4-H/FFA Boer Goats Rules & Classes

Departments 13 & 23: 4-H and FFA

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Meat Goats/Boer Goat Wether Show

DNA HAIR SAMPLES REQUIRED FOR MARKET GOAT CLASSES.

The exhibitor is responsible for providing a DNA hair sample and their Agriculture Teacher or Extension Agent witnessing, to be mailed to the Missouri State Fair office on or before postmark date of June 15. The DNA envelopes must have the correct postmark date on them. (Faxes are not permitted. Metered mail is not preferred, but if used, please allow sufficient time for delivery.) An exhibitor may nominate a total of 10 wether meat goats. See complete DNA hair sample rules outlined in number 16 of the 4-H and FFA general rules and regulations in this premium guide.

  1. Meat goat wethers must have been owned by the exhibitor prior to June 1 of current year. Entries must be complete for meat goat classes.
  2. All goats must be registered, the same as the open show requirements. Wethers must be one-year-old & under
  3. Classes will be divided into groups by weight. Meat goats will be weighed only one time. Weight divisions: light, medium and heavy.
  4. No goats will be permitted to leave the barn after arrival without permission granted by the superintendent or State Vet.
  5. Exhibitors are limited to 2 entries per class for breeding animals and wethers, but may nominate up to 10 wethers. All 10 of the nominated wethers are eligible to show in the wether show as long as only 2 head fall in the same weight class. If more than 2 fall in the same weight class, only 2 head are eligible to show in that weight class.
  6. Abuse of animals: Should any physical abuse be observed toward an animal, either in the barn or in the show ring, Superintendent has the authority to eliminate show animal and exhibitor from the show.
  7. 4-H Food Quality Assurance Policy for 2026:
    • By June 1, 2026, all 4-H members enrolled in food animal projects including beef, sheep, swine, dairy cattle, meat and dairy goats, rabbits, and poultry must complete the appropriate level of Missouri Show-Me Quality Assurance certification, or equivalent Quality Assurance programming, to be considered a 4-H member in good standing in that project. No further quality assurance documentation is needed.
    • NOTE: 4-H members must be in good standing in their county to enter the State Fair food animal related competitions. (Reference rule 1, C)
MFA Feed logo

MFA Feed Division will award $150 to the 4-H/FFA Grand Champion Meat Goat and $100 to the 4-H/FFA Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat overall winners of the 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Show. To qualify, animals must be enrolled in the MFA 4-H/FFA Livestock Premium Program, using one of the MFA recommended feeds. See your authorized MFA Feed supplier for details.

Purina Show Chow logo

Purina Animal Nutrition will provide $1,000 cash award to the Overall Grand Champion Meat Goat, and $500 cash award to the Overall Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat, if animals were fed using the Purina Honor Show Chow Feed Program. Minimum feeding requirement is the same as the ownership rules stated in the Premium Guide.

4-H/FFA Commercial Meat Goat Breeding Doe Show

Tuesday, August 11 – Sheep Pavilion South Ring (after conclusion of the 4-H/FFA Showmanship Show)

All 4-H and FFA meat goat exhibitors must report to the Race Horse Barns on the east side of the Fairgrounds (Gate 11) for animal inspection.

See the Missouri State Fair premium guide for arrival times.

  1. All breeding animals shown must have been owned by the exhibitor on June 1 or before of the current year.
  2. Boer goats shown in the 4-H/FFA class must meet the same health and identification rules as the open show.
  3. All Commercial Does must be permanently identified with a USDA Scrapie Tag in their ear for exhibition. Exhibitors MUST include Scrapie Identification Numbers on Entry Forms.
  4. Commercial does will be judged on meat goat breeding characteristics and may NOT show in the percentage or fullblood divisions.
  5. Commercial does must be free of defects in order to show. This includes, folded ears, parrot mouth, fish teats, etc. Any animal found with defects or abnormalities will be disqualified from the show
  6. All commercial does will be aged and shown in accordance with teeth development: Doe Kids = milk teeth, Yearling Does = 2 teeth and Ages Does = 4+ teeth.
  7. Any doe over 24 months of age that has not kidded and cannot prove a current pregnancy will not be allowed to show.

Classes of Commercial Does:

  • 75 Doe Kids – Under a Year old (milk teeth still intact).
  • 76 Yearling Does – 1 – Under 2 years of Age (Must have 2 adult teeth).
  • 77 Aged Does – Over 2 Years of Age (Must have 4+ adult teeth).
    • 4-H/FFA Overall Grand Champion Commercial Doe – Banner
    • 4-H/FFA Overall Reserve Grand Champion Commercial Doe – Banner

4-H/FFA Boer Goat Showmanship

The age brackets will be as follows (age before January 1 of the current year): 4-H – 8-10 Junior; 11-13 Intermediate; 14-18 Senior. FFA will be 16 and under and 17 and over. First place winners in each category are not eligible to participate in the same age division the next year. Division winners must advance to the next age division the following year. The contest will be open for anyone who has a market, breeding, or commercial goat entry at the 2026 Missouri State Fair within their age bracket. Exhibitors must provide and use their own animal. First place in each showmanship class will receive a plaque. Age bracket sign up registration sheets will be available the afternoon before the show at the announcers’ stand.

Meat Goats/Boer Goats Breed Show

Monday, August 17

All 4-H and FFA meat goat exhibitors must report to the Race Horse Barns on the east side of the Fairgrounds (Gate 11) for animal inspection and for wether weigh in.

See the Missouri State Fair premium guide for arrival times. ALL WETHER GOATS MUST BE CLIPPED TO 1/4″ BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE MISSOURI STATE FAIRGROUNDS!

