From left to right, Luke Lanoue, Natalie Thomas, Kiannalee Olson and Rose Lanoue worked to set up their goats in the 4-H show ring at the Lyon County Fair.

MARSHALL — Animals can be unpredictable – and that definitely holds true for a goat that doesn’t want to move. While competitors at Thursday’s 4-H goat show sometimes had to deal with a jumping or stubborn doe, they handled it all with poise.

“You just hold on,” said Natalie Thomas. Thomas was helping Kiannalee Olson show the goats she had entered at the show.

“They can be stubborn, but it can be fun too,” Olson said of showing goats.

The goat show was one of the livestock competitions taking place at the Lyon County Fair this week. Area 4-H members brought in goats to show in both meat and dairy goat categories, and demonstrated their showmanship skills in the ring.

Raising and working with goats can be a unique experience. Mary Lanoue, a 4-H member competing in the show, described them as “Like a dog on springs.” But Lanoue said raising goats was also an agricultural opportunity.

Lanoue said she got her first goats in 2020. She got interested in raising them after learning that a lot of the goat meat consumed in the U.S. is imported. There was a demand for goats, but not many people raising them in the area, Lanoue said.

Lanoue said she’s learned a lot from the Philips family, who raise Boer goats in Lyon County. “Every year, I’ve just been working with the Philips,” she said. “I’ve learned more about the market.”

Mark Philips said his family has showed goats at the Lyon County Fair ever since his daughter Samantha was old enough to participate. This year, the Philips’ son Zach brought his meat goats to the fair.

Mark Philips said it’s been a positive experience working with area 4-H members over the years.

“To see these little kids grow up into adults is really fun,” Philips said.

You can also see the quality of the animals Lyon County youth bring to the fair get better over time, as they gain experience, Philips said.

“These kids are constantly working with them,” he said. The 4-H members spend a lot of time cleaning and grooming their goats, and helping them to grow better.

“It’s definitely a lot of work, but I enjoy it because it gives me experience working with animals,” Olson said of showing her goats.