Libertie Fried started showing goats simply because she liked goats. Libertie is a junior at Potosi High School. She is a part of the FFA group. Libertie enjoys being in FFA and she most enjoys being around her friends and the community, “I enjoy being a part of the activities and contests we have. I also like being a part of the community.”
She has been showing goats for more than two years now, coming up on three years soon. Libertie had talked to many people who influenced her and got her started. “You have to know the right people to get into showing goats if you are not born into it,” said Libertie. Libertie brings six goats to each show. She owns one goat herself; she shows the other five on behalf of other owners. Libertie receives help from her parents with whatever needs to be done like supplying her with the feed for her goats.
When Libertie prepares for a show, she has to wake up early. “I set my alarm for 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. I have to wear specific clothing like a nice button-up [shirt] and jeans,” said Libertie. To prepare a goat for a show, Libertie spends weeks getting the goats ready for the show. She has to clip their hair and shave them. When she is at the show she washes and dries the goats. Once she is done with all that, she has to spray adhesive on the goats and then comb the goats’ hair to make it look nice for the show.
Libertie shows goats in multiple locations where anyone can go and watch her. She shows at the Grant County Fair and in Bloomington and Belmont. The shows can be multiple hours depending on the size of the show. But when Libertie shows her goats, it takes anywhere from five to twenty minutes. Libertie only shows goats, but she does love other animals. She has two dogs, Cora and Macy; two turtles, Franklin and Toby; a snake, Envy; and a goat. Libertie has a passion for animals and wants to become a veterinarian after high school.
Libertie has been showing goats for almost three years and has won multiple classes, (the classes are arranged by weight and breed) but has never won a whole show. “My goal this coming year is to win a whole show at least one time.”