  1. All breeding animals shown must have been owned by the exhibitor on June 1 or before of the current year.
  2. Boer goats shown in the 4-H/FFA class must meet the same health and identification rules as the open show. All goats, regardless of age or gender, must be individually identified by an official scrapie ear tag or any other means of permanent identification approved by the state veterinarian, and listed on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.
  3. Market wethers must be clipped to 1/4 inch before arriving at the Fairgrounds. An inspection will be required for all Boer Goats. No additional clipping in the Sheep Barn.
  4. Exhibitors are limited to two (2) entries per class.
  5. Muzzles will not be allowed on goats.
  6. Animals may be hand held or led by a rope and/or halter. Exhibitors are requested to be neatly attired when showing their animals in the ring.
  7. NO show halter leads with any sharp objects will be allowed.
  8. 4-H will have the following age groups: 8-10; 11-13; and 14 & over. There will be 1 age group for FFA. (There is no pre-registration for 4-H or FFA showmanship.)
  9. Must be exhibiting meat goats to be eligible to participate in this showmanship contest.
  10. No bucks are allowed in showmanship.
  11. No fresh or scabby tattoos.
  12. Substitutions are allowed in the same class entered only. Substitutions must be made by July 25, 2026. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  13. Because the 4-H/FFA wether show is not an ABGA junior show, it will be up to the judge’s discretion if bracing meat goat wethers is allowed.
  14. Drenching will not be allowed except when authorized for health reasons by the State Veterinary. Violation of this rule may result in any or all of the following:
    • Withholding of payment for the animal, premiums and awards.
    • Suspension from future exhibiting at the Missouri State Fair for a length of time to be determined by the Missouri State Fair Commission or the Director of the Missouri State Fair on behalf of the Commission. Suspensions can be for any length of time and may be permanent.
    • Probationary exhibiting at the Missouri State Fair for a length of time and under such terms and conditions to be determined by the Missouri State Fair Commission or the Director of the Missouri State Fair on behalf of the Commission.
    • Assessment of any other penalty determined by the Missouri State Fair Commission or the Director of the Missouri State Fair on behalf of the Commission.

Classes

Meat Goats

  • 1) Wether class, one-year-old & under (4-H and FFA only) (classes are broken by weight) Members may send up to 10 entries but are limited to 2 in the same weight class.

    Percentage-Blood Boer Goats (must have registration papers)

    Does

    • 2) 0 to under 3 months
    • 3) 3 to under 6 months
    • 4) 6 to under 9 months
    • 5) 9 to under 12 months
      • Junior Champion & Reserve Junior Champion
    • 6) 12 to under 16 months
    • 7) 16 to under 20 months
    • 8) 20 to under 24 months
      • Yearling Champion & Reserve Yearling Champion
    • 9) 24 to under 36 months, Two-Year-Old
    • 10) 36 months plus
      • Senior Champion & Reserve Senior Champion
      • Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion
      • 4-H/FFA Overall Grand Champion Percentage Doe – Banner
      • 4-H/FFA Overall Reserve Grand Champion Percentage Doe -Banner
    • 11) Best Pair of Does

        Bucks

        • 12) 0 to under 3 months
        • 13) 3 to under 6 months
        • 14) 6 to under 9 months
        • 15) 9 to under 12 months
          • Junior Champion & Reserve Junior Champion
        • 16) 12 to under 16 months
        • 17) 16 to under 20 months
        • 18) 20 to under 24 months
          • Yearling Champion & Reserve Yearling Champion
        • 19) 24 to under 36 months, Two-Year-Old
        • 20) 36 months plus
          • Senior Champion & Reserve Senior Champion
          • Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion
          • 4-H/FFA Overall Grand Champion Percentage Buck – Banner
          • 4-H/FFA Overall Reserve Grand Champion Percentage Buck-Banner
        • 21) Best Pair of Bucks

              Full-Blood Boer Goats (must have registration papers)

              Does

              • 22) 0 to under 3 months
              • 23) 3 to under 6 months
              • 24) 6 to under 9 months
              • 25) 9 to under 12 months
                • Junior Champion & Reserve Junior Champion
              • 26) 12 to under 16 months
              • 27) 16 to under 20 months
              • 28) 20 to under 24 months
                • Yearling Champion & Reserve Yearling Champion
              • 29) 24 to under 36 months, Two-Year-Old
              • 30) 36 months plus
                • Senior Champion & Reserve Senior Champion
                • Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion
                • 4-H/FFA Overall Grand Champion Fullblood Doe – Banner
                • 4-H/FFA Overall Reserve Grand Champion Fullblood Doe – Banner
              • 31) Best Pair of Does

                    Bucks

                    • 32) 0 to under 3 months
                    • 33) 3 to under 6 months
                    • 34) 6 to under 9 months
                    • 35) 9 to under 12 months
                      • Junior Champion & Reserve Junior Champion
                    • 36) 12 to under 16 months
                    • 37) 16 to under 20 months
                    • 38) 20 to under 24 months
                      • Yearling Champion & Reserve Yearling Champion
                    • 39) 24 to under 36 months, Two-Year-Old
                    • 40) 36 months plus
                      • Senior Champion & Reserve Senior Champion
                      • Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion
                      • 4-H/FFA Overall Grand Champion Fullblood Buck – Banner
                      • 4-H/FFA Overall Reserve Grand Champion Fullblood Buck – Banner
                    • 41) Best Pair of Bucks

                          Randy, Anna, Kade & Montana Plattner is sponsoring the 4-H/FFA Overall Grand Champion banners.

                          Cook Family Boer Goats, Mayview MO is sponsoring the 4-H/FFA Overall Reserve Champion banners.