B2*Lancaster Firming, Saturday, January 21, 1995 Youth Goat Representatives Say Goats Influence Their Career Choices Crystal Kloiber’s Goats Don’t Eat Tin Cans LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff BATH (Northampton Co.) Give Crystal Kloiber a choice to ha ve a horse, a sheep, or a goat, and she’ll choose a goat anytime. “Goats are much more person able and friendly especially LaManchas,” Crystal said of her favorite breed. The 17-year-old is the Pennsyl vania Dairy Goat Association Youth Representative. That title is comparable to being state dairy princess for the dairy industry. During the Pennsylvania Farm Pennsylvania Dairy Goat Association Youth Representative Crystal Kloiber says that goats are personable and friendly and not at all like the Three Billy Goats Gruff described In the renowned fairy tale. Amy Plummer Uses Goat Milk To Raise Jerseys LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff CHALFONT (Chester Co.) Amy Plummer is the American Dairy Goat Association National Youth Goat Representative. The 17-ycar-old explained that the American Dairy Goat Associa tion and the Pennsylvania Dairy Goat Association are separate organizations, so she did not need to win a state title before receiving the national title. She did need to send in an appli cation, give a prepared speech, and answer an impromptu question at a contest held at the association’s national convention in October at Wisconsin. Amy is the daughter of Dr. John and Maxine Plummer. She is the sister of Paul Plummer, who held the same title two years ago. Goats fill a large part of Amy’s life as the family has a showstring of 20 Toggenburgs, which they enter in 20 shows across the U.S. annually. While his wife and children show during the summer months, John, a professor at Delaware Val ley College, remains at the Chal font home to care for the remaining goat herd and Jersey’ herd. Show, Crystal showed goats in the competition and handed out rib bons to the winners. Visitors at the Farm Show stopped by to watch exhibitors lead goats around the show ring in the large arena on the last day of the Farm Show. Ironically, Crystal said, it was at the Farm Show that her family first became interested in raising goats* Previously her parents, William and Carol Kloiber, had horses and rode in competition. But health reasons prevented her mother from continuing to ride. Crystal, who The Jersey calves are bottle fed goat’s milk. The Plummers said that calves raised on goat’s milk grow larger and have healthier hair coats than calves fed differently. This year, Amy showed the reserve grand champion Jersey calf in the youth show competition at the Farm Show. “My goats receive grand champion awards in almost every show,” Amy said. She also placed first in the national show two years ago. A senior at Central Bucks High School, Amy is active in three 4-H clubs, the dairy goat, the dairy cow, and the community clubs. This summer, she attended the Governor’s School forag sciences, a five-week program at Penn State University offered to selective high school students. “People at school think it’s a bit strange to show goats,” Amy said. “That’s because they don’t under stand how much work it is and what I do. My friends at shows think it’s great.” Amy’s sights are set on becom ing a vetennarin of large and small animals. “I definitely want goats in my practice,” she said. was eight years old, wanted to raise an animal for 4-H. She tried sheep, but didn’t become bonded to it. When the family talked with goat exhibitors at the Farm Show, they fell in love with the gangly little creatures. Now the family has a herd of 30 goats. Crystal raises her 12-year-old brother Brant raises Saanens and Alpines, and her mother raises Oberhaslis. Although they each show their respective breed, the family shares chore responsibilities. About 12 of the does in the flock American Dairy Goat Association National Youth Representative Amy Plummer raises a showstring of Toggenburg goats that she and her family show across the U.S. Both Amy Plummer, left, and Crystal Kloiber are 17 years old and representatives for the goat Industry. Both say that their love for goats Influence them In pursuing veterinarian careers. are milked twice daily, which takes about one and a half hours each milking. It has long been Crystal’s mom dream to have a dairy. Plans are under way to ha ve 30 milking head by spring. Equipment and separate rooms for milking and ventilation are being installed in preparation for the dairy. The goats are raised on four acres in the suburbs. Neighbors often stop by to watch the goats. Although the first goat that Crystal raised for 4-H placed near the end, she has since improved Homestead NOTES her herd by selective breeding. She is most proud of a doe named Pride and Joy Teaberry, which placed best in the show six times. Pride and Joy was a surprise because the goat did not win any ribbons when it was young. Crys tal’s mother wanted her to sell it, but Crystal, who had become attached to the goat, refused. “She was like the Ugly Duck ling,” Crystal said of the goat. “When she matured, she won all kinds of ribbons.” The goat is now old and now (Turn to Pago B 3)
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