Goat-wresting, Fair style
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on September 29, 2006 1:52 PM
As a little boy fought to get his goat into the ring Thursday, he got turned around and knocked down by the brown and white animal.
He picked himself up.
"What are you doing?" he asked, staring into the eyes of his friend.
With a stubborn cry, the goat turned away.
Just then, the boy took hold of the lead and started dragging.
Obviously, the goat didn't realize all that was at stake -- the ribbon and the glory that come with walking home with an Open Junior Meat Goat Show prize.
With names like Floppy, Snowball and Pretty Girl, these goats were all personality.
Some cried each time their young handler took the lead.
Others simply wouldn't budge.
The very best walked in and round the ring like pros.
Six-year-old Trey Fields and his goat, Brownie, didn't walk away with a big victory. The loss didn't damage their friendship, though.
"I like him," Trey said. "He's good."
Jamie Cleveland said he, too, was proud of his goat. Win or lose, Sugar is a great companion.
"She's my best friend," Jamie said. "If I let her go, she'll follow me. Her name is Sugar because she gives kisses."
Katie Honeycutt, 9, said her goat Tulip is as good in the ring as she is at being a friend.
"She can lead real well," she said. "And she's just so sweet. I feed and water her ... I don't mind doing it because I know it means I get to see her everyday. I get to mess with her and play with her. I hope I get to keep working with her until she's too old to show. She's so sweet."
The night was about more than friendship, though.
Ultimately, someone had to walk away with that blue ribbon and all the glory that comes with it.
One Wayne County girl did just that.
Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Rowe and her goat, Education, took home the Junior Showmanship Award.
"He's pretty wild, but I've worked hard with him," she said. "After all, it pays off. His name's Education because when I sell him, the money I get is going in my college fund."