Virtual Show Entry Guidelines

Updated V-show Guidelines for 2022:

With the MDGA Virtual Show growing leaps and bounds, changes have been made to help the show run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The following are effective starting in 2022.

  •  After cropping, ALL photos must be resized to a maximum of 600x800 pixels prior to being submitted to the MDGA V-show. 
  •  ALL Applications must have the correct photos attached WITH the entry form.
    Applications received without all necessary photos and information may be discarded. Entries will no longer be accepted without photos accompanying the entry form. Payment must also be sent within 24 hours of submission of entries.
  •  Once submitted, photos may not be swapped or replaced unless requested by the V- show coordinator.
  •  If incorrect photos are submitted, once contacted by the V-show coordinator, members have 72 hours to provide acceptable photos, otherwise the goat will be scratched from the show.
  •  If entering the goat as an “agent”, the owner of the goat, as well as the agent must be current MDGA Members. The owner of the goat must give approval to have their goat(s) entered in the show. The owner must notify the V-show coordinator that they are allowing an agent to show the goat.
  •  Photos must be taken on solid, flat surfaces. Entries with goats standing in grass, deep straw/bedding will not be entered in the show.
  •  Under no circumstances will refunds be given for incorrect submissions/entries or in the event a goat must be pulled from the show.
  •  Entries may not be scratched or pulled once the show is at the member proofing stage or if the show is taking place, unless requested by MDGA.
  •  Judges will give written reasons for the top ten animals in each class. Written reasons beyond the first ten animals will be at the judge’s discretion. Every animal will be placed.
  •  The V-Show Coordinator may not give insight on what photos are most flattering for your animal. The owner/agent must use his or her discernment when entering.
  •  By entering the show, the entrant agrees to abide by the listed guidelines and
    understands that MDGA rules shall govern before/during/and after the show.

**If you are having difficulties entering the show or need additional information, please feel free to contact the V-show Coordinator for further assistance.

The V-show is one of the many benefits offered to MDGA's members!

For a goat to enter MDGA's Virtual Show (V-Show), a few high-quality pictures of the goat are needed. These pictures include a side view, a frontal view, a rear view, and a view taken from above the goat while standing behind the animal. For a doe in milk, a close-up picture of the fore udder is also required.

Any photos that have been edited to improve the appearance of the goat will NOT be accepted.

All  miniature dairy goat breeds as well as Nigerian Dwarves are accepted for the V-Shows.

The goats must be registered with MDGA to be included in the V-Shows.

Here are some recommendations for showing the goat off to the best of his/her potential:

  • Clipping helps to give the goat a clean look and allows the judge to better see the animal’s conformation.
  • If it is not possible to clip the entire goat, give it a "dairy clip trim the udder, feet, and legs, and trim away any other long hair.
  • Shave off or trim away all excess hair from the udder of a doe in milk.
    Be sure to take the picture just before milking so that the udder is full.
  • The judging is about the goat, so please keep the handler, other people, other goats, and other objects out of the pictures as much as possible.
  • Keep the background of the picture as simple and uncluttered as possible. A sheet can provide a good background that will help the judge see the animal instead of the barnyard, gate, or fence.
  • For best presentation of the goat, keep the animal’s head up and straight in front. The rear hocks should be directly under the pin bones. Do not stretch the goat out like a race horse.
  • The frontal picture should be taken to show the animal’s front legs and feet and the width of the chest. Make sure that the legs are set straight under the animal.
  • The rear picture should show the escutcheon (the arch between the rear legs where the udder is located), which should be high and wide, so take the picture from an angle that will allow the judge to best see this area. The rear legs and feet should also show well in this picture.
  • The picture taken from above should show the main axis of the animal’s body forming a straight line, so keep the head straight in front of the goat.
  • Take all pictures on flat, solid surfaces. Wooden, concrete, or blacktop surfaces are excellent and will allow foot and leg structure to be easily photographed.
  • When taking the side, front, and rear pictures of a goat, get down on the animal’s level. The camera should be approximately level with the middle of the goat's body or only slightly higher.
  • Make sure to take the pictures square on (with the photographer perpendicular to the goat If the pictures for the frontal or side views are taken from too far away or if the the pictures for the rear and frontal views are taken from an off-center location, the pictures will give the impression that the animal has an out-of-proportion or lop-sided body.
  • Take pictures on cloudy or overcast days to prevent dark shadows from appearing in the pictures, as shadows will make the lines of the goat difficult to see.
  • Examples are shown below of the way that pictures should be taken. All of the goats in the pictures are standing on acceptable surfaces.

Any photos entered that are not taken on an acceptable surface or from a correct angle (above the back) WILL NOT be accepted.
The entrant will be asked to provide corrected photos.

 

Examples of correct and incorrect photos:

Side view photo:

trillium_kw (1)
Incorrect ground setting
Incorrect ground setting

Rear view photo:

sheba_tw (2)
Top of rear not in photo
Top of rear not in photo
Top of rear and feet not in photo
Top of rear and feet not in photo

Top/back view photo:

kellytop
Taken from too far back
Taken from too far back;

Front/chest view photo:

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