Native to Africa and Europe, goats are a popular species for youth livestock projects in Florida. Today, there are countless breeds of goats around the world, and though the fact that goat is nearly the widest consumed meat around the world is little known by those in North American, goats are a staple of agriculture in many different places. Not only can goats provide meat for eating, goats can also be kept for milk and raised for fiber.

Goat production in the U.S. is concentrated in Texas and around the Midwest, but in 2016, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported the Florida now ranks in the top 10 for states with numbers of goats raised for meat, and that our state is becoming a leader in creating Best Management Practices (BMPs) and standards that are being adopted for goat husbandry nationwide. In terms of shows, three categories of goat shows exist: Boer (meat), dairy and pygmy.

Boer goat shows, for ABGA registered purebred animals, or "meat" goat shows at jackpot shows and fairs, commonly offer classes for breeding does, and also bucks. Market goat classes are also commonly offered for meat-type animals. Dairy goat shows offer classes for breeding does of the Alpine, LaMancha, Saanen, Nubian, Oberhalsi, Toggenburg and Nigerian Dwarf breeds as designated by the ADGA, if a sanctioned show. Pygmy or "dwarf" goat shows are also held, specifically for pygmy goats, to include classes for does, bucks and wethers.

Listed on this page are goat shows open to all youth in Florida, unless otherwise stated, and are non-terminal (all animals return to the farm of the exhibitor after the show) and contain divisions for breeding does and/or bucks, and wethers or market goats, as applicable, depending upon the show. Only shows located in Florida are listed here.

For more information about regional or national level shows for your breed, check out its respective association our our Livestock Organizations page.

For more information about jackpot-type shows in Georgia, visit our friends at the Georgia Junior Livestock Foundation. For more information about sanctioned shows for registered animals, please visit the American Boer Goat Association, the American Dairy Goat Association and the National Pygmy Goat Association.