Department 6: Goats

Event Day and Date
JudgingDairy Goats: Monday, August 14 at 3:00 pm
4-H Breeding Does & Market Goats: Tuesday, August 15 at 5:30pm
Market Breeding Does & Market Goats: Wednesday, August 16 at 3:00pm
Deadline for all entriesAugust 1
Drop Off4-H Goat Entries between 7 am and 11 am, Sunday, August 13
Open Goat Entries between 12 Noon and 2 pm, Sunday August 13
Contact Name Phone Email
SuperintendentNicole Fearnley607-731-2959[email protected]
Assistant SuperintendentAmanda Gawel570-955-8399[email protected]

Department Rules

Exhibitors must adhere to the General Rules for the Harford Fair listed here.

Exhibitors must adhere to the IAFE Code of Ethics which can be found here.

1. To enter: go to www.harfordfair.com, click on the link and follow the instructions to enter online or use the Goat Entry Blank below. Please include an entry fee of $2.00 per animal.
2. There will be no substitutions of entries within the same class or additions to Group Class entries after check-in. Due to space limitations, entries will be accepted in the order they are received. Exhibitors are limited to no more than ten (10) animals.
3. All animals shall remain on the premises until 7:00am on Sunday, unless released by the Superintendent through prior arrangement.
4. Goats may not be shown out of a trailer. Registration papers and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) must accompany the animal and must be checked and approved before the animal can be unloaded on the Fairgrounds. All animals must be inspected by one of the Superintendents prior to unloading onto the Harford Fairgrounds. Any health concerns will be discussed with the Fair Veterinarian. The Fair Veterinarian will determine if the animal is permitted to be on the Harford Fairgrounds.
5. Any animal may be exhibited with horns, as long as they are deemed safe by the Superintendents. The Superintendent’s decision is final. To be eligible to show in Registered Dairy Goat Classes, dairy goats MAY NOT HAVE HORNS. Dairy goats may be exhibited with horns, but will show in the Grade (1J) Division. Market Goats and Breeding Market Does may be exhibited with horns in their respective classes.
6. Only original bedding will be furnished. Straw will be available for sale on the Fairgrounds.
7. Exhibitors will be expected to display or parade their animals as directed by the Superintendent, accept their stall assignments without controversy, and to cooperate with the department in every way to preserve the educational value of the show.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for knowing when their animals will be judged. Failure to present animals at the ring, when called, will result in disqualification. Any harassment of the judges or other officials could also result in disqualification.
9. All animals shown in Group Classes must compete in individual classes. All entries, including Group Classes, must be on the Goat Entry Form. Group Classes must be compromised of one breed. Exhibitors are limited to one entry per Group Class. Does over two years of age must have kidded or be in milk to compete in any of the classes. Any animals shown in Section 2A classes may not compete in any breeding classes.
10. If an exhibitor is unable to tend his/her animals during the Fair, they must inform the Superintendent in writing who will be responsible.
11. No bucks of any age may be entered. Wethers must be castrated far enough in advance of the Fair to show little or no scrotal sac. Any animal not meeting these criteria will be refused admittance to the barn. The Superintendent’s decision is final.
12. Exhibitors are responsible for cleaning their own pen at check out. Failure to do so will result in loss of premiums. All goats, stalled on the wash rack side of the sheep barn or the back corner, must have their pens cleaned by 10:00am on Sunday morning. All goats must vacate the Fairgrounds by 10:00am on Sunday, unless it is a market goat being hauled to a slaughterhouse.

Department 6 - Goats - 2023 Health Rules

Requirements for Pennsylvania Goats Entering the Fairgrounds:

  1. All animals must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued after May 1, 2023. The CVI must remain on the Fairgrounds with the exhibitor and be available for inspection at any time.
  2. All animals must be free of infectious, contagious, or parasitic diseases (such as: caseous lymphadenitis, sore mouth, foot rot, warts, lice, and mange) and a statement of this is required on the CVI (the statement is preprinted on the CVI).
  3. All animals must have individual official animal identification. Official ID includes: a) official USDA scrapie eartag. Contact the USDA at 1-866-873-2824 to obtain (processing may take several weeks); or b) ISO-compliant 15 digit eartag (including RFID); or c) USDA-approved custom scrapie eartag; or d) USDA-approved scrapie tattoo. Goats with an official scrapie tattoo must also have a unique individual animal tattoo to meet the scrapie ID requirement; or e) Goats having a breed registration tattoo and accompanied by a registration certificate are exempt from the scrapie ID requirement if the tattoo is legible and a registration certificate (or copy) or a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection which lists the tattoo and registry accompanies the animal at all times during transport from the premises of birth.

Requirements for Out of State Goats Entering the Fairgrounds (in addition to the above listed requirements):

  1. All animals must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued within 30 days of fair. If an animal comes from a state in which Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) has been identified, or a bordering state, the CVI shall include a statement verifying that “all animals identified on this CVI have been examined and found to be free of VS. During the past 90 days, these animals have neither been exposed to VS nor located within 10 miles of a site where VS has been diagnosed.”
  2. Tuberculosis: No test is required for animals originating from “Accredited Free” states or zones. All animals originating from states or zones designated “Modified Accredited Advanced” must be test negative within the 60 days prior to importation. The negative test results and date of test must be included on the CVI or the animal must be accompanied by a negative test report (or copy). All animals originating from states or zones designated “Modified Accredited” must originate from herds in which all animals 12 months of age and older have tested negative within the 12 months prior to the date of importation; and the individual animals (all ages) to be imported have also tested negative within the 60 days prior to the date of importation and at least 60 days after the negative whole herd test was completed. The negative test results and date of test must be included on the CVI or the animal must be accompanied by a negative test report (or copy).