Message from the President
click here for past messages

November 2004 -- By Susan Prechtl

The leaves are falling and the fleeces on the goats are growing in thick and luxurious. To a certain extent I love this time of year because when it’s dark, I’m done! All that really means is that I have less time to get some weekly chores accomplished during the daylight hours, but it does give me a bit more time to sit and spin or knit each evening.

It’s truly a pleasure to handle the fibers that come from our lovely Pygora goats. Whether you dehair and card or comb it by hand, or send it off to a commercial establishment to be processed by machines, the end product is truly beautiful and it does spin up into some heavenly yarns. The demand for Pygora fibers is growing because of the efforts of some of the quality breeders within PBA who have been finding opportunities to showcase and promote their products.

But whether you have Pygoras for their fiber or as pets, or as milk and meat producers, their ease of care and their physical hardiness makes them ideal for small acreages. If you would like to help PBA sing the praises of the Pygora goat, elsewhere in this newsletter is information about how and where you can volunteer your time and services. PBA has some very talented and gifted folks within its membership and we hope you will come forward and volunteer to join a committee.

The Advertising Committee is looking for some new members. If you’d be interested in helping explore options for various formats and opportunities to promote Pygora goats, PBA can use your help!

Fiber Committee – We’ve had one person come forward and is willing to help put together some information for PBA’s website on processing fiber and how to use it. If you’d like to help with this project (collect information and ideas, photos, etc), please consider raising your hand.

The Education Committee has a vacancy. There are funds available through PBA for educational projects. This committee evaluates the incoming proposals and applications for the educational grants.

Youth Committee – There is a need for someone to develop and administer a PBA program for youth. This could include working with 4H, FFA, or any other program that caters to young people. The PBA board of directors firmly believes in supporting youth and would truly like to get a high-energy person involved in this committee. If you have some ideas or some experience in this area, we hope you’ll step up to the plate!!

Show Secretary – This person ensures that show sanctioning occur according to show rules, maintains the ribbon inventory and ships them out to the local show chairs. This is an important position and, while we’d love for there to be more shows across the country each and every year, right now there’s only about five, so it’s not a labor-intensive job.

Within this current newsletter you will also find ballots for you to vote on some important issues. A committee of members spent considerable time and effort evaluating PBA’s bylaws and put together an updated version. We think these new bylaws will bring us into the current century and better reflect how PBA should function. We think these new bylaws allow flexibility in some important areas while maintaining protections and guidelines for everyone. Please take a moment or two to read through the recommended bylaws, fill out our ballot and return it.

In addition to the bylaws, you will find some recommended changes to the breed standards. These recommendations came about as the result of the recent fiber study performed by Yocom-McColl. Again, please consider these recommended changes and fill out your vote accordingly.

Louellen Kelly has graciously agreed to complete the term of a board member who recently resigned. Lou brings with her an extensive knowledge of Pygora goats and their fiber, and she is detail oriented and well organized. We’re all going to benefit from having her on board!

By the time you hear from me in the next newsletter, the hectic political goings on will be over and the holiday season will be behind us. During these busy times, be sure to take some time to appreciate and spend time with your families and friends.

From here at Hidden Meadow Farm, I wish you all PEACE, HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS!

Susan Prechtl
Hidden Meadow Farm
pygora@clatskanie.com