AMGA HISTORY

In the past few weeks I've come to realize how little people really know about the A.M.G.A. and the meat goat industry history. This being the case I thought perhaps a trip down memory lane was in order. The first goats arrived on our shores around 1540 with the early Spanish explorers. Naturally being goats some of them escaped into the wild expanses of the Southern United States. For several centuries they ran wild and other than occasional hunting for food, were a largely ignored species. As more and more of the country was fenced in some were captured, but little thought was given to management. Much like longhorn cattle they just ran wild and were collected on a catch as catch can basis. By early to mid 20th century most ranches held small herds, but these were used mainly as food for the ranch family and laborers with still no emphasis on breeding management.

By the 1960's or at least by the 1970's there began to be some selective breeding by some innovative ranchers of these Spanish goats. These are the earliest accounts I can find of attempts being made at breed improvement.

Now we jump to 1992. In this year Tom and Diane Carter and Stan and Kay Keene of Mertzon, Texas, realizing the future potential of the meat goat industry here in the U.S., organized the American Meat Goat Association. It was due to the pioneering spirit of these two couples and their foresight in recognizing the potential for the industry that the A.M.G.A. came to be. The first A.M.G.A. Breeding Stock Sale, which was restricted to bucks only, was held in Junction, Texas. In 1993 at the A.M.G.A. Second Annual Conference and Sale the American Boer Goat Association was born. You can read more about this in this issue of the MGMN. The uncertainty of the mohair incentive program at this time also helped foster interest in the meat goat business. There was also an A.M.G.A. membership trip to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to investigate market potentials and exchange husbandry techniques October 21-24 of 1993. The first A.M.G.A. Judging Certification Seminar was also held this year on December 10 and 11th. The A.M.G.A. goat meat cook-off team of Matt Brown, Kirk Jones and Stan Keene also represented the A.M.G.A. at the Brady, Texas cook-off September 4, 1993. One of the first meat goat shows I can find reference to was also held on December 3, 1993 in Sonora, Texas. The Texas Cashmere Association hosted this show and sifting judges were Preston Farris and Jerry Swift at this event. In October of this year Mr. Carter and Mrs. Keene also met with Governor Rick Perry, who at that time was the Commissioner of Agriculture, to discuss promotional ideas for the meat goat industry.

Now we go into 1994, the 3rd Premium Buck Sale and Summer Conference was held on June 24th and 25th of that year. The Boer industry was starting and a few Boer/meat goat percentage buck kids were sold at the sale that year. The Second AMGA Judging Certification seminar was held on April 7th and 8th of 1994. The First Meat Goat Show at the State Fair of Texas was also held October 13-16th in 1994. The judge that year was Dr. Joe David Ross, DVM of Sonora, Texas. Grand Champion Buck was shows my Marvin Crabtree of Junction, Texas and Grand Champion Doe was shown by the Indian Mound Ranch of Brownwood, Texas. Marvin Crabtree was the premier exhibitor and Grand Champion wether was show by Jayce Blair of Ranger, Texas.

In 1994 it also came to the AMGA's attention that meat-type goat which were at that time included in the meat import laws, were removed during negotiation from the provisions of the GATT. After this came to light Mrs. Keene made arrangements and gave testimony before the Hearing Committee at the Forum on Farm Policy on October 15, 1994. While we didn't get all Kay asked for at that time, we got three out of ten; census on goats, research funding for goat production, and USDA/AMS establishment of carcass standards for meat goats; thank you Kay!

In June of 1995 the 4th Annual Premier Meat Goat Sale was held in San Angelo, Texas. This was the first year does were allowed to be sold. The second AMGA show at the State Fair of Texas was held in October. Unfortunately this year the AMGA almost ceased to exist and due to this fact records are vague. I can tell you this though, it was due to our members faith in the AMGA, which was expressed through several of those members purchasing lifetime memberships; those being Mr. Tom Carter, Mr. Ferrell Davis, Mr. Kirk Jones, and Mr. Rodney Robinson, and also 129 members paying their dues early, that we survived.

I do know that the AMGA was instrumental in getting the first Meat Goat Buck Performance Test started at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas in 1995; this because I participated in it.

At the Texas State Fair Meat Goat Show held October 13, 1995 there were 299 entries and Preston Farris judged the show. The Grand Champion buck was shows by Rodney Robinson and the Grand Champion doe was from N&K Ranch, now in Eldorado, Texas. Grand Champion wether was shown by Kayla Kohls of Eldorado, Texas.

In 1995 Mr. Carter and Mrs. Keene also stepped down as President and Executive Director respectively of the AMGA.

