Our Youth in Dairy Program is an annual program we started to encourage youth in Arizona as a way to promote the goat dairy industry. Entry is free, and youth can win a show-quality animal of their own. The program requires an essay, a required signature form, and a few smaller rules detailed below.
As of 12/5/2025, a choice of a single show quality registered doeling from your choice of three separate farms will be available for the 2026 Youth in Dairy Program winner. These will be donated by Kochia Grove Farm (Nigerian and possibly an experimental) in Willcox, Sir Echo Farm (Oberhasli) in Tucson and Stand Alone Ranch (Nubian) in Pearce. The winner must reside and show their animal in Arizona. As the program expands, and more breeders wish to donate a kid in their local and surrounding areas to the program, we will offer more breeds to the Arizona youth.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Kochia Grove moved to Southeastern Arizona in May of 2024 where we encountered an abysmal participation in youth dairy kids. Having come from an extensive show background growing up and our own youth participating heavily in shows all over the Pacific Northwest, it was mind baffling to me to discover that youth in our area both didn't have the knowledge of dairy goats, but also the resources to learn about them. It is now our goal to change that and promote dairy goats to our youth and spawn the next generation of dairy goat farmers. Our program was inspired by Broken Top Farm in La Pine, Oregon whose Kid Commit Program has been successful for the Oregon and Washington youth. With her permission, a lot of the same rules and verbiage apply with some variances to more tailor to the needs of Arizona youth.
This competition, started in 2024, is for Arizona youth residing in Arizona and consists of an essay with a minimum of 150 words. Contained in your essay should be common animal care concerns such as; why you would like to own a dairy goat, how do you plan to care for it (shelter, food, routine care, vaccinations, milking), what do you plan to do competitively (shows, linear appraisal, milk testing), do you have any previous goat ownership experiences or other livestock, and goals for your long-term future with dairy goats. Basically; the who, what, where, why and how you plan to proceed with your new dairy goat project. Feel free to tell us about your mentors, your 4H or livestock clubs, if you have any dairy goat memberships, and any other information that will convince us of your commitment to raising dairy goats long-term. We will evaluate essays on the level of commitment to dairy goats in the longer term, while taking spelling and grammar into account.
Please retain a copy of your essay, as we will not be able to ensure copies once submitted. Once a winner is chosen, we will make every effort possible to contact them for the next 30 days. After 30 days without contact, the win will be forfeited. Winners will have to coordinate with the donor farm, whose information they will be provided, to pick up the animal at the donor’s farm or arrange to pick up at a show if possible. Pick-up must occur within the agreed-upon timeframe; if not, the donor farm will contact winners to inform them that their win was forfeited. Outside of extenuating circumstances, once a win is forfeited, the youth may not enter the competition again.
Program Rules and Form
Youth must be between the ages of 10 – 17 as of January 1 of the entry year
Youth must reside in Arizona at the time of application
Entries will be accepted from December 1st – March 15
Entry form, essay, and all signatures must be enclosed in the entry packet
Youth must be members of 4-H, FFA, ADGA, MDGA, AGS, or another organization (this does include kids participating in EXPO type shows like SAILA)
Youth should have owned goats and actively participate in their perspective organization in the last year, but currently owning goats is not a requirement
One youth, per family, per year may win. However, siblings are still always encouraged to apply
Youth may only win once
Winners must claim their goat and have arrangements made with donor by March 31. Winners will be chosen around March 16th of entry year. This allows appropriate possession deadlines to still be met
Winners are required to show their animals in a 4-H, FFA, ADGA, AGS, or other show in the calendar year of winning
If an animal won through the program is to be sold or rehomed for any reason, donor retains first right of refusal and must be notified
Youth must give updates on the animal to donor at 6 months of age and one year of age
Kochia Grove Nigerians 