To most people at the sixth Goat-a-Rama April 6 in Tennille, Ga.,
the annual festivities will be fun. But a lot of serious business
will be going on during this one.
Goat producers from several states will be coming in to check on
the new Sunbelt Goat Producers Cooperative. Many will be buying
stock.
“That’s the big thing at the Goat-a-Rama this year,” said Sidney
Law, the Extension Service coordinator in Washington County.
New Co-op Selling Shares
The new co-op will be selling shares during the Goat-a-Rama, with
a new goat and sheep slaughter plant nearing completion and
expected to be up and running in June.
“Some people have been wanting to wait and see how this thing is
going to go,” Law said. “But there’s a limit to the number of
animals that can go through the plant.”
Shareholders will have to commit to selling goats to the “new
generation” co-op, based on the number of shares they have. In
turn, the co-op will be obligated to buy the ranchers’ goats at a
premium price.
“Ranchers will have a firm market for their goats and will also
share in the co-op’s profits,” Law said. “Ranchers won’t have to
be members of the co-op to sell goats there, but they’ll profit
more if they are.”
Goat-a-Rama 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Attended annually by more than 1,000 people, the Goat-a-Rama will
begin at 9 a.m. April 6 at the Farm Bureau Ag Center in Tennille.
It will end at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
The event will include:
- Tours of the new slaughter plant.
- Seminars and demonstrations for goat ranchers.
- Food preparation demonstrations.
- Private-treaty goat sales.
- Trade show and educational exhibits.
- Youth show goat clinic.
- Goat meat lunch prepared by professionals.
- Door prizes.
“Newcomers and veteran ranchers alike will find plenty of value
in the Goat-a-Rama this year,” Law said.
