The American Goat Federation Startup
At the American Sheep Industry Association
meeting in Las Vegas in late January 2008, members of the ASI Goat Committee
decided that in order for collaboration of efforts between ASI and the goat
industry on various projects to occur, there needs to be a central entity, a
national organization to represent all goat groups. It was decided at that time
that the U.S. Goat Council should be reborn as the American Goat Federation.
The goat industry currently represents the fastest growing segment
of American agriculture, however lack of a central organization to represent the
interests of the industry have been seen as a major impediment to continued
maturation. Support for the American Goat Federation would allow that
organization to fill the existing void and move the goat industry forward.
To date a
structure for implementation of this idea, the principle catalyst, has been
missing. Recently, the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office (KySGDO) under
the oversight of the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association and the
Kentucky Goat Producers Association stepped forward and agreed to provide that
structure and serve as interim host of the American Goat Federation.
Frankfort, KY – The directors of the American Goat Federation (AGF) have
elected their Executive Committee, consisting of:
President - Tom Boyer
Vice President - Robin Saum
Secretary/Treasurer - Marge Kilkelly.
Boyer is a third-generation rancher from Coalville, Utah. He and his wife Carrie own Chalk Creek Boers. They have a commercial flock of meat goats as well as a flock of registered Rambouillets that has produced several national champions. ewenique@allwest.net
Saum of Lancaster, Ohio, is currently serving her fourth term as president of the American Dairy Goat Association, a national dairy goat registry organized in 1904. Saum has been a Saanen dairy goat breeder for 19 years.
Kilkelly of Dresden, Maine, is director of the Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship (NSAAS). She and husband Joe Murray are owners of Dragonfly Cove Farm where they raise and market meat goats. http://www.dragonflycovefarm.com
The AGF
board of directors was appointed in early August. Remaining members of the board
are:
Steve Burton, West Jordan, Utah;
Jeff Crawford, Chatsworth, Ga.;
Bob Duke, Utopia, Texas;
Brain Faris, Ph.D., Manhattan, Kan.;
Will Getz, Ph.D., Fort Valley, Ga.;
Shawn Harper, Benton,Ky.;
Katherine Harrison, Groveport, Ohio;
Pierce Miller, San Angelo, Texas.