Aaron in Pro Market Goat Showmanship where he placed 2nd with his meat goat in 2007.

In 2005 Aaron showed his first two Bryson Branch born and bred Boer cross wethers and did very well. “Big Mac” made the top ten championship drive and placed 8th. “French Fries” worn his weight class and helped Aaron Capture the 2005 Meat Goat Showmanship Top Pro Honors and qualified him for Showman of Showmen.

On the dairy goat side, Bryson Branch Violet Love won Grand Champion Nubian and was Jr. Res. Grand Champion of the 2005 Athens Co. Fair 4-H Show. Bryson Branch Grace Rose was a close second at Res. Grand Nubian, Poverty Knob Cinderella won a very competitive class of 7 intermediate doelings and Bryson Branch “Our Hope” was the Grand Champion Meat Production Doe.

(above) Mary with "Red" in "Old Timers" Showmanship at the Athens County Fair

2006 brought new challenges as Aaron participated for the first time at the ADGA National Youth Show in Indianapolis. Although he didn’t make the showmanship top 10 cut nor did his fitting team place, it was an experience he will never forget. What a great time we had not only as a family but also with members from the Ohio Valley Dairy Goat Association. It will be a week we will never forget.

Aaron did have the experience of a lifetime as he was in the ring with our Jr. doelings at Nationals and all 3 went top 20, two placing in the top 6. What an experience to be in the top ten line up, as Aaron said “my heart was pounding” and the smile got bigger the longer he stood in the classes. We would like to thank Cierra Hill of Mayhem Lamancha’s who assisted us with showing the doelings at Nationals. Her wonderful touch on the collar helped Penny stand in the 3rd spot in the Jr. Nubian kid class. Thanks so much Cierra!!

The summer was rounded out by attending three other shows in Ohio and West Virginia. Aaron won showmanship honors at both the Ohio Valley Dairy Goat Association and Appalachian Dairy Goat Shows. He also placed in the top 5 at the ODGA Buckeye Classic.

The county fair found us taking the year off with the dairy goats. Aaron’s two Boer Cross meat wethers, Pepsi and Ringold, were a lot of fun. We would like to thank Maryann Kilzer for breeding these two fine animals. Aaron again won over all Meat Goat Showmanship Top Pro Honors and competed in the Showman or Showmen Competition. This was great fun and he learned a lot about rabbits, chickens and steers especially. The Junior Fair Livestock sale was the highlight of his fair as he saw his meat wether bring a really good price and he was able to end his project on a high note!!