Going into 1996 the AMGA board consisted of W.E. (Bill) Banker, President; Robert Kensing, Vice-President; Anita Jones, Secretary/Treasurer; Tony Kirk and Ron Yoakum.

The 5th Annual Premier Meat Goat Buck & Doe Sale and Summer Conference was held June 21 & 22nd, 1996 in Junction, Texas. The elected board after this conference consisted of W.E. (Bill) Banker, President; Marvin Crabtree, Vice-President; Tony Kirk, Treasurer, Margaret Bode, Secretary; and members Dr. Rick Machen, Marvin Shurley, and Ron Yoakum. In 1996 for the first time I am aware of, meat goats were shown on nationwide television. Dr. Frank Pinkerton of Grapeland, Texas and Elgin Pape of Harper, Texas appeared on "CBS This Morning" and gave commentary about meat goats.

The third State Fair of Texas Meat Goat Show was held October 11, 1996 and Kirk and Anita Jones served their third time as superintendents and Dr. Frank Craddock judged this years show. In 1996 there were 311 dairy goats, 184 meat goats, 120 Boer goats, and 86 cashmere goats shown. Sorry, no numbers were available on Angoras. The Grand Champion buck in 1996 was shown by M.D. Shurley of Sonora, Texas and the Grand Champion Doe was shown by Lone Star Boer Goats from Kerrville, Texas. Grand Champion Wether was shown by Lindsey Wike. Also in 1996 the AMGA participated in the development of a check-off referendum along with the USDA and TSGRA. Unfortunately despite the fact it was worded so that all the funds collected from an entity went back to that entity, i.e. all sheep funds went back to the sheep industry and all goat proceeds went back to the goat industry, along with allowing no more that 15% expenditures for administrative cost, producers voted this important act down.

The AMGA was also invited by the USDA in 1996 to testify at one of the three listening sessions held in regards to the soon to be established National Sheep Industry Improvement Center. While we missed 1995, by 1996 we were back in the saddle in respect to USDA recognition.

In the January-February issue of the American Meat Goat, our publication before we went with the Meat Goat Monthly News crew, Mr. Bill Banker, who was the associations president at that time, addressed the issue of dehorning goats (show wethers) in an open letter. This practice is still not endorsed by the A.M.G.A., but it is demanded by the majority of our producers show wether customers, and at the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, I’ll say I don’t like it, but I do dehorn show wether prospects.

Also early on in the year we the board, which consisted at that time of President Bill Banker, Vice-president Marvin Crabtree, Treasurer Tony Kirk, Secretary Margaret Bode, and Members Dr. Rick Machen, Ron Yoakum, and Marvin Shurley, received numerous complaints in regards to the way wethers were being judged. At a February 22, 1997 Directors meeting it was decided to hold a hoof to rail show wether seminar on April 12th-13th that year. Wethers were to be judged on the hoof, slaughtered, and then judged on the rail. This was to be one of our attempts to get animals judged based on carcass merit and not "prettiness" of the animal. Plans were also made at that time to hold a similar seminar in one of the southeastern states, but not enough interest could be generated so none was held. The one held at the Sizemore 281 Ranch in Alice, Texas had approximately 60 attendees, including many who were judging at that time. Drs. Frank Craddock, Rick Machen and Joe David Ross, along with Mrs. Coni Ross and Mr. David Wolfe were the instructors and commentators at the seminar.

At our April 1997 Board meeting plans were made to co-host with the A.B.G.A. a June 8th wether/doe jackpot show in Kerrville, Texas. At that same meeting a Meat Goat Camp to be held June 11-13, 1997 was also planned. The ABGA/AMGA show and the goat camp were both successes. Instructors at the camp were Bill Banker, Emory and Elizabeth Downing, Dr. Stanley F. Kelley, Butch and Carrie Kopplin, Joni and Danny Peden and David Wolfe. There were 76 attendees who showed up for the First AMGA Meat Goat Camp held at Sam Houston State University. Also over 200 animals participated in the ABGA/AMGA wether/doe show held at the ABGA National show. Dr. Frank Craddock was the judge. Grand Champion was shown by Lindsey Wike of Carlsbad, Texas and Reserve Champion was shown by Kody Bessent of Slaton, Texas.

