Returning to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg this year and making outstanding progress with both their goats and individual showmanship were Borderline Livestock & Community 4-H Club members (from left) Caitlin Demarest with Stripey, Emily Gorham with Evanna, and Tristan Rozelle with Lena.
Story by Rick Hiduk / Submitted Photo
(originally published in the Susquehanna County Independent)
Several members of the Borderline Livestock & Community 4-H Club returned to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex this year for two days of showing in both youth and adult divisions, often besting their 2024 performances as they continue to gain experience under the guidance of club leader Jill Kutz Swartley. Among them were Caitlin Demarest, Emily Gorman, and Tristen Rozelle. The trio scored well and had a lot of fun on Jan. 9 doing showmanship and exhibiting their goats in the Northwest Hall.
It was the second year at the show for Tristan Rozelle, and he started the day with a third-place finish in the senior showmanship competition. He also won first-place ribbons with his goats Lainey and Lena in the 4-H Lamancha, in the Jan-March kid class and 2 & Under 3 milking doe class, respectively. Lena garnered him a Grand Champion win in the Lamancha show.
Emily Gorham was back to enter the intermediate 2 showmanship class which, according to Kutz, was the largest showmanship class of the day with 13 youths participating and Emily taking first overall. She then had goats competing in the recorded grade 4-H show with Evanna taking first place in the 2 & under 3 milking doe class and Reserved Recorded Grade Jr. Show Champion of the 4-H show. Emily also showed a doe named Elmira in the 5 & over milking class going, taking a third-place ribbon.
Caitlin Demarest returned to the Farm Show to participate in the 11 & under division – the youngest showmanship class. It was Caitlin’s third year showing her dairy goats in Harrisburg. Caitlin took first prize among six youths competing. She then showed her Alpine Stripey in the 4-H show, picking up a second-place ribbon in the under 2 & milking doe class. Caitlin’s goat Toggie took second place in the Toggenburg 4-H show in the under 2 & milking doe class. Her final win on Thursday was a third-place ribbon for her Nubian Apricot in the under 2 in milking class.
The winning continued on Jan. 10, starting with Tristan taking Lainey back to the ring for the Lamancha Open show Jan-March Kid class and taking a third-place ribbon out of seven goats. Lena brought him his second victory of the day, taking first place in the 2 & under 3 milking doe class. Though his goat, Pistachio didn’t fare as well in the 3 & under 4 class, Tristan maintained his stride with a subsequent first-place finish with Juno in the 4 & under 5 class. Lastly, he showed Lena and Lainey in the dam & daughter class and got a fourth-place ribbon.
Emily was back in the ring that day in the Recorded Grade class with Evanna taking second place in the under 2 & milking class. Elmira finished sixth in the 5 & Over class. Caitlin had a tougher time following up her successes of the previous day, showing an Alpine named Stripey going, Toggie, and her Nubian Apricot – each finished at or near the bottom of their respective classes.
The Farm Show trip with Jill Kutz Swartley also includes her showing her own dairy goats. Swartley garnered a second-place victory with Elsbeth in the Lamancha Open show in the Jan-Dec 2023 kid class out of 12 entrants and winning Reserve Jr. Open Champion. Elsbeth was also shown in the Best Breed & Owned class, where she took fourth out of 17 goats.
Swartley then had the youths showing her goats in the recorded grade open show, with Ever taking seventh out of 18 kids in the Jan-Dec kid class. Dottie was up next in the under 2 in milk class, garnering a second-place win. Everleen took the blue ribbon in the same class. Then Everdeen competed in the 2 & under 3 class and picked up a fifth-place ribbon.
The Champion Challenge class had Elena and Evanka taking first and second, respectively. Elena was named Best of Bred of the Recorded Grades for the day and, in the special classes Best Doe Bred & Owned, Jill swept the field of 19 goats with another first-place finish for Elena. Evanka and Everdeen took another top prize in the Dam & Daughter Class. Evanka’s granddaughter, Everleen, and great-granddaughter, Ever took third out of 12 entrants in the dam & daughter class. Elena, Evanka, Everleen and Dottie took second place in the Dairy Herd class.
The Borderline Livestock & Community 4-H Club meets monthly in downtown Montrose with a focus on dairy goats, production livestock, rabbits, sewing, goat milk soaps, as well as age-appropriate CloverBud projects for youths five to eight years of age. Interested readers are encouraged to call Swartley at 607-237-6053 for more information.
The club Also, on Saturday, April 12, they will be hosting a Dairy Goat Livestock Clinic for any youth signed up in 4-H that has an interest. Anne Clagett, ADGA judge, will be the keynote speaker. An ADGA youth only show will be held on Saturday, June 21 at the Harford Fairgrounds from approximately 8 am to 2 pm on their respective dates.