It is a family affair at The State Fair of Texas® Angora goat show for the Weavers. They have been showing angora goats at the State Fair dating back to the 1930s.
Kristan and Kyle Weaver are 4th generation ranchers from Edwards County, Texas. They raise commercial and registered Angora goats, along with commercial crossbred beef cattle. Their family has been on that same land since the 1920s, but their ranching bloodlines trace back all the way to 1850s in ranches all over Texas.
“My grandfather, James Dermott Weaver, stayed right here in the dormitories upstairs when he showed here years ago,” Kristan said.
The brother and sister have been showing their goats since they were old enough to be in 4-H. In the beginning, they received last place at almost every show for several years, but eventually, their luck changed.
After a few years in the ring, they showed their goats in Kerrville, Texas, at the Hill Country Junior Livestock Show; which is the fifth largest stock show in Texas, and the largest Angora goat show in the world.
“We would be in the goat ring for hours, and hours, and hours,” Kristan said, “It was great.”
Kristan and Kyle started coming to the State Fair again about 25 years ago. The whole family tries to come every year. They like to get to town by Thursday, before the show to attend the exhibitor dinner.
The Weavers love coming to the State Fair of Texas because “It really is a ‘family friendly’ show here.” “We love that we can just show up, put the goats in the pin, and go do fair stuff,” Kristan said, “We love to eat corndogs, cotton candy, go to the petting zoo, and all that fun stuff.”
The Weaver siblings now bring their own children to the fair. Kristan has two girls, Catarina Craddock- 5, and Cali Craddock- 3; Kyle has two as well, named Avery Weaver- 4 and Margo Weaver- 1. At the State Fair, the little ones are allowed to get in the ring with their parents because it is an open show with no set age requirements.
The girls are still warming up to the idea of showing on their own. The goats are still bigger than they are so they are a bit cautious about getting too close.
“My mom helps me and she’s good at it,” Catarina said.
The girls enjoy going to the art gallery, and the Barn Yard while they’re here at the fair.
The Weavers went home with the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Buck, as well as the Grand Champion Doe and Reserve Champion Doe from the Pan-American Angora goat division. Kristan also won the Prime Exhibitor award. Their love for their history, family, and business is what makes agriculture so great. It really is a lifetime family affair with great memories being made along the way.