My First Time as Show Chair: The 45th Diamonds in the Rock Dairy Goat Show

Wow… what a weekend!

The 45th annual Diamonds in the Rock Dairy Goat Show is officially in the books, and what a whirlwind it was. This year was my first time serving as Show Chair, and let me tell you—it was one of the most exhausting, rewarding, chaotic, and heartwarming experiences I’ve had in the goat world.

We packed the schedule full with 4 rings each for bucks, junior does, and senior does, and launched a full youth show complete with contests. We also added three specialty breed shows: Nubian, Nigerian Dwarf, and Toggenburg. Our barn was overflowing with activity, laughter, learning, and—of course—plenty of beautiful goats.

Here’s a quick look at what we accomplished:

• 2,652 total entries

• 92 bucks per ring on average

• 235 junior does per ring on average

• 219 senior does per ring on average

• Exhibitors came from multiple states, making it truly a regional event

• Channel 7 News even stopped by!

✨ Youth Show Fun

The youth turnout this year was incredible and such a joy to watch:

• 171 goats entered in the youth show

• 55 youth competed in showmanship

• 22 participated in the goat knowledge contest

• 41 completed the barn scavenger hunt

• 22 photography entries

• 5 poster art entries

Seeing the excitement and determination from these young exhibitors reminded me exactly why we do this.

Behind the scenes, there were moments of panic, hiccups, last-minute adjustments, and a few deep breaths. But I was incredibly lucky to be surrounded by an amazing crew of volunteers who stepped up, rolled up their sleeves, and helped keep the show running. I couldn’t have done it without them—and if you were one of those volunteers reading this: thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As soon as I got home, I took a couple of much-needed days to rest and recover. It was physically and mentally draining, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Our farm even brought home a few ribbons, which made it all the sweeter.

Thank you to everyone who came, participated, supported, and cheered us on. Your presence made this year unforgettable.