No kidding: 4-H goat projects are booming

Tripp Odiaga, of Blackfoot, led his breeding goat, Shalla, on a lap inside the show ring at the Eastern Idaho State Fair on Sept. 10, then focused on holding the animal still while a judge scrutinized its composition.

The moment was four years in the making for the 13-year-old boy, who earned his first state fair appearance by winning grand champion at the Bingham County Fair. His parents erupted with cheers from the bleachers when Shalla placed third place in her age group.

Interest in 4-H animal projects remains strong across eastern Idaho, with several counties reporting growth in youth participation and increases in animals entered in county sales. Goats have been especially popular, thanks to their small size, playful nature, minimal space requirements and relatively low cost of care.

“My cousin started showing steers, and I wanted something a little smaller than that, so I started showing goats,” Odiaga said. “I had to set a lot of other stuff to the side, because you have to practice with those animals every single day. It’s fun, and at the same moment, it’s kind of awesome to show the animal you’ve worked with so long, to see it succeed and to get a ribbon.”

Fifty-one youth involved in University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development or FFA showed goats at the state fair, up by 11 from the previous year. Entries included 86 market goats and breeding goats, roughly 20 more than in 2025.

Extension educator Tom Jacobsen, Fremont County, oversaw the state fair’s goat shows.

“It’s getting bigger every year,” Jacobsen said of goat projects, which have also been trendy in Fremont County. “They’re probably the most efficient as far as they grow fast and don’t require a lot of inputs, so they’re cheap to raise.”

Jacobsen’s county has seen an increase in 4-H projects across all categories, including animal projects, shooting sports posters, and family and consumer sciences exhibits, such as cake decoration and sewing. Excluding animal projects, Fremont County youth entered 346 projects in the state fair.

Bannock County has also experienced rapid growth throughout its 4-H program. Extension educator Nikola Ennis, Bannock County, said about 230 local youth are enrolled in 4-H, an increase of about 40 members from the previous year.

Bannock County youth entered 35 beef projects this year — nine more than the year before. Swine, poultry, sheep, goat and family and consumer sciences projects also posted significant gains.

“I think there are a lot of people who want to get their kids involved in activities that will build skills and that teach teamwork and responsibility,” Ennis said. “That’s important to people right now, so I think that’s why we’re getting more participation.”

Animal projects — especially goats and turkeys — are also on the rise in Bonneville County, where entries in the county’s recent livestock sale increased.

“There are more goats than anything else. The goats have really picked up,” said UI Extension educator Ron Patterson, Bonneville County. “Goats definitely have a lot of personality, and goats are small enough generally that the smaller kids can handle them.”

In Power County, a new FFA goat barn at American Falls High School has helped spur interest in goat projects. Local participation grew from only a couple of goat projects in 2025 to about 15 in 2026.

Caribou County 4-H leaders noticed growth in many 4-H animal projects, especially goats. Caribou County 4-H members sold 101 animals in 2026, six more than the previous year.

Though Oneida County is Idaho’s fifth least populated county, 130 youth are enrolled in its 4-H program. About 10 more animals were sold at the county’s 2026 animal sale than the year before. Despite record-high calf prices, Oneida County youth raised 19 beef projects in 2026, up seven from the previous year.

“We were up on our beef and our pigs, and consistent with other counties, we were up on our goats,” said Extension educator Sawyer Fonnesbeck, Oneida County.