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)