By By EMILY DREITZLER / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Farming has always been in the blood of 15-year-old Aaron Leneway.
Along with farming, Leneway also has an interest in raising and showing goats at the Berrien County Youth Fair (BCYF). "I've been showing goats at the fair since I was five years old, that is the first year you are eligible to show but that has been raised to six years old this year."
Leneway exhibits his dedication to farming and tending to his goats by waking up daily at 6 a.m. to feed the goats. He also feeds them at 6 p.m., along with performing a variety of other chores.
There is a great deal of preparation Leneway undertakes weeks in advance before taking his goats to show at the fair. "When fair gets closer I have to take off work and give the goats a good clean and shave them. We are really busy here around fair time."
Judges look for a variety of factors when surveying the goats at the BCYF including: utter, appearance, and the ability to show.
Leneway participates in the Dairy Goats, Showmanship Dairy Goats and Market Goats categories at the BCYF.
Due to the high number of participants who enter goats in the BCYF, it can be fairly competitive. "Last year there were well over 200 people competing in showing goats."
Leneway has been very successful in showing goats at the BCYF and has received numerous awards including winning the Junior Dairy Showmanship award three consecutive years and earning the honor of keeping the trophy in 2003; a feat that was last accomplished in 1979 prior to Lenaway.
An interest in goats and showing them at the fair runs in the Leneway family.
Leneway also enjoys how the experience of showing the goats at the fair allows him to spend more time with his father. "The goats are a hobby that my dad and I have on the side."
As for his favorite part of the fair, Leneway finds that sharing the experience he has grown accustomed to is something that proves to be priceless. "I like being there and giving the experience to other people who don't necessarily live on a farm and haven't really seen goats up-close before. I also like the expressions that kids get on their faces when they are around the goats."
In the future, Leneway would like to continue doing what he knows best; farming. "I would like to have a farm someday. I couldn't leave farm life; it's something that I'm too used to."
Besides showing goats at the BCYF, Leneway also shows turkeys, chickens, and rabbits, along with volunteering to set up the BCYF show arena for market, setting up signs, and helping out in the goat barn.
The Berrien County Youth Fair will be held Aug. 15 to Aug. 20 at the BCYF fairgrounds, located at 9122 Old U.S. 31 in Berrien Springs.