Youths show off goats

Bryce Derrer hoisted up his goat Matthew to display how much care he's put into raising and training him.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Judge Jesus Trujillo walks around to check the muscle tone of the entries in the bred goat show on Tuesday afternoon at the Roosevelt County Fair. The fair continues today with a senior citizen and military appreciation night.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Roosevelt County bred goat show participants attempt to control their goats as the judge makes his rounds.

Although Matthew was one of the smaller goats in the competition, according to judge Jesus Trujillo, he was clearly one of the best.

Derrer was just one of the competitors in Tuesday's Roosevelt County bred goat show who vied for the first place blue ribbon, winning the title despite fierce competition.

"He's a good goat," Derrer said with a smile pointing at his 62-pound friend.

Derrer, 11, said he's been working with his goat since his family birthed him, several months ago. He added that he's put in many hours a week to work with Matthew.

His parents were proud of the work and responsibility he's shown, but not as much as his grandmother who traveled to Portales from Indiana to see her grandson compete.

"It means a bunch," Derrer said about his grandmother's support.

Victoria Derrer, Bryce's mother, said her son placed third last year in the same competition and has worked hard to come back and seize the title.

She added that her younger son Jacob who also competed Tuesday, plans to follow in Bryce's footsteps because he too wants to see victory.

"He looks up to his big brother a lot," she said. "This was his first year participating and he wants to win."

Though Derrer won, Trujillo, an agricultural teacher in Hagerman, said competitors displayed a great quality in goats leaving him with touch decisions to make.

"Typically you're looking for the pretty goat that has a lot of muscle," Trujillo said.

He said Derrer's goat had the most muscle in its class. He added balance in a goat's body, mainly it being proportionate, is also an important factor when judging.

Overall, he was impressed with the showmanship of the children of Roosevelt County.

"These kids work extremely hard every morning and afternoon," Trujillo said. "There is nothing that teaches more responsibility than this."

Raeona Sanders, 16, of Elida won third in the Roosevelt County Bred Goat Show but came back and took first in the Market Goat Show (first class).

Sanders has been competing in the Roosevelt County Fair competition since she was 6.

Her mother, Liz Sanders, who has worked with Elida's Future Farmers of America and Arch's 4H Club, characterizes her daughter as competitive and hard working.

"She benefits from the rewards of working hard for it," Liz Sanders said.