Meat Goat

Rules

  1. General Rules - Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules & Regulations apply to this department. It is strongly encouraged that all exhibitors read and understand the Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules and Regulations and Livestock Health Requirements. These documents can be found on the Nebraska State Fair website. 
  2. Health Requirements - See Health Requirements for Animals Exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair for additional information. 
  3. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) - Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). Refer to the Nebraska State Fair General Rules and Regulations for additional information. 
  4. Show Entry - For purposes of exhibition, an animal can be nominated for the State Fair in both 4-H and FFA but only shown in one organization or the other, not both. 
  5. Entry Deadline - All applications for an entry must be made online at www.statefair.org. All 4-H entries must be made through the State Fair website by 8:00 PM CT on August 10. 
  6. Number of Exhibits per Exhibitor - A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting four goats. 
  7. Show Schedule - See Nebraska State Fair Livestock Schedule for arrival, check-in and show times and dates. 
  8. Dress Code - When showing animals, exhibitors must wear the official State Fair 4-H shirt. No exhibitor number harnesses may be worn. Blue jeans are appropriate. Hats shall not be worn in the show ring. 
  9. Showmanship - All 4-H exhibitors are automatically registered but not required to show in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and the animal must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. See additional guidelines and information in the Showmanship section below. Review the Nebraska State Fair Schedule for time and dates. 
  10. Substitutions - Any animal may be substituted for an animal within the species that has been properly nominated on the exhibitor's online nomination database list. 
  11. Grooming - All beef, swine, sheep, and goats (showmanship, market, and breeding) will be shown Blow & Go. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed, or combed to enhance their appearance. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products. Reference the Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules and Regulations for specific guidelines. 
  12. Toweling Protocol - All livestock will be subject to visual inspection and/or toweling for the presence of adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products. A toweling inspection will be incorporated for all 1st and 2nd place class winners (showmanship, breeding, market). The 3rd place class winner may be requested back if the 1st or 2nd place class winner does not pass inspection. All animals entering the Final Drive will be subject to a toweling inspection before entering the show ring. Toweling of the animal may include but is not limited to the topline, legs, chest, belly and flank. If, after inspection, the animal is found to have adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products applied it will be disqualified from competition. Any premiums (physical or monetary) will be forfeited, and no refunds will be made. 
  13. Showing & Handling Practices - The use of showing and/or handling practices that may be considered objectionable or abusive, such as striking or slapping goats and exhibiting the goat with its front feet off the ground, are not acceptable. Goats may be braced but will require that all four feet are on the ground. The use of such practices may result in the lowering of a ribbon placing. (Lifting the goat in a fluid motion to set the front legs prior to quickly setting the feet back on the ground is acceptable.) 
  14. Neck Chains & Halters - Goats are to be shown with either a halter, smooth neck chain, smooth or pronged collars only. 
  15. Horns - Blunting, tipping, and dehorning is permitted. 
  16. Awards - Exhibitors will receive awards for the Division Champions, Reserve Division Champions, Grand Champion Overall, Reserve Grand Champion Overall, and 3rd Overall. Only entries receiving a purple ribbon are eligible to receive champion and reserve awards. Overall, and 3rd Overall. Only entries receiving a purple ribbon are eligible to receive champion and reserve awards. 
  17. Release of Exhibits - All animals will be released according to the Nebraska State Fair release schedule. 

State Fair Eligibility

  • Youth must be enrolled in 4-H by June 15 of the current year.
  • A 4-H member must be 8 before January 1, of the current year, or becomes 9 years of age during the current year. The last year of eligibility is the calendar year the member becomes 19.

Identification & Nomination

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves. Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2025.

Refer to the State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination Requirements for additional information on exhibitor eligibility at the State Fair.

State Fair Entry Limit

A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 4 goats. 

