TEXARKANA, Ark. - Young campers and families learned the ropes of caring for sheep and goats as well as how to properly perform at a livestock show at Leggett's You Gotta Believe Livestock Camp. The Leggett camps, conducted by owner Chastin, are a faith-based endeavor and work with a range of livestock. This week, though, goats and sheep had center stage at the Four States Fairgrounds.
Leggett says he has a modest way of producing champions.
"I am a southeast Kansas native and first-generation agriculturist committed to sharing my faith and changing the lives of youth across the country. It is my greatest joy to see my campers succeed and mentor my counselors," he said. "I have judged livestock shows at the state and national level giving me a unique perspective on what my campers need to know to impress even the most critical judges."
Many of this week's students were veterans at the care and showing of these animals. Some were previous attendees of Leggett's camps and had performed well themselves.
"I've been doing this for 13 years," said Kim Barksdale of Mayflower, Arkansas. "I've attended the camp before. My goat was the beauty contest winner. One of the things they teach you here is fitting, how to train an animal to perform in such competitions here."
Haley Hancock of Benton, Louisiana, brought her two sheep, Paycheck and Cash Money. A veteran at raising goats, her two sheep are only her second pair of those.
"I've shown goats at fairs for some time," she said. "My family has been in the trade for years and has gone to nationals."
She says that in some ways, sheep require more care than goats.
"It is mainly their diets," she said. "Goats can eat almost anything. Sheep, on the other hand, are copper sensitive, so you have to manage their diet more closely."
Terra Wade attended the camp with her three daughters, Kashlyn, Kyelan and Kenzie. The two younger ones, Kashlyn and Kyelan, were learning the trade. Kenzie, on the other hand, was a show veteran, attending shows across the country.
"Kenzie has not only been in the trade for years, but she has attended the camp for years as well," she said. "We learn a lot here."
(Visit You Gotta Believe Camps at ygblivestockcamps.com/ online. Email them at [email protected].)