Temperatures hovered around the 90-degree mark outside the Tennessee Livestock Center.

While MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience professor Alanna Vaught explains how to use an electric trimmer to groom a goat, youngsters attending the third annual MTSU Goat Day Camp listen in the small animal arena in the Tennessee Livestock Center June 21. (MTSU photos by Andy Heidt)

Inside, where air conditioning made it quite comfortable, more than 40 youngsters from across Tennessee spent the entire day Tuesday, June 21, learning techniques about the care of goats and getting ideas for showing them in competitions from professionals.

The third annual MTSU Goat Day Camp took place in the livestock center’s small animal arena.

MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience officials conduct the camp each year to help educate fourth- through 12th-graders on proper goat care: grooming, feeding, clipping, washing and more.

MTSU professor Alanna Vaught and Matt Farris, an MTSU alumnus and Oakland High School agriculture faculty member, led the breakout sessions and overall instruction.

Following showmanship practice, the showmanship contest was held in pee wee and elementary, middle and high school grade levels.

The student-led Block & Bridle Club sponsors the camp. The Tennessee Farmers’ Cooperative provided awards.

To learn about the 2017 MTSU Goat Day Camp, call 615-898-2523 or email Vaught at Alanna.Vaught@mtsu.edu.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

MTSU alumnus Matt Farris, right, an Oakland High School agriculture faculty member and Future Farmers of America chapter adviser, talks with a group of teenagers about caring for goats during the MTSU Goat Day Camp at the Tennessee Livestock Center June 21.