4-H Meat Goat Project

Get started with 4-H'ers in your area

• Find a club near you or contact your local 4-H office for more info.

Get started on your own

• National 4-H meat goat activity books (for sale)
• Utah's Discover 4-H Clubs (free download)
• Iowa 4-H hot sheet (free)
• Learn about the many goat breeds (Oklahoma State University)
• American Meat Goat Association
• U.S. Boer Goat Association
• Oklahoma State University: Breeds of goats 
• Test your knowledge of goat anatomy

• Preparing to buy a whole goat
• Buying animals for meat processing

• Meat goat information sheet — posted Dec. 22, 2022
• AnSci updates for 2023 — posted Dec. 22, 2022
• 4-H animal ID requirements and processes 
• Animal science show requirements sheet for all species 
• Cloverbuds and animals
• Leasing a 4-H animal
• MLBA 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction information for market animal exhibitors at the MN State Fair. 

See all 4-H policies

Join the Minnesota State Fair 4-H show committee

This is a leadership opportunity for 4-H members in grade 9 and up. Represent your fellow 4-H'ers on the livestock show committee, serving with adult volunteers. 

What you'll do

• Attend two face to face meetings during the year as youth representative
• Participate in 2-4 calls during the year
• Staff a 4-H livestock information booth the first two days of the Minnesota State Fair

How to apply

Apply online 

Selected applicants will be notified in September and will be invited to a state fair meeting in October. This is a one-year experience, and you can apply for a second year.

Contact

Joe Rand, Extension educator and advisor, joerand@umn.edu

Local livestock committees

You may be able to join your county 4-H livestock committee. Contact your local 4-H office for more information. 

Meat goat project resources for volunteers

Find training, project development committees (PDCs) and more support for volunteers on our volunteer site.

To volunteer with 4-H in your area, contact your local 4-H office.

Record keeping & evaluation

• 4-H youth record keeping - Some counties require record keeping for fairs. 
• Animal science project interviews evaluation — junior level 
• Animal science project interviews evaluation — senior level 
• General livestock judging contest evaluation with reasons 

You can exhibit

Your livestock

Contact your local 4-H office for sign-up deadlines and more info about how to get started.

Market goat

• Meat wether
• Meat doe
• Dairy wether

Breeding does

• Senior yearling
• junior yearling
• Fall yearling 
• Senior doe kid
• Junior doe kid

See requirements for breeds, birth dates and animal ID. These are required for all meat goat shows (state and local).

Your knowledge

• Livestock interviews
• Science of Animals exhibits
• General livestock judging contest
• General livestock project bowl

Find out about livestock shows near you on your local 4-H website.