. For more info about membership go to the “About” page on this website.

To include your goats (or sheep) in the sale, or to get more information, call Leah Brown, Ag Director, at 434-476-3066.

All animals must have a scrapie tag and be in good health. Yearling does, bucks and culls will be accepted but with separate pricing. SVMGA reserves the right to reject any animal.

For a copy of the sale registration form, click here.

###

April Newsletter Posted

The February newsletter has been posted.  You can access it via the Newsletters page, or just click here.

###

April Farm Tour

SVMGA members Dave and Mary Snyder of Snyder Farm will be hosting a farm tour on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Their address is 1071 Hatcher Trail, Scottsburg, VA.

The guest speaker will be Anne Zajac, DVM, MS, PhD, Parasitology.  Dr. Zajac is an associate professor with the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology.  In 2008, the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists awarded Dr. Zajac their Distinguished Service Award.  Her presentation is a must-see for anyone concerned with raising healthy goats.

Remember folks, Snyder Farm is a working farm.  Please do not bring pets.  Youngsters and city folk should be kept under close supervision.  Please do not feed the animals and watch your fingers and loose clothing at all times.

Directions to the Snyder Farm:  From 360 & 344 (Scottsburg) go east on Rt. 344 through the town of Scottsburg, turn right on Coleman Rd (Rt. 726). Go 1/4 mile then turn left on Hatcher Trail (Rt. 910), go to “End of State Maintenance” sign then turn left, go to 1071 sign and turn left through green gate, follow driveway to end.

The Snyders do not have many chairs on the farm, so they have asked that all guests bring one with them.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how the Snyders do goats and hear an informative lecture from an expert of Parasitology.

###

Newsletter and Business Meeting Reminder

The March 2012 SVMGA newsletter has been posted.  You can access it via the Newsletters page or by clicking here.

Don’t forget the monthly business meeting, Thursday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. at the Halifax County Ag Center.  The guest speaker will be Dave Artigues of Elodie Farms.  He will be speaking about his dairy goat operation.

Elodie Farms, located just south of the border in Rougemont, NC, is well known for their superior goat cheeses and gourmet meals (prepared by local chefs as part of Elodie Farms’ Dinner on the Porch series).  You can get more information about Elodie Farms at elodiefarms.com.

You don’t want to miss this meeting!

###

Goats Can Form Accents, Study Finds

Brian Browdie of the New York Daily News reports:

Humans, elephants and dolphins do it, and apparently goats do, too.

The horned ruminants pick up accents as they get older and join social groups, according to researchers at Queen Mary University, London, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

Experts previously thought only a select group of mammals has the ability to modify vocal sounds according to their surroundings, and that other species’ “voices” were determined solely by genetics. Whales and bats pick up accents as well.

The researchers recorded the bleats of four groups of pygmy goats at one week old, when kids, as young goats are known, from the same litter remain with one another, and again at five weeks old, when they form social groups with other goats of the same age.

Not surprisingly, the study found genetically related kids produced similar calls. But it found the vocal calls of goats raised in the same social groups also became more similar as the kids grew older.

“This suggests that goat kids modify their calls according to their social surroundings, developing similar ‘accents,’” said Dr. Elodie Briefer, one of the researchers.

Briefer said she and her colleagues don’t know whether other mammals may be able to form accents, but suggested that if goats’ calls can be affected by their environment maybe all mammals’ calls could be too.

###

February Business Meeting

Halifax County Ag Director Leah Brown sends her apologies to everyone who waited (some for over a hour) outside the gate to the Ag Center on 2-23-12 in anticipation of the February SVMGA business meeting.  The meeting was ultimately canceled.

Brown is currently working with SVMGA president Denise Hudson to see that a lock-out SNAFU does not happen in the future.

###

February Newsletter Posted

The February newsletter has been posted.  You can access it via the Newsletters page, or just click here.

###

Meat Goat Consignment Sale This Weekend

Don’t forget:  The Southern Virginia Meat Goat Association is having a meat goat consignment sale this Saturday, February 18, 2012. The sale starts at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 11 A.M.  The sale will be held at the Halifax County Agricultural Marketing Center, 1001 Farmway Lane (Route 922), Halifax, VA 24558.

This sale is for good quality kids (35 lbs — 70 lbs).  Goats will be sold by the pound at the following prices:

Kids and lambs 35 pounds and up:  $1.85

Yearling goats: $1.35

High-yielding does and adult bucks:  $0.90

Poor quality does or excess fat:  $0.80

Adult ewes and rams :  $0.75

Commission Fees: $1 per head for SVMGA members. $5 per head for non-members. You can join SVMGA at the sale and pay the member fee. For more info about membership go to the “About” page on this website.

To include your goats (or sheep) in the sale, or to get more information, call Leah Brown, Ag Director, at 434-476-3066.

All animals must have a scrapie tag and be in good health.   SVMGA reserves the right to reject any animal.

For a copy of the sale registration form, click here.

###