Division: Breeding Meat Goat 

Class
  • G059010 Registered (ABGA) Yearling Does - (Does Born 9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024). Does born prior to 9/1/2023 are ineligible to show. Percentage and purebreds show together. 
  • G059020 Registered (ABGA) Doe Kids - (Does Born 9/1/2024 to 6/1/2025). Percentage and purebreds show together. 
  • G059030 Commercial Yearling Does - (Does born 9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024). Does born prior to 9/1/2023 are ineligible to show. 
  • G059040 Commercial Doe Kids - (Does Born 9/1/2024 to 6/1/2025)
Rules
  1. Breeding Meat Goat Identification Requirements - All registered and commercial breeding does to be shown at State Fair must be tagged with a USDA official scrapie ID, owned by the exhibitor, completed the online nomination with payment through the official online database, and have the DNA collector envelope with hair sample submitted to their County Extension office by June 15 
  2. Age Classification of Breeding Meat Goats - All doe kids must have all temporary teeth present. Yearling does can have yearling teeth but cannot have two-year-old teeth. All breeding does may be subject to mouthing to verify age. Breeding does found to be in violation will be disqualified. Any premiums (physical or monetary) will be forfeited, and no refunds will be made. 
  3. Dual Eligibility (Market and Breeding) - Does may be eligible as both market and breeding, provided a DNA collector envelope with hair samples have been submitted to the County Extension office, and the completed online nomination with payment includes all required identification information for both a market and breeding animal by June 15. This option does not allow the animal to be shown in both market and breeding at the same show. 
  4. Classes may be divided at discretion of show management. 
  5. Original registration papers must be presented at time of check in. The registration paper must show the exhibitor’s name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in the official online database. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted. Original registration papers or electronic document using a tablet or smart phone will be accepted if pulled up from their respective breed website. NO PRINTED PAPER COPIES OR SCREENSHOTS ACCEPTED. For registered does, tattoo numbers must be on the registration paper, included on the online breeding nomination and must in the animal's ear upon arrival to State Fair. If registration papers are not presented, entry will be moved into the commercial division. 
  6. Weigh Cards - Exhibitors will declare weights of all commercial meat does (an official weigh-in will not be conducted by show officials). Weigh cards must be completed and turned in during the designated check-in times and location. The weight listed on the weigh card will become that animal's official declared weight to be used for assignment to a class and for weigh-back purposes. 
  7. Weigh Back - A weigh back will be incorporated for all 1st and 2nd place purples in each commercial breeding class. A 5% variance from the declared weight at check-in will be allowed. Animals not meeting the 5% variance above the declared weight at check-in will be lowered one ribbon place group and will not be eligible for any champion awards. The 3rd place purple may also be requested to weigh back if the 1st or 2nd place purples do not meet the 5% variance requirement.

Division: Market Meat Goat 

Class
  • G058020 - Market Wethers 
  • G058030 - Market Does 
Rules
  1. Market Goat Identification & DNA Requirements - All market goats to be shown at State Fair must be tagged with a USDA official scrapie ID, owned by the exhibitor, completed the online nomination with payment through the official online database, and have the DNA collector envelope with hair sample submitted to their County Extension Office by June 15. 
  2. Minimum Age Requirement - All market goats are required to be born on or after December 1, 2024. Market goats are to have milk teeth and there shall be no evidence of breaking of the skin or eruption of the two permanent front teeth. 
  3. Minimum Weights for Market Goats - Market goats weighing less than 50 lbs. at check-in will not be eligible for a purple award or shipping. No re-weighs will be allowed. 
  4. Dual Eligibility (Market and Breeding) - Does may be eligible as both market and breeding, provided a DNA collector envelope with hair samples have been submitted to the County Extension office, and the completed online nomination with payment includes all required identification for both a market and breeding animal by June 15. This option does not allow the animal to be shown in both market and breeding at the same show. 
  5. Weigh Cards - Exhibitors will declare weights of all market goats (an official weigh-in will not be conducted by show officials). Weigh cards must be completed and turned in during the designated check-in time and location. The weight listed on the weigh card will become that animal’s official declared weight to be used for assignment to a class and for weigh-back purposes. 
  6. Weigh Backs - A weigh back will be incorporated for all 1st and 2nd place purples in each market class. A 5% variance from the declared weight at check-in will be allowed. Animals not meeting the 5% variance above the declared weight at check-in will be lowered one ribbon group and will not be eligible for any champion awards. The 3rd place purple may also be requested to weigh back if the 1st or 2nd place purples do not meet the 5% variance requirement. 
  7. Definition of Market Goats - Market goats may be doe or wether kids. Short scrotum, cryptorchid or buck kids are not eligible as market goats. 
  8. Show Class - All market goats will be weighed and divided into classes based on total numbers and weight range. Market does and wethers will show separately. 
  9. Hair Length - All market goats must be shorn sufficiently short from the knee and hock up to allow inspection for club lamb fungus by State Fair Veterinarians at any time of the fair. 
  10. No Withdrawals- Animals selected as division champions and reserve division champions cannot be withdrawn from the grand champion drive. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification and the exhibitor may be barred from future participation at the Nebraska State Fair. 
  11. Sale of Market Goats - The Grand Champion Market Goat and Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat are automatically consigned for harvest. Other market goats, weighing at least 50 pounds, may be signed up to be shipped if a buyer is available.

Division: Meat Goat Showmanship 

Class
  • G058007- Junior Showmanship - (ages 8 to 10 before January 1 of the current year) 
  • G058008 - Intermediate Showmanship - (ages 11 to 13 before January 1 of the current year) 
  • G058009 - Senior Showmanship - (ages 14 to 18 before January 1 of the current year) 
Rules
  1. Showmanship Entry - All 4-H exhibitors are automatically registered but not required to show in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and the animal must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. Review the Nebraska State Fair Schedule for time and dates. 
  2. Eligibility - After an exhibitor receives champion in showmanship, they are no longer eligible to compete in that age division of that species. If a junior exhibitor wins in that species, they will automatically move up to the intermediate division the following year. If an intermediate exhibitor wins in that species, they will automatically move up to the senior division the following year. Once a senior division exhibitor wins champion, they are no longer eligible to compete in showmanship in that species. 

Superintendents

For questions, contact: 

4-H Fairbook | Nebraska State Fair