CORTEZ – When asked what drew her to raising goats, rising seventh-grader Avery Spruell smiled and said, “I wanted to do something different from my sister (Kaydence).”
The Spruells have lined up for photos with their fair share of grand champions, with Kaydence winning with sheep and swine in recent years, including Senior Showman champion in swine on Friday afternoon.
During Avery Spruell’s four years showing goats at the Montezuma County Fair, she has learned what it takes to bring out the best in her animals. So, when livestock judge Bradie Midcap walked over to shake her hand and name her goat, Dustin, grand champion, the Montezuma-Cortez Middle School student realized that her hard work had paid off.
“It was a super cool feeling,” Avery Spruell said of her championship moment.
She started showing swine a couple years after she started in on her competitive ventures, but has always had a soft spot for the species where she began.
“The goats have such fun and interesting minds,” she said, “I really love showing them.”
Avery Spruell’s ability to develop a strong bond with her goat manifested in the ring, where the duo confidently strode in front of the hundreds of spectators inside the main barn at the fairgrounds.
“Dustin loves to hang out with his brother (who won reserve champion),” she said. “He gets a bit of separation anxiety, so he always wants to hang out with his friends and me.”
Trying to find exactly which goat will be the right fit comes through a bit of trial and error, but Spruell has become savvy with the process of getting her animal through the livestock sales, using a keen eye to find just the right one for her.
“It’s fun to see all the differences in the animals,” she said, “and it’s exciting to learn about them when we train together.”
Meanwhile, the fair and her 4-H involvement have become powerful experiences for her, far beyond the ribbons.
“I’ve made so many friends here that I would have never made just in school,” she said, “and being with my family and friends for all of it is something I love about the fair.”
Spruell is no stranger to what lies ahead – a trip to Pueblo for the Colorado State Fair during the week of Aug. 28 to Sept. 7. Spruell took third in the showmanship category in one of her previous appearances, and hopes that her goats may be able to earn her another top showing this year.
