From today's Loveland, Colorado Reporter Herald:

"Trade Madison Square Garden for The Ranch and dogs for dairy goats and you have the goat world's Westminster Kennel Club Show.

Hundreds of goat farmers will drive across the country with thousands of goats and meet in Loveland for the 2012 American Dairy Goat Association National Show.

The annual show -- this year at the Larimer County Fairgrounds July 7-14 -- averages 1,500 entries or more as farmers show off their well-groomed herds during the weeklong competition.

Eight different breeds will be judged on general appearance, dairy character, body capacity and mammary system, or how well they produce milk.

"Like dog shows, people come from great distances and hope for a national championship prize," said Scott Bice, a goat farmer from Sebastopol, Calif., who will be competing in the show with 25 of his 300 dairy goats.

There will be shows for each breed, plus an assortment of youth activities and competitions at the start of the show.

"It's a sight to see," Bice said.

Bice, the youngest of 10 children, serves as farm manager of Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery in Sebastopol. His sister Jennifer Bice, or the Goat Gal, owns the farm, founded by their parents in 1968.

"I just love working with animals," Bice said. "I work with really smart, affectionate animals with great personalities."

Bice raises dairy goats under the Vineyard View herd name and since 2010 has been a licensed judge with the association, which collects,


Scott Bice, a goat farmer from Sebastopol, Calif., is shown with one of his 300 dairy goats, Wookie. Bice will be traveling to Loveland with 25 of his goats for the American Dairy Goat Association National Show this weekend at The Ranch.
records and preserves the pedigrees of dairy goats. He plans to bring four of the standard dairy goat breeds to the show -- Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian and Saanen.
All 300 of his goats have names, Bice said.

"Like dogs, they are very smart," he said, adding that goats are the second oldest domesticated animal after dogs. "They have unique personalities and quirks."

Plus, goats do not require a lot of space to raise.

"With today's economy, things are harder and harder," Bice said. "In our area, people are going back to the land and making their own foods."

Goat milk can be used to make aged and soft-rind cheeses, goat milk yogurt, kefir, ice cream and gourmet confections. It is the most consumed milk in the world and is enjoying a renaissance in the U.S.

Helena Bowen of Los Angeles will be documenting the show with her dream team Trevor Taylor and Julian Broudy to give a better understanding of the misunderstood animal.

"Throughout time, they have gotten a bad rap," Bice said, explaining that goats are browsers and eat a variety of things. "They are not going to eat a tin can."