At Junior Livestock Show, youngsters work to get their animals show-worthy

By Jessamy Brown

jessamybrown@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- Some young goats got their first shower and a rubdown with conditioning shampoo Thursday.

And they didn't much like it, bleating and squirming as they were sprayed with cold water.

Raised by girls who are members of the Texas Wranglers 4-H club, the 15 wether goats were settling into pens for the Tarrant County Junior Livestock Show and Youth Fair, which continues today at the Will Rogers Memorial Center's Swine Barn.

"We've been to other shows and we used baby wipes," said Julia Bruggemann, 15, a sophomore at Westlake Academy charter school. "This is the last show. You just want them to look their best."

The students, whose club meets monthly in Southlake, arrived early Thursday to serve as volunteers. After bathing the goats, the girls prepared the pens with pine shavings and spread straw for the nursing does and two kids.

They worked with the dairy goats for about eight months, teaching them how to walk and stand for judging.

Hannah Wilson, a senior at Keller High School, said "people drive by and turn their heads" when she walks her goats down the street in Keller.

This year's show has drawn a record 536 young people from 4-H clubs and FFA. Officials expect to hand out $20,000 in scholarships, nearly double the $11,250 awarded two years ago, said Darla Crouch-Reynolds, show secretary.

Jeff Newcomb, a manager for the Rendon 4-H club, unloaded 16 Southdown sheep, which were then muzzled to make sure they don't eat something they're not supposed to.

The club brought 40 students who are exhibiting in many divisions, including cattle and swine.

"They get up and feed them every morning and just take care of them," he said. "The goal this weekend is to present their animals well and hopefully make a sale and recoup the money they've invested."

Jessamy Brown, 817-390-7326

Twitter: @jessamybrown

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