“Her STA goats serve as the backbone


of the Webber’s Grove pedigrees,” Eve said. The Myotonic Goat Registry recognizes that there are two lines of Myotonics — Ten- nessee and Texas. “Webber’s Grove is primarily from the


Texas line. Most of our goats are descendants of the original herd that was brought to Texas from Tennessee in the 1930s by Boone Heap.”


Released in the Texas Hill Country with minimal care, the goats that survived the heavy predation were quiet, larger, more pro- tective goats with good mothering abilities that displayed a real “go get it” attitude. “In other words, they didn’t stand around the feed bucket begging for more,” Eve said. It’s not polite to ask a lady her age, but Eve will tell you that she remembers Eisen- hower as president and the days when Elvis was popular. She figures that she will retire from goats when she reaches 85 years old, but who knows?


Being concerned about Myotonic breeders that are getting “long in the tooth”, Eve, along with Janice Foster of Morning Star Ranch and Kathy Chisum of High Oak Farm, organized an MGR sanctioned show. Located in Brenham during May, the Texas Myotonic Showdown involves the FFA and 4-H and works with breeders throughout the U.S. Free education workshops are offered as well as a scholarship program to continue the ef- forts of youth involve- ment.


“We believe that young people are the fu- ture for the Myotonic breed,” Eve said. “Known as the Dian Naumann Scholarship Fund, it honors this early Texas pioneer of Boer and Myo- tonic goats.”


While most of our babies arrive in the spring, myotonics can breed year round. And yes, they have blue eyes as well as brown.


The program targets a community need of as- sisting youth in further- ing their education towards small ruminant


veterinary practices. To find out more, go to https://texasmyotonic- showdown.com/scholarship.


“Myotonics are able to wind themselves around a person’s heart,” Eve said. “Friends who don’t own goats can’t seem to under- stand how goat ranchers can talk about goats for hours. When they share pictures of their grandchildren, we whip out pictures of goats kids hopping about. We talk about such things as feed, the best min- erals and supplements, predator control, poisonous plants and the list goes on and on.”


Perhaps someday, non-goat folks will understand some of what goat ranchers are talking about. In the meantime, we have ambassa- dors for Myotonics like Eve Williams of Webber’s Grove. n


STA Praline in the kidding barn. IMPORTANT LINKS


Learn more about the history of Webbers Grove: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85745039/j ohn-ferdinand-webber


Learn more about the Texas Myotonic Show Down May 7-8: texasmyotonicshowdown.com


February 2021 | Goat Rancher 13


With mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, coy-dogs, vultures, foxes, wild pigs, not to mention stray dogs, Great Pyrs keep everyone safe on the 100-acre farm.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32