Young Kentucky Goat Breeder Aims for NAILE Victory

By Blake Jackson

As the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) approaches from November 6-20, thousands of exhibitors and visitors are preparing to gather at the Kentucky Exposition Center for the nation’s largest all-breed, purebred livestock show. Among them is 14-year-old Montana Fehd of Henderson County, who has already built an impressive livestock résumé.

Montana’s specialty is dairy goats an often-overlooked breed at major shows. On her family’s Cheyenne Acres Farm, Montana has elevated the art of raising Nigerian Dwarf goats, a passion that began when she was only three years old. “I was about three years old when I started showing Nubian goats, which are the ones with floppy ears,” Montana said.

“But they were hard to handle for a three-year-old when it came to showing. Let’s just say, I got run over a few times.”

Montana interest shifted after discovering Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, and Montana has been showing them ever since. Montana mother, Heather Fehd, recalled, “We started with a couple of goats in 2014 for the milk, making soap, and cheese. And after we went to our first American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) show, Montana fell in love, and it was like a light switch flipped with her.”

Montana has since developed her own breeding program, studying genetics and managing everything from kidding schedules to show entries. Montana hard work paid off when she earned Grand Champion in the Junior Doe Nigerian Dwarf division at this year’s Kentucky State Fair.

“Kentucky is home to over 5,800 dairy goats, a 9.4 percent increase since 2024, ranking our state 23rd in milk goat inventory,” said Kelley Yates, Executive Director of the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office.

Montana now hopes to win big at NAILE with her champion goat, Candy. “I have a lot of little goals,” she said. “We are starting a TikTok account, we're going to do podcasts and videos around the farm, but for me, my main goal right now is to win nationals.”

Photo Credit: north-american- international-livestock-exposition