The 24th annual Bandera Angora Goat Show presented by Naumann Angoras of Medina took place on Saturday and drew 184 entries, topping 2022 entries by 13.
Bonnie and Dale Naumann began this show in the late 90’s when the Houston Livestock Show discontinued their Angora shows.
The Bandera competition is one of only five or six shows in the Hill Country. Participants come from all over South Texas and the Hill Country to compete in Bandera.
Bonnie Naumann commented that the youngsters showing Angoras need practice before they proceed to their local livestock shows in January or regional competitions. This competition gives them practice showing their animals.
Angora fleece is incredibly strong and can come in coarse or fine hair. Fleece sales were depressed for a long period of time and shearing crews are hard to find. Angoras need to be sheared at least twice a year for comfort of the animal and to sell the fleeces on the market.
Mohair fiber purchasers require fleeces with at least 12 inches of hair. The market seems to be improving remarked Randy Ward, father to two of Saturday’s competitors. He enthusiastically recounted his family’s experience showing Angoras.
Ward and his twins, Rylynn and Ryder, live in the Nueces Canyon community between Uvalde and Rock Springs. He brings them here to get experience in showing their goats.
Ward admits that the Naumann’s have been critical resources and mentors. They have been helping them to get started with Angora goats.
Twelve-year-old Rylynn likes showing Angora goats. She seems to be drawn to goats as that was what her dad showed when he was young. Rylynn watches the yearling buck competition pensively, figuring out how to improve her performance during the next show.
Uncle Steve Ward laughed when asked about her future plans, he said, “Win next time.” Rylynn smiles and continues to scrutinize the judge and her other competitors.
Ryder Ward joins his sister in the bleachers. Dad Randy proudly stated that his youngsters showed Angora goats as a part of their home school program.
Ryder admits that he likes to show Angoras because you don’t have to wash them before competition, and he likes showing Angoras because they are “different.”
He also likes to follow in the footsteps of Dad Randy who showed goats when he was a teen. “It’s just a way of life in South Texas,” Randy Ward says. Showing Angoras also gives the youngsters experiences working with other teens.
Everything that Ryder and Rylynn do with the goats supports their homeschool curriculum. The process of raising goats is used to support academic curriculum as well as character development.
Randy says that he hopes to eventually get into breeding and selling Angora goats with his children. As a result, he would like to take the next step by advancing the twins to judging teams for Angoras.
Ward is undeniably proud of his children. They also raise other animals on the ranch while participating in church activities. “I am proud of them. They are very godly children,” he proclaims.
Angoras are good animals to show in competition because they wean at 5/6 months and mature at 6 to 7 months. They weigh about 200 pounds as an adult but are more docile than other breeds of goats.
They are perfect brush goats and are efficient browsers. Angoras do need to be fed to produce luxuriant fiber for sale. Their docile nature and quiet spirit make them vulnerable to aggression from other goats in mixed herds. Coyotes are their main predator.
Angoras produce mohair fiber which is sold to buyers twice a year. Angora goats are common worldwide except in Northern Russia and China. They live about 10 years. Their horns are one of the showiest features of Angoras, with bucks’ horns growing long and curling around their heads. Angora goats are most often white in color but can come in red, brown, or black as well. They were first raised in Turkey.
For more information about Angora goats, contact Naumann Angoras in Medina at [email protected] or on Facebook.
