Sheep and Goat Breeding Project

Two Opportunities. One Mission. Growing the Next Generation Through Agriculture.

The Sheep & Goat Breeding Project is the first phase of North Idaho State Fair Farm, a hands-on agricultural education program operated by KC Fairgrounds.

This project is designed to provide two distinct opportunities for North Idaho youth: learning to manage a working breeding herd and receiving assistance to begin a livestock exhibition project.

Both experiences help young people develop agricultural knowledge, responsibility, confidence, and lifelong skills.

Real Responsibility. Real Agricultural Experience.

What does it really take to raise livestock?

Through the Breeding Herd Experience, youth will have the opportunity to help care for breeding ewes (female sheep) and does (female goats) housed at KC Fairgrounds.

Participants will work alongside Fairgrounds agriculture staff to experience the responsibilities involved in managing a breeding livestock operation throughout the year.

What will participants learn?

• Daily Livestock Care: Feeding, watering, cleaning pens, managing bedding, and monitoring animal health.
• Breeding & Birthing: Learning about breeding management, preparing for lambing and kidding, and caring for mothers and their offspring.
• Recordkeeping: Tracking feeding schedules, animal health, and daily observations.
• Facility Maintenance: Helping maintain barns, equipment, fencing, and animal housing areas.
• Teamwork & Accountability: Working with other participants, following care schedules, and learning the importance of consistent animal care.

What Is Expected of Participants?

Youth will commit to an established animal care schedule, participate in designated workdays, maintain records, and follow Fairgrounds animal welfare and safety policies.

The Fairgrounds agriculture team will provide supervision, guidance, facilities, feed, bedding, and veterinary support.

What Do Participants Gain?

In addition to valuable hands-on agricultural experience, participants may earn documented agricultural experience or community service hours, where applicable, and receive letters of recommendation.

Participants may also be considered for a financial award at the conclusion of their experience, based on their commitment, participation, and the availability of program funds.

This experience is intended to recognize the value of hard work while teaching the responsibilities that come with caring for livestock.

Opening the Door to Livestock Exhibition

For many young people, purchasing their first market animal can be one of the biggest barriers to participating in a livestock project.

The Market Animal Scholarship Program is designed to help make that first step possible.

Through a separate application and selection process, youth may be awarded the opportunity to raise a market lamb or goat without the initial expense of purchasing the animal.

This opportunity is especially intended to help first-time exhibitors and youth who may not otherwise have the resources to begin a livestock project.

How Does It Work?

Selected participants will receive a market lamb or goat through a scholarship agreement.

With support and guidance from the Fairgrounds agriculture team, exhibitors will take responsibility for raising, training, and preparing their animals for the North Idaho State Fair Youth Stock Show and Sale.

Depending on available facilities and individual circumstances, participants may be able to house their animal at home or at KC Fairgrounds.

What Will Scholarship Recipients Learn?

• Animal Husbandry: Proper feeding, nutrition, housing, and health management.
• Showmanship & Preparation: Halter breaking, grooming, handling, and preparing animals for exhibition.
• Recordkeeping & Financial Skills: Tracking expenses, monitoring animal growth, and understanding the costs of raising livestock.
• Responsibility & Time Management: Providing consistent daily care and completing project requirements.
• Livestock Marketing: Preparing for the Youth Stock Show and Sale and learning about the financial side of livestock projects.

Giving Back to Future Exhibitors

The scholarship program is designed to provide more than a one-time opportunity.

Under the proposed scholarship model, exhibitors who successfully complete their projects will retain the majority of their animal's sale proceeds, while a small percentage will return to the Market Animal Scholarship Program.

This reinvestment will help support future scholarship animals and give more youth the opportunity to participate.

One opportunity today can help create another opportunity tomorrow.

TWO SEPARATE OPPORTUNITIES. ONE SHARED PURPOSE.

While both opportunities are part of the Sheep & Goat Breeding Project, they serve different purposes.

The Breeding Herd Experience focuses on learning how to care for and manage breeding livestock throughout the year. Participants help maintain the herd and gain practical agricultural experience.

The Market Animal Scholarship Program focuses on helping individual youth begin a livestock exhibition project by providing access to a market lamb or goat through a separate application and selection process.

Participation in the Breeding Herd Experience is not required to apply for a Market Animal Scholarship, and participation in one does not guarantee selection for the other.

The breeding herd is intended to help supply future scholarship animals, connecting the two opportunities while allowing each to operate independently.

GROWING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NORTH IDAHO YOUTH

The Sheep & Goat Breeding Project is about more than raising animals.

It's about giving young people the chance to discover agriculture, develop practical skills, build confidence, and learn the value of hard work.

As the program develops, KC Fairgrounds will establish participant schedules, application processes, and program guidelines to ensure meaningful educational experiences and responsible animal care.

Our goal is to create opportunities that grow with our youth and continue serving the community for years to come.

HELP US BRING IT TO LIFE

Building a Farm Takes a Community!

We're inviting community members, farmers, ranchers, businesses, and agricultural professionals to partner with us in developing North Idaho State Fair Farm.

Whether through breeding livestock, facilities, fencing, equipment, feed, supplies, professional expertise, volunteer labor, or financial contributions, there are many ways to help.

Interested in partnering with us?

Contact hannah@northidahostatefair.com

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North Idaho State Fair Farm is a KC Fairgrounds program. Educational programming is supported in part by The Fair Foundation.