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Tom
and Helen Hill started the Florida Meat
Goat Association in the spring of 1986. They had been
raising registered dairy goats for a number of years, and realized
that many people were interested in goats as pets, pack or cart
animals, and for meat. Helen decided to send out a couple of hundred
letters to survey people's interest in starting a Meat Goat
Association. The response was good so plans were made for the first
meeting. Eight people attended that first meeting held at Tom and
Helen's farm in the Lake Butler area. Those in attendance were Tom
and Helen Hill, Ed and Ann Davis, Frank Harvey, Diane Singley,
Isabel Sluder, and Helen's sister, Shirley.
The second
meeting was held at Frank Harvey's farm, near Hampton, and a few
more interested people attended. One of those in attendance at this
second meeting was Laura Pierson, who served as the Association's
Secretary for many years.
The
third meeting was held at Jerry and Laura Pierson's farm in
Interlocken. Among those in attendance were Roger and Ruth Jansen of
Newberry. Ruth was elected the Association's President in 1990 and
again in 1992. Ed Davis was the first elected Treasurer and held
that position for many years.
The
Association developed Articles of Incorporation and submitted them
to the State of Florida for incorporation on October 16, 1989, with
its objective being, to promote the goat industry with its various
products and markets (meat, skins, milk, cheese, etc.) and with
primary interests in the production and marketing of meat from
goats. In addition, the group has always tried to participate in
educational and promotional programs to benefit producers and
processors.
The
Association continues to prosper and grow and now has members from
Homestead to Pensacola. There are now slaughter facilities that
handle goats, and there is more demand for goat meat in Florida than
Florida producers can supply at this time.
The Florida Meat
Goat Association is a very important part of the meat goat
industry in Florida by its continued efforts with promoting meat
from goats and other products from meat goats as a viable commodity.
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