August 21, 2025 • 6 mins
On this edition of ACF 411, Russ talks to Tate about being the Goat King at the 175th Allen County Fair!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to another edition of ACF four one one,
the official podcast of the Allen County Fair powered by Nutrient.
I'm your host Trus Decker, and joining me in the
podcast parlor is Tate. Did oh Tate welcome?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So you've got this sash thing on.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I assume that means like you're in charge goat king
this year?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You're goat king? Yes, So what's that mean?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, it basically it is a position that you sign
up for to do. You have an interview that you
have to go through, and then when you get selected,
you have extra responsibilities to do. And it's basically just
the thing that some of the kids will look up to.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
So so really it's you're kind of being a mentor
to some of the younger kids that are that are
showing goats and maybe it's their first fair and yeah
they're a little what do I do next? And so
how I'm assuming that means you have a goat project?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yes, I did take oats this year. Have I had
twelve goats at the fair just the other day and
still do now and we will only be taking home
a couple of them.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
But all right, so how'd you do in the judging
very well.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I took second, I believe for my age division.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So are you getting very good? So now will you
be selling some of those goats tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
At Yes, they actually be selling some of them tomorrow. Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So how many years have you been showing goats?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I have been showing goats for eight years now.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Wow, that's a long time. Yes, what's the what's the
best you've ever done? What's your best year?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Been fifth place overall? So made it to the Carcass
Show and that was my first year.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
How many goats are in there this year?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
There is a lot of goats. This year.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It seemed like chickens and goats were really up the h.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yes, chickens and goats were very high this year. We
had to move the sheep and goats to the hog
barn because we ran out of space. Yep.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Wow, but the hogs were out about that.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I don't know how they felt about it.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, you didn't ask them. Nope, he didn't talk to
any of the hogs down there. No, Okay, that's good.
So tell us. So I'm just to explain royalty to
non fear people out there, non kids who don't know
they come out to the fair and they see folks
run around with sashes and stuff and explain the whole
(02:30):
royalty thing.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So more than anything, it is an opportunity for the
kids to put themselves out there to help out the
younger kids. They can also do it to some of them,
not always, but they'll do it for their resume, But
most of them just do it because they had other
mentors and they want to help mentor the younger kids.
(02:54):
It's also another opportunity for them to volunteer and give
their time because some of us we don't have much
to do here at the fair, even with the animals,
so we want something else to put our time towards.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
So it's a chance maybe to grow some leadership skills
as well as to volunteer a little bit. Yes, fair, right,
So you're also on the Junior fairboard, so let's talk
about that, because you know, we always talk about the
fair directors and stuff, but they don't really do very much.
The Junior fairboard really runs the fair, is that correct?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Not really, It's all a group effort.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
All right, But the Junior Fair really the south side
at the south end of the fairgrounds, you guys are
pretty much that's where the livestock is that's your focus.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, pretty much. We also have the special interest building
too for all those kids that take those projects.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And so this year I heard and you might know
this number, but I think I heard fourteen hundred kids
participating this year.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
That sounds about right.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yes, that's a lot of kids. Yeah, at all ages. Yes,
So what is the So if you were talking to
somebody who's never been in four HS, they've never been
in FFA, they come out to the fair, they see
all these neat things and they're thinking about, well, maybe
I could do something like that. What's the benefit of
(04:12):
getting involved in four H or FFA as a youngster.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Well, more than anything, it's just everybody's willing to help
out each other. So we just had to judge in
one of our goat shows the other day and he
was having issues finding a trailer and he reached out
to somebody through a Facebook post and he was able
to get bounced around to a whole bunch of four
H people and he found a trailer. So, more than anything,
(04:36):
it's just a great way to grow with other four
H people around. You grow life skills and everything else.
So it kind of all depends on how you look
at it.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
And with a special interest. She talked about the special
interest building up on the North End. Really, you don't
have to be a farm kid. If you're a city
kid and you like rockets, there's a place for you
in four HS.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yes, we have a very wide range of projects that
you could take.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
All right. So the one of the questions I've been
asking everybody this week, and it's a really tough question.
So think about this. There are a lot of places
out here for fair food, a lot of places. Do
you have a favorite?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I would say, yes, I do you have a favorite?
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And what is it?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
The Pennsylvania Dutch funnel cake stand?
Speaker 1 (05:25):
The funnel cake stand?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
And how many times have you been there so far?
This week?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So far? This week? Just once? But there has been
a time where I would probably go two to three
times a day.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
And are you just saying that because your mother's on
the other side of the glass?
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Kind of and kind of not.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Have you been have you had time at all to
ride any rides?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Not yet today or this week? But I do plan
on getting out to them at some point.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
And what's your favorite ride?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That is a hard one. I don't really have a favorite.
They're all kind of they're all interesting.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
So do you like the ones that are kind of
spooky where they take you up and drop you in
that kind.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Of I like those ones.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Yeah, all right, cool, So Tate, thanks for coming in
the podcast parlor.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Really appreciate Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
All right, and have a great Allen County Fair.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Thank you you too.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
We'll be right back.
