Guide to an ADGA Judge’s License

The American Dairy Goat Association’s judges are licensed under a rigorous program of training and certification.

Here’s a breakdown of the basic program and the information needed.

Guide to An ADGA Judge’s License There are several steps to becoming licensed to judge dairy goats at an officially sanctioned ADGA show. This involves achieving a basic knowledge by attending a Pre-Judge’s Training Conference and then attending a Judge’s Training Conference and passing a series of four basic tests of proficiency. Pre-Judges Training Conference This program is for breeders, youth, and judge candidates. It consists of a full day of instruction. It has a prescribed content that includes the parts of the goat, scorecards, terminology, breed standards, defects, oral reasons, judging techniques, and ethics. Training Conference The Training Conference is a more formalized program of training and testing of judge candidates. A specified fee is charged for the program, as set by the Judge’s Training Committee. There is one day of training and one day of testing, which includes a written test, the placement of eight classes of live animals, and the presentation of oral reasons to evaluate a candidate’s accuracy and presentation skills. These tests must be passed at specific standards of performance in order for a license to be granted. For lesser fees, the TC may also be taken as an auditor or as a spectator, though these two classifications will not result in licensure. Licensing There are several levels of licensure. Successful new candidates start with a One-Year Apprentice License. This must be renewed the following year and if successfully passed at a higher standard, can become a Two-Year License. From this level, a Four-Year License can be achieved at renewal but ever higher levels of performance are required. After this, with continuous renewal and licensure of at least 13 years, an Advanced License may be achieved. Beyond this point, advanced judges must attend judging seminars every four years to maintain their status.

ADGA Judges Training Materials Becoming an ADGA Judge So You Are Going To Be a Judge Eligibility, Certification & Obligations Pre-Judges Training Conferences Pre-TC Lesson Materials Training Conferences What To Expect at a TC Written Test Practice Dairy Goat Structure and Function The Parts of the Goat The Ideal Type The ADGA Unified Scorecard Applications of the Unified Scorecard General Defects - Summary General Defects - Discussion The Breed Standards Breed Specific Defects - Summary Breed Specific Defects - Discussion Disqualifications - Summary & Discussion Judging Dairy Goats Reasons Terminology Reasons Tutorial Practice Class 1 Alpine Yearling Milkers Practice Class 2 Alpine Buck Kids Practice Class 3 Aged Nigerian Milkers Practice Class 4 Yearling Togg Milkers Practice Class 5 2-3 Year Old Nubian Milkers Practice Class 6 3-Year Old Alpine Milkers Practice Class 7 4-Year Old Nubian Milkers Practice Class 8 3-Year Old LaMancha Milkers Practice Class 9 Yearling La Mancha Milker Maturation Profiles Judging Males Judging Groups Showmanship Scorecard

Online Judge’s Training - Additional References in 2018 ADGA Guidebook

A-Judging Dairy Goats

1-Written Reasons Practice Sheet  - p. 112

2-Guide for Judges of Dairy Goat Showmanship - p. 121

3-Guide for Judging Grooming and Dairy Goat Showmanship - p. 121-122

B-Show Rules

1-Rules Governing the Conduct of Official Shows - p. 85-102

2-Definitions - pp. 100-101

3-Arrangement of Classes and Making Awards - pp. 88-90

4-Junior Division Classes and Championships - pp. 90-91

5-Senior Division Classes and Championships - p. 91

6-Selecting the Grand Champion and the Reserve Grand Champion - pp. 91-92

7-Measuring the Nigerian Dwarf Breed - pp. 159-160

8-Winning a Leg Toward Championship - pp. 92-95

9-Official Report of Awards - pp. 96-97

10-Reports - pp. 98-99

11-Complaints and Penalties - pp. 99-100

12-Code of Ethics for Exhibitors and Show Committees - pp. 101-102

13-National Code of Show Ring Ethics - pp. 177-178

13-Dairy Goat Well-Being Policies - p. 179

C-Rules for Judges

1-Pledge of Eligibility and Ethics for Judges - p. 130

2-Complaints, Hearings, and Enforcement Procedures - p. 131

3-Standards of Attire and Appearance - p. 134

4-Judge's Recognition Program - p. 131

January 5, 2019