The Good News:
After promising to do so in 2005, The Ohio State Fair has *finally* added
classes for Nigerians to their Open Dairy Goat Show (but not the Youth Show,
which is open to only Ohio 4-H & FFA youth with goat projects, anyway).

Junior Does and Senior Does are separately sanctioned.

There is no charge for group classes.

There is no admission charge, but $5/day parking.

The Bad News:
Entries are due June 20, but premiums may not be paid until October 31 (and
it's usually close to that, if not later). The following statement, always
in the fine print in the past, is prominently listed this year: "All terms
and conditions are subject to changed (sic), including, but not limited to
premiums"

Entry Fee is $12 per goat. Premiums are 1st - $20, 2nd - $15, and 3rd - $10
in Junior Does, and $15, $10, and $5 in Senior Does. Group classes pay only
2 places, $10 and $5.

The reason there is no admission charge is the Dairy Goat Show is July
23-25, before the beginning of the fair, so there are no fair amenities, and
basically no fairgoers to whom to promote the goat. Because there is no
admission charge, anyone can *walk* onto the fairgrounds for free. Please
note that the Ohio State Fairgrounds are not in one of Columbus' better
neighborhoods, and take care of your possessions with that in mind.

The Dairy Goat Show is held during the same time period, in the same
building as the Boer Goat Show. Although the Dairy Goat Rules state, "Male
(buck) goats are barred from the fairgrounds," Boer bucks ARE in the
building and being shown. From experience at other fairs with the same
setup, don't be surprised if milkers come in heat and drop production.

Goats must be entered in the name on the papers. If this is in a farm name,
you must have a taxpayer i.d. number for that entity in order to be paid
premiums, an individual SSN will not do. I'm not sure how that applies in my
case, where the goats are owned by Tom, Sue & Eric Rucker. I have written
asking that question.

There is no Champion Challenge class offered. Permanent Champions, if shown,
must be entered in their proper age class.
_____________

After fighting for this for so long, I suppose I will be exhibiting. I wish
I could make it sound more appealing.

Sue Rucker
Buttin'Heads Dairy Goats
Nigerian Dwarves & Oberhasli
Marengo, Ohio
http://www.buttinheads.com