Slatington teen receives Jr. Best Doe in Show at Jr. Dairy Goat Show

Peppermint was indeed the flavor of the month at the recently held Pennsylvania Farm Show.

That would be in the form of the 9-year-old Saanen breed who won the Junior Best Doe in Show at the 103rd event.

Peppermint was named Grand Champion and Best of Breed in her class, before she became Best Doe in Show.

Her top-flight finish was music to the ears of her owner, Andrew Bowman, 18, of Slatington.

Bowman, a senior at Northern Lehigh High School, said Peppermint has been showing in contests since she was born.

“It was every emotion at once,” Bowman said. “I was extremely excited for her.”

For Peppermint, her first-place finish was a long time in coming, said Bowman, who added she’s never really stood out.

“She never looked particularly great, more middle of the pack,” he said. “I can remember one judge in particular said she wasn’t going to win.”

Bowman said the criteria the goats are judged on is their longevity and production.

“She’s been producing 2 gallons of milk per day for eight years,” he said. “She just hasn’t shown any weaknesses.”

Bowman added, “She still looks like she did when she was 2.”

So, what’s next for Peppermint?

“She produces a large quantity of milk over a very long extended period of time, so I’m going to be giving her a little bit of a break,” he said. “She’ll be in the Farm Show next year as long as I’m there.”

Bowman said he has a total of 30 goats, along with a couple of dogs, and specifically credited his parents, Melanie Hoffman-Bowman and John Bowman.

“My mom got me into it; we learned how to raise animals together,” he said. “My dad was always very supportive.”

Over the weekend, Andrew was able to add another feather in his cap when he was voted in as president of the Pennsylvania 4-H State Council.