Plans were also firmed up for the 6th Annual Summer Convention, Membership Meeting, and Premium Goat Sale by April of 1997 and Marvin Crabtree had a well-rounded group of speakers lined up. Drs. Rick Machen, Ken McMillin, Frank Pinkerton, along with Dale Brandenberger, Chico Denis, Ray Ellis and Kent Mills all gave presentations. Mr. Tom Carter, one of the founders and first President of the AMGA also showed up for the event. Members from the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and from Canada were also present. An election was held and Bill Banker, Tony Kirk, and Coni Ross were elected to fill the three vacancies on the board. At the board meeting following Bill Banker was elected President, Marvin Crabtree as Vice-President, Margaret Bode as Secretary and Tony Kirk as Treasurer. Members at large were Dr. Rick Machen, Coni Ross, and Marvin Shurley.

Top selling buck that year was consigned by Matt Brown and was a Full Blood Boer, which brought $1,500.00; top selling doe was a Full Blood Boer which was consigned by Bob Berger and brought $600.00. There were 80 head sold for a total of $16,040.00.

On September 23, 1997 Ranchers Lamb of Texas opened in San Angelo, Texas with plans to process 8,000 head of lamb and 1,000 head of goats per week. Also in October this year the 4th AMGA sponsored Meat Goat Show was held at the State Fair of Texas. Both the Grand and Reserve Champion Bucks were exhibited by the Downen Livestock brother and sister team of Emory and Elizabeth Downen, Grand Champion Doe owned by Mr. Louie Arruda, Reserve champion Doe by Beth Mason, and in the open market show the mother and son team of Brenda and Kyran Larner took Grand and Reserve Champion, Kyran with the Grand Champion and Mrs. Larner with the Reserve Champion goat. Dr. Rick Machen was the judge at this years show.

The last AMGA event I can find record of was the AMGA/STMGA Market Goat Show held December 27, 1997 in Freer, Texas. The Nov/Dec issue of American Meat Goat magazine was the last issue of this magazine due to Joni Peden’s "retirement" from magazine editing, and also Margaret Bode relinquished her secretary position on the board of directors. As a result I wound up falling heir to both of these responsibilities. Looking back it seems like 1997 was a show heavy year for the A.M.G.A.

Starting with the February 1998 issue the Meat Goat News became the publication mailed out to AMGA members. This gave our members a monthly, instead of a bi-monthly publication at no cost increase to them. This move the board felt was wise, as it not only doubled the AMGA member’s magazine issues received, but included many guest writers in each issue. During the beginning of my tenure as Secretary and the start up of Meat Goat News as our official publication minutes from directors meetings weren’t published which was my oversight. Due to the bad taste left in our mouth from several of our show ventures in 1997 the board decided to back off on show promotion in 1998. The AMGA Meat Goat News articles focused more on goat production issues than goat show issues as we felt this was of more benefit to out membership.

By March our 7th Annual Conference and Sale dates were set and speakers were being contacted. We also set about strengthening our contacts and standing with various state and federal agricultural entities. This was the beginning of the Associations refocusing our efforts towards larger issues than the show arena. The 7th Annual Conference and Sale was held June 19th and 20th this year and speakers were Drs. Frank Craddock, Rick Machen and Charles Taylor, along with Mr. Kent Mills. Issues that were addressed were selection and record keeping, confinement feeding and goat rations, brush control using goats, and energy requirements of goats. The 1998 sale was also the first time kids were allowed to be sold in sets with their dams. This was to allow producers access to better stock, as each generation should show improvement. Also at this years meeting the attendance requirement for directors in regards to board meetings was voted on and approved by the membership. As in years past nominations were taken from the floor and an election held to fill the positions open for directors.

Following the election and the following directors meeting the board consisted of Bill Banker, President; Marvin Crabtree, Vice President; Tony Kirk, Treasurer; Marvin Shurley, Secretary; Coni Ross, Regional Coordinator Director; and Margaret Bode and Brien Hickman members at large. The August 1998 Meat Goat News included the first Legislative Action article in many years, along with production oriented information.

In September of 1998 President Banker and Marvin Shurley attended International Goat Days in Millington, Tennessee as AMGA representatives and were quickly pressed into service as judges for their goat show. Also on September 19, 1998 there was an AMGA sanctioned Market Goat Show held at the Texas-Oklahoma Fair in Wichita Falls, Texas. The fourth State Fair of Texas Meat Goat Show was also held in October of 1998. There were 30 exhibitors who showed 154 goats. This year winners were Grand Champion Buck, JABB Goat Company, Reserve Champion Buck, Downen Livestock; Grand Champion Doe JABB Goat Company; Reserve Champion Doe, Sisters II Beth Mason & Becky Sauder; Grand Champion wether, Elizabeth long. Donna Downen of Downen Livestock formerly of Early, Texas received the Premier Meat Goat Exhibitor award this year. This was the last event, but not the end of the AMGA’s ongoing effort to serve you, the producer.