The Sin of Pride

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          Smooth Taste…Island Pace

          Last weekend (August 18^th/12) was the Vancouver Island Exhibition. It’s a large annual country fair held in Nanaimo, BC. For many years, goats have been on display in the dilapidated “Goat Barn”, and Vancouver Island Goat Association presented the display for 6 years – we handed out cheese samples, demonstrated goat care, and let people milk the goats. Four or five years ago, we started having proper shows, sanctioned by the Canadian Goat Society .I have taken on the role of convenor with the help of many association members and we have had lots of fun.

          This year, Mike Dietrich, our association President convince the fair board to let us use the great big Agriplex. Therefore, the goats and the show were all inside a large metal building that is generally used for riding. The goats were in pens all around the sides and back wall. There was lots of room to put up signage and to decorate and make things look good. The show ring was a good size, about 40 feet by 40 foot and we were able to put lots of signage around the ring as well. One of the association’s goals is to promote goats and to educate people about goats and their many qualities.

          I have described in previous blogs the work involved in getting the goats ready for a show. This year I was absolutely blessed with the wonderful help from Shelby Meaden, a 17 yr old 4-H girl who is the daughter of my good friends, Dolina & Chris Meaden. Shelby took it on herself to clip and fit the goats for the show. Fitting is the final preparation where every square centimeter of the goat is examined, clipped, trimmed and buffed. I thought the does looked just wonderful. There were four adults from my herd, Gnome Wood and two babies from Snapdragon (Karen’s herd).

          My four does won seven firsts! Topaz, a 4-year-old doe with 3 pregnancies under her belt, won Grand Champion Toggenburg. WOW – it was just amazing. I was stunned and extremely happy. Her daughter, Jett, was Reserve Grand Champion (2^nd). Together they won the mother and daughter class. Topaz and her sister Ruby won the sister class. On her way to Grand Champion, Topaz won her age class & Senior Champion. Jett won first place in her class and Ruby won her age class. Karen’s babies were a respectable 3^rd and 4^th out of 6 babies.

          I am so proud of them. This fair is the best that I have ever, ever done at a goat show. I have had 2 does win Grand Champion on 2 separate occasions but nothing like the sweep we did at VIEX this year. I have shown for 11 years now and spent many years at the back of the final line-up. We’ve had lots of 6^th, 7^th and 8^th places and more. I have spent the last 5 years seriously trying to improve my herd and it has paid off.

          This leads me to the title of my blog – the sin of pride. Why is it a sin to be proud? Is the sin only if the pride is false? Is the sin boasting excessively and making others feel small? Perhaps the sin is false pride, where you take another’s effort and work as your own.

          It is just something to consider and think about. For now, I am really, truly proud of my ladies and just pleased as punch that we won a whole bunch of rosettes and ribbons and a fair chunk of money. Going to take photos and put them up on the website (www.snapdragondairy.com) so anyone can see how beautiful they are.