BY CATHERINE TSAI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Laura Edgington feeds three-week-old Nubian goats.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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BURLINGTON -- When Laura Edgington, 14, took her Nubian dairy goats to the state fair five years ago, it became the first of three consecutive years that she was named "Supreme Showman" of her class.
The fourth year, the rules were changed, so the Burlington resident couldn't win again. The rules said there could be no repeat winners in the top category.
"It wasn't intended to penalize Miss Edgington," said Mary Herbert of the Kentucky State Fair.
But that won't stop the brown-haired, green-eyed girl from competing for a fifth time at the state fair next month.
"It's like a tradition," Laura said. "You just go every year. It's assumed."
This year's fair runs Aug. 20-30 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville.
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IF YOU GO
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What: The 1998 Kentucky State Fair.
When: Aug. 20-30.
Where: Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville.
Cost: Advance discount tickets for sale until Aug. 19 at Kroger stores in Indiana and Kentucky for $4 adults, $1 seniors and under 12; regular price $6 adults, $2 seniors and under 12. $2 parking.
Info: 502-367-5002 for hot line.
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Organizers are calling the event "Everybody's State Fair." In that spirit, several exhibits and contests have been added, including a southern gospel music showcase and a contest for the ugliest lamp.
The fair center is air-conditioned, which should make it easier for Laura to don the white pants and long-sleeved, button-up oxford shirt she wears to show her animals.
"It's not required," Laura said, "but it gives you a better chance of winning. It's probably worth it."
In the showmanship competition, judges look at the poise of the goat's handler, not just the goat.
"A good showman can make any goat look awesome," Laura said. In part of the competition, handlers switch goats to show the judges that they can make someone else's animal look good, too. Once, at the Boone County Fair, Laura switched with the handler of a skittish baby goat that had never been in a ring.
"It would jump all around the ring without taking two steps," Laura said. "That was probably the worst problem I had."
Laura still won.
This week, she left for St. Paul, Minn., to show other people's goats in the American Dairy Goat Association national championships. Two years ago, she won the first-place showmanship award there in the intermediate division.
"I wasn't nervous because I knew I wasn't going to win," Laura said.
But she did win. Her mother cried.
As for the state fair, Laura has a herd of competition. Laura will compete in the open class this year against competitors of all ages from anywhere in the country.
Laura plans to take five or six goats to this year's fair. In the past, her family has taken 25.
On the family's land, about 25 goats stomp around with chickens and a calf. At one point, they had 80 goats.
The goats are often bred for better characteristics.
Raising the goats is more of a hobby than a job for Laura and her two younger sisters, Sarah and Anna.
Laura will add to the collection soon when she buys a goat named Kissimee. "She's the perfect show goat," Laura said. "She cooperates, she stands still, she poses. All goats have a personality, and she has a great one."
The fair is about more than winning prizes, though. Laura said she plans to run around the fair with friends before putting up tents in the barn for the night.
"A lot of times, you don't sleep," Laura said. "You just wander around the barn and talk for hours."
