Growing with Goats
Southern States encourages youth to learn responsibility and the economics of farming with their meat goat projects.

Caroline Tart receives her ClubMaster jacket from Roland Gurley of Goldsboro, N.C. In Front Royal, Va., Chris Atkins stands with his reserve champion market goat with buyer Greg Sisk.

Raising meat goats is perfect for a little person and a little bit of land.

"Goats are easier to handle than other livestock and don't require big equipment," says Allen Taylor, manager of the Southern States Front Royal Cooperative store in Front Royal, Va.

Taylor helps 4-H and FFA members through the Southern States ClubMaster program. This program allows Southern States to reward and encourage its young customers. Participants learn about their animals, which is especially beneficial for members who have not been raised around livestock.

Ruth Hudson of Hudson Feed Supply, a Southern States dealer in Harrington, Del., says that a goat project also solves the space problem for youth who live in the city.

"Many 4-H members don't live on a farm but have access to a small backyard where they can have an animal," says Hudson, who sells Southern States 17% Medicated Goat Feed to the growing number of meat goat exhibitors. "They can't raise cattle because they're restricted by development codes. A goat is just right."

Southern States also carries a complete line of Billy Goat Gruff handling equipment for the goat market.

The rise in this market isn't just at the 4-H and FFA level. Farmers are using goats to more fully utilize spare land. The increase in Middle Eastern and Hispanic populations is driving the meat goat market into a class of its own.

Denny Tart, of Goldsboro, N.C., has made almost a complete switch from a cattle operation to raising meat goats.

"I'll put up a sign on the road that says ‘Goats for sale,' and in less than a week we've sold out," says Tart. "The goats bring in more money than the cows now."

Tart and other goat farmers are working to improve the quality of the meat for their clientele. Tart turns to Roland Gurly of ProTurf Lawn and Garden Center, who is his source for Southern States 17% Medicated Goat Feed.

"Rather than brush and briers, goats need good protein and a healthy feed," says Tart.

An agricultural educator for 15 years, Tart recognizes the value in 4-H and FFA programs. His daughter Caroline has shown goats since age 4.

Caroline recently earned her Club- Master jacket (see sidebar) and won the grand champion market goat and grand champion showmanship at the 2005 Goldsboro County Fair. Her goat sold for more than $500. –Ginger Larson

CLUBMASTER

Through FFA and 4-H projects, youth gain livestock experience, learn responsibility and earn a little money. Southern States encourages youth to go further with their projects through the Club- Master program. At county and state fairs, Southern States pays their young customers a nickel a pound for their steers, lambs, goats and hogs that have been raised on quality Southern States feed.

State winners receive $50 for reserve champion and $100 for grand champion lamb, goat or hog entries. County fair winners receive $25 for reserve champion and $50 for grand champion. For steers and heifers, county level winners receive $50 for reserve champion and $100 for grand champion. The co-op awards state winners $150 for reserve champion and $300 for grand champion. All reserve and grand champion winners also earn a ClubMaster jacket.

"The ClubMaster program lets us support the many youth who buy feed from us; we wouldn't be able to buy everyone's animal at the show sale," explains Southern States store manager Allen Taylor of Front Royal, Va. "These kids put a lot of hard work and dedication into their projects, and we enjoy doing our part to reward them."

For information on how to participate in the ClubMaster program, see your local Southern States retailer.