Hadley Stultz, 10, with the Tom Green County 4H Club puts in about two hours after school every day working with her goats, before it gets too dark to where they can't do anything. She also has to make sure she gets her homework done.
Taking the time to work with goats is a lot of hard work, and Hadley has been involved with one particular doe since the moment it was born. Working with goats and participating in shows is a passion for the 10-year-old, and that passion shined through Friday morning at the 84th Annual San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo.
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The Jr. Texas Stars Wether Doe Show kicked off the weekend with a Grand Champion of the Lightweight Division, and Hadley took home not only First Place in the Class 2 Division, but she also won the Grand Champion within her second year of competing and her first show of the year.
Reid Stultz, Hadley’s father, provided some background on Hadley and her doe.
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“We raise the goats, from the time the doe hits the ground, from the time [the doe] was born, [Hadley's] been involved with it. From feeding her to fitting her, working with her, showing her, teaching her to lead, teaching her to show. It’s every day after school.”
Hadley said she goes out to many of the shows with the family.
“This weekend, we will bring in two more goats and two more sheep for the show this weekend," said the 10-year-old Champion. "After that, we will be in San Antonio next week for a doe show with more goats and sheep. Then we will have a couple weeks off. After, we will go down to Houston for a week for a show, and then right after Houston is the Austin show. So right now is a busy time for us. We work all year for these two months a year.”
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Hadley handles these shows well according to her father.
“We show a lot during the summer and also in the fall, so it’s just like another show to her even though it’s her second year," Reid explained. "I think she doesn’t get as nervous anymore, but we are still learning. We can improve on a lot of things. Her first year she didn’t [get into the show], but I think once they start winning, then they kind of get a little bit more excited about it. That helps for when they are out there working after school. When you are getting onto them about doing this or that wrong, they understand why.”
The show is divided up into three classes for judging. Then the winners of these classes will come back out for the division win. Hadley won first place in the Class Two, and when she went back out for the division judgment, she ended up bringing home Champion, which was wuite the surprise to her and her father.
Hadley said she will attend the overall show, but, whether or not she wins that, her doe will be available for the sale. This is a big deal in the livestock show overall because this is where many participants like Hadley are able to make their profit for their stock.
However, Reid stated, “The whole reason we do it, the very reason why everyone else does it, is to teach the kids hard work, responsibility, sportsmanship, and that nothing is handed to you. You have to work for it.”
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Here are some of the qualifications Hadley had to follow:
- Only does are shown
- Does must weight at a minimum of 50 pounds, no maximum
- Hair must not exceed 1 ¼ in above the hocks and knees
- It is a Blow & Show only
Judges look at muscle and bone structure and how well they are built. Structure, especially on the does, is important. Then they look at things like balance, how they profile from the side view, and how attractive they are. These are just a few things the judges look for in the show.
As for prizes, a scholarship is granted to those who win division champion and reserve champion along with the top five. Their does are also eligible for the sale afterwards. Here are the amounts:
- Grand Champion Banner & $7,000 Scholarship
- Reserve Grand Champion Banner & $5,000 Scholarship
- Third Overall Banner & $3,500 Scholarship
- Fourth Overall Banner & $3,000 Scholarship
- Fifth Overall Banner & $2,000 Scholarship
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Hadley's win is just one of many that will take place at this year's SS&R. For schedule information, click here. Readers can also find the schedule on the right rail of this story.
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