 |
| New SVDGA member, Kathy Burek with her three doelings |
Promoting Dairy Goats Since 1945
Recently, I attended my first ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association) sanctioned Dairy Goat Show at the SVDGA Clubhouse in Marlboro, Vermont. I went with my friend, Kathy Burek of Montague, Massachusetts who raises her own Nubians for the milk and the chevre she makes with it. She had just joined the SVDGA (it costs a whopping $15/year to join – www.vtgoats.org).
She showed me their bi-monthly newsletter and I read it on the way there. It’s filled with interesting information about goats, including Suzanne McMinn’s recipe for lactic cheese (her website is Chickens in the Road). Well, it so happens that Suzanne told me she used our book, Home Cheese Making for that recipe and a couple of years ago, she did a series of 12 articles for this blog (making a different cheese every month).
So, of course, I love the newsletter. It includes articles about raising goats, questions and answers, classified ads, coming events and a list of new members. I think that alone is worth the price of membership.
The shows are important for several reasons: 1) They provide an opportunity for the members of the SVDGA to get together to host an event. 2) They attract goat owners from all around New England who get a chance to visit with each other and 3) They form the basis for determining award winning bloodlines. (The offspring of award winning goats sell for a higher price than others.)
I had a great time at the show and I highly recommend joining the SVDGA if you live in the area. This particular show was limited to does.
The Clubhouse
 |
| Easy to find on Rt. 9 in Marlboro |
 |
| Pavillion in back |
The Grounds
Inside the Pavillion
 |
| Various items were for sale |
 |
| Ribbons ready to be claimed |
 |
| The judge worked all day without a break |
The Participants
 |
| Mary Fox of Foxes Pride Dairy Goats in Mount Vernon, New Hampshire. Mary has known Ricki for over 35 years, ever since she invited Ricki and her first husband, Bob to teach a class in cheese making at her farm. Mary makes Chevre. |
 |
| Bri LaFoe, one of Mary’s grandaughters. Three generations of Foxes work the farm where they primarily breed show goats. |
 |
| Mary and her grandaughters with their Nubians. They also raise Saanens and La Manchas. |
 |
| Nancy Buddington and her daughter, Kim from On the Road Again Farm in Springfield, Massachusetts. They raise Oberhasli and Alpines. Kim makes 30 Minute Mozzarella and Chevre |
 |
| Melody Reynolds from Reynolds Barn in North Kingston, Rhode Island. She and her husband own the only licensed dairy in Rhode Island. They sell 18 different cheeses, including 8 soft cheeses. You can find them every year for 18 days in the Farmarama Building at the Big E (Eastern States Exposition), teaching goat classes and soap making workshops. |
 |
| Melody’s goats won numerous awards |
 |
| Erica Hendrickson of Rolling Acres Farm in Haverhill, New Hampshire. She and her husband raise Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Erica makes yogurt and vinegar cheese. She swears that beet pickling juice makes the best vinegar for her cheese. |
 |
| Debby Orff of Maple Ridge Farm in Waldsboro, Maine raises Alpines. She sells the milk to her neighbor who makes cheese with it. |
