For Iowa youth 4th to 12th grades
Application deadline postmarked March 15, 2024
Each year, the Iowa Dairy Goat Association promotes interest in dairy goats in our state. One of the ways we encourage our young people in this aspect of agriculture is through our Share-A-Kid program.
Winning applicants are selected from the essays they send in. This statewide contest is open to youth in 4th thru 12th grades and who are a member of IDGA, 4-H, FFA, or other agricultural groups. We can only award one goat per family per year; however, siblings are encouraged to apply. Previous Share-A-Kid winners are not eligible.
The entry form, as seen below, must accompany the essay. Be sure to complete the form with all required signatures.
The essay of 100 words or more, should tell why the applicant would like to have a dairy goat, how they are going to take care of her (food, shelter, and medical care), if they have ever raised a goat before and if not, who will help them, why they love goats, and what they love about goats. Spelling, content, and effort count. The essay can include drawings, photos, or any other creative touches. No essays will be returned, and if your essay is selected, it will be given to the donor, so be sure to keep a copy for yourself.
Breeds available are: Toggenburg, Oberhasli, LaMancha, Saanen, Alpine, Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, and Recorded Grade.
Goats are herd animals; potential homes with no current companion goats will need to make plans to acquire a companion for their Share-A-Kid doeling, and should note how they plan to do this in their application. Also, dairy goats are disbudded and can be at a serious disadvantage when housed with horned animals; potential homes with horned goats should demonstrate readiness to house their Share-A-Kid doeling separately from the horned herd, and with an appropriate companion goat.
Within the first year, winners are required to show their animal at a county fair or open class goat show, submit regular health updates to their assigned mentor/donor, and write a brief article for the IDGA newsletter, Last’N News, about their doeling. If within one year of receiving their goat, the winner finds that they cannot keep their doeling, the donating party is to be contacted concerning the goat’s future. Winners are not required to give a doe kid back to the program, but are encouraged to do so.
Everyone will be notified by late April about the status of his or her entry.
Questions? E-mail Beth Buscher Konen at iowadairygoatassociation@gmail.com.
What address do we mail the essay to?
Mail to:
Guinevere McIntyre
4853 Hwy T-38N
Grinnell, IA 50112
Be sure to include the application form as well, the downloadable pdf link is on this page!
Hi,
Would it be helpful to include references? We currently have a small dairy goat herd and can include references about the care we provide. Thank you for this wonderful program.
Truly, Shelly Lehmkuhl
That’s a good question! Any creative additions to make the application thorough can make a big difference, however it should come from the youth themselves. If they thought of a way to integrate the references into their application, that is a great idea!