The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Fair Brings Back Goat Memories

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

12 July 2006

Walking by the livestock shed on Wednesday at the Henderson County Fair I captured a picture of the cutest Pygmy goats on my way to the Bank of Stronghurst Farmer Appreciation breakfast. They almost seem human with their feet upon the fence watching people walk by them.

My Editor Shirley Linder laughed at the photograph because she had a goat when she was young.

"They do act human," she said. "It would stand on the side of the fence, just like the ones in the photograph here. Mine use to push me in the swing.

As I came forward, he would butt my feet with his head and up I'd go."

"He would put his front feet on my shoulders for one more push when I decided to quit swinging," she said.

Most people in our area raise Pygmies for show and fun instead of meat or milk.

Some kids in 4-H like to raise Pygmy goats because they are easy to raise and handle and they are affectionate, cute, lovable and playful and are rather inexpensive. This year's fair was fun for all ages.