by Megan McGinley of Meg's Blessings Farm

Page made December 2024 (It will always be a work in progress so check back and I'm sure I'll add more soon!)

 

How I got started with goats...

Ever since I had begun going to the zoo when I was young, I had wanted goats. I fell in love with something about them. Anytime we went, I would spend hours with them! And how could you not love them?!?!

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Both my mom and dad grew up on farms with animals of various species, while I was in a sub-division when I was younger. We had cows back at my dad's parents when I was younger so even when I was really little, I was around animals and was the "official record keeper" every year when we would do herd checks. We didn't yet have the space nor our house built yet on the land we had been working to acquire, it was the 55 acres behind the original farm where my dad grew up!

After finally having our house built on the land and moved in, we had been in the house a month before we went to go see goats with interest to start my herd!

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In September of 2017 when I was 7 years old, we visited Hilemon Hills Nigerian Dwarf Goats and ended up purchasing 2 goats by the names of Hilemon Hills Dawn & Hilemon Hills Cierra, both little babies that were yet to be weaned so we waited a few more weeks and brought them home on October 11, 2017! Dr. Pam at Hilemon Hills has been such a blessing. And we still talk to her today and visit with her today!​

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We had originally thought "oh, we will just show through 4-H" but come to find out that TN 4-H does not have a dairy goat program! So, through Dr. Pam we were connected to Ms. Lisa at Fields of Grace who fueled my quickly growing love of goats! We were fortunate enough to be able to breed to her handsome bucks the first three years before we brought in some smelly guys of our own! We are so blessed to have connected with her! She has become a fantastic family friend and gave us the extra push and resources to get started in showing through the American Dairy Goat Association where our goats are registered through! And a lot has happened since then!

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In 2021, we attended our first show and with my very first goat, Cierra won Grand Champion, Best of Breed, Best Udder of Breed and if that wasn't enough, Honorable Mention Best In Show! I will never forget that day and how it sparked my desire to want to show so much more!! This little doe now has 2 Grands & 6 Reserves and is retired as of 2024.

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In 2022, I was blessed with the opportunity to add Fields of Grace Fancy Schmancy & Fields of Grace CB Princess to the herd! Fancy and Princess now both just need 1 leg each to finish!

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In 2022, we brought in Primrose Hill Immort-Elle & Primrose Hill Everlasting Joy (both now 6*M) from Jennifer Bowman of Primrose Hill In Blacksburg, VA! We also were blessed with the opportunity to bring in Primrose Hill U Soldier *B & Primrose Hill M Iceman *B! That winter we also brought in SGCH Sunnydale Farm ZM Faith 4*M & Primrose Hill Fifty Shades Hot 4*M! Jennifer is an absolutely amazing friend and we are blessed to have met her!

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In 2022 We also went to Gilman Wisconsin for 3 doelings, Aubreys Acres Bread Puddin, Phall Phyre & Jingle Belle!

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In 2022, We also had our first homebred best in show and had 6 does earn grand that year!

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In 2023, we had several more does earn grand and another best in show!

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In 2024, We attended our first National Show in which I took Meg's Blessings LetUrLiteShine, Forever Fancy & Live By Faith who placed 5th Place Jr Get of Sire! I also had the opportunity to show my right hang girl Primrose Hill Immort-Elle 6*M In showmanship! She's the best ever, bombproof and just the showmanship goat that I couldn't ask more of. ​​​