Welcome back to another edition of ACF four one one,
the official podcast of the Allen County Fair powered by Nutrient.
I'm your host Trus Decker, and joining me in the
podcast parlor is Tate. Did oh Tate welcome?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So you've got this sash thing on.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I assume that means like you're in charge goat king
this year?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You're goat king? Yes, So what's that mean?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, it basically it is a position that you sign
up for to do. You have an interview that you
have to go through, and then when you get selected,
you have extra responsibilities to do. And it's basically just
the thing that some of the kids will look up to.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
So so really it's you're kind of being a mentor
to some of the younger kids that are that are
showing goats and maybe it's their first fair and yeah
they're a little what do I do next? And so
how I'm assuming that means you have a goat project?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yes, I did take oats this year. Have I had
twelve goats at the fair just the other day and
still do now and we will only be taking home
a couple of them.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
But all right, so how'd you do in the judging
very well.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I took second, I believe for my age division.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So are you getting very good? So now will you
be selling some of those goats tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
At Yes, they actually be selling some of them tomorrow. Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So how many years have you been showing goats?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I have been showing goats for eight years now.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Wow, that's a long time. Yes, what's the what's the
best you've ever done? What's your best year?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Been fifth place overall? So made it to the Carcass
Show and that was my first year.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
How many goats are in there this year?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
There is a lot of goats. This year.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It seemed like chickens and goats were really up the h.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yes, chickens and goats were very high this year. We
had to move the sheep and goats to the hog
barn because we ran out of space. Yep.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Wow, but the hogs were out about that.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I don't know how they felt about it.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, you didn't ask them. Nope, he didn't talk to
any of the hogs down there. No, Okay, that's good.
So tell us. So I'm just to explain royalty to
non fear people out there, non kids who don't know
they come out to the fair and they see folks
run around with sashes and stuff and explain the whole
(02:30):
royalty thing.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So more than anything, it is an opportunity for the
kids to put themselves out there to help out the
younger kids. They can also do it to some of them,
not always, but they'll do it for their resume, But
most of them just do it because they had other
mentors and they want to help mentor the younger kids.
(02:54):
It's also another opportunity for them to volunteer and give
their time because some of us we don't have much
to do here at the fair, even with the animals,
so we want something else to put our time towards.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
So it's a chance maybe to grow some leadership skills
as well as to volunteer a little bit. Yes, fair, right,
So you're also on the Junior fairboard, so let's talk
about that, because you know, we always talk about the
fair directors and stuff, but they don't really do very much.
The Junior fairboard really runs the fair, is that correct?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Not really, It's all a group effort.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
All right, But the Junior Fair really the south side
at the south end of the fairgrounds, you guys are
pretty much that's where the livestock is that's your focus.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, pretty much. We also have the special interest building
too for all those kids that take those projects.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And so this year I heard and you might know
this number, but I think I heard fourteen hundred kids
participating this year.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
That sounds about right.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yes, that's a lot of kids. Yeah, at all ages. Yes,
So what is the So if you were talking to
somebody who's never been in four HS, they've never been
in FFA, they come out to the fair, they see
all these neat things and they're thinking about, well, maybe
I could do something like that. What's the benefit of
(04:12):
getting involved in four H or FFA as a youngster.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Well, more than anything, it's just everybody's willing to help
out each other. So we just had to judge in
one of our goat shows the other day and he
was having issues finding a trailer and he reached out
to somebody through a Facebook post and he was able
to get bounced around to a whole bunch of four
H people and he found a trailer. So, more than anything,
(04:36):
it's just a great way to grow with other four
H people around. You grow life skills and everything else.
So it kind of all depends on how you look
at it.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
And with a special interest. She talked about the special
interest building up on the North End. Really, you don't
have to be a farm kid. If you're a city
kid and you like rockets, there's a place for you
in four HS.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yes, we have a very wide range of projects that
you could take.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
All right. So the one of the questions I've been
asking everybody this week, and it's a really tough question.
So think about this. There are a lot of places
out here for fair food, a lot of places. Do
you have a favorite?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I would say, yes, I do you have a favorite?
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And what is it?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
The Pennsylvania Dutch funnel cake stand?
Speaker 1 (05:25):
The funnel cake stand?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
And how many times have you been there so far?
This week?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So far? This week? Just once? But there has been
a time where I would probably go two to three
times a day.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
And are you just saying that because your mother's on
the other side of the glass?
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Kind of and kind of not.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Have you been have you had time at all to
ride any rides?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Not yet today or this week? But I do plan
on getting out to them at some point.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
And what's your favorite ride?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That is a hard one. I don't really have a favorite.
They're all kind of they're all interesting.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
So do you like the ones that are kind of
spooky where they take you up and drop you in
that kind.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Of I like those ones.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Yeah, all right, cool, So Tate, thanks for coming in
the podcast parlor.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Really appreciate Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
All right, and have a great Allen County Fair.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Thank you you too.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
We'll be right back.
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