The Evolution of the Savanna Spectacular Origins: The 2018 Savanna Spectacular
By Paulette Wohnoutka
In 2018, the Savanna goat industry hosted its first-ever major event: the Savanna Spectacular. The inspiration for this gathering came from Allison Rosauer of 3 Oaks Goats, who suggested it would be valuable for breeders to meet face-to-face. Initially, there were doubts about whether breeders would travel long distances — some as far as 10 to 18 hours — to attend a meeting in Bolivar, Mo. These concerns were quickly put to rest when more than 100 breeders arrived at the Polk County 4-H fair- grounds Oct. 12-14, 2018, with some even flying in for the occasion.
The venue quickly reached capacity, filling all 35 available pens in the barn and spilling over into a couple of trailers. Al- though there was no formal auction or live broadcasting, breeders actively shopped among each other’s pens, attended presenta- tions and participated in door prize drawings. The event also featured its first benefit auc- tion to help cover expenses. We had a delicious dinner in the upper room at the local barbe- cue place on Friday evening, before the ‘gathering’ on Saturday. Our dinner on Friday evening was designed to be a casual affair. But Tre- vor Ballif of Sleepy Hollow Farm started calling it THE GALA. People were calling me asking if they were to wear formal at- tire. It got to be a challenge of words. The more I asked Trevor not to say “GALA” the more he said it. I threatened to make him wear a tux. Short of a tux, I did present him with the TIE OF SHAME (a
The highlight of recent Savanna Spectaculars has been the auction of registered breeding stock.
very classy tie with GOATS on it). We put it on him to wear through the entire dinner. Fast forward, he wore it again at the 2020 Spectacular. I just love that tie! It was GREAT! Breeders did not want to leave. They were in their trucks, motors running, hanging out the windows of various vehicles still talking. How do you beat THAT? How did we beat that? We expand the concept! Enter Savanna
Spectacular 2020.
The 2018 event featured a pen sale (left). Trevor Ballif wore the “tie of shame” in 2018 and 2020 (center). Lacy Pruitt created a towering cake in 2020 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pedigree International and the Savanna industry in the United States (right).
18 Goat Rancher | November 2025
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