Daphne and Falco a hit at the Cow Palace

(Updated: Friday, April 17, 2009, 1:04 PM)

Coarsegold 4-H member Daphne Norman recently returned from showing her sheep and meat goats at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. It was another successful show for Norman. She earned reserve grand champion classic goat with her 84-pound Boer named Falco.

‘He is a really cool goat that has done well for me at the shows this year,’ Norman said. ‘I can’t wait to show him at his final show, the Chowchilla Fair, next month.’

Falco won his class for Norman, then was selected reserve progress champion for goats 65 to 84 pounds.

As the reserve champion Daphne and Falco were invited to participate in the prestigious Grand National Parade of Champions in which all the grand and reserve champions from the different shows are lead around the Cow Palace arena to the applause of the rodeo fans. ‘This was my first time to lead my own animal during the parade. It is a big honor,’ said Norman

In addition to Falco’s win, Norman also won classes in the breeding Boer and market lamb shows. She was in the top four in all four of her showmanship classes.

‘I only brought eight animals this year: four goats and four sheep. It felt like an easy show compared to the 19 I brought last year. It was very satisfying for them to all do so well in the shows. And I’m glad we came again, because nobody knows how much longer there will be a Cow Palace.’

The state of California owns the property the historic facility sits on. The local City Council is trying to get the state to sell the facility to developers for strip malls and condos to generate city revenue.

At the final awards assembly, the Grand National Board assured all the 2009 exhibitors that there will be another show in 2010.

When asked what, besides winning, was the most memorable thing about the Cow Palace, Norman said, ‘When I tell people I’m going to take my sheep and goats to the Cow Palace, they always ask, ‘Why wouldn’t you take them to the Sheep and Goat Palace?’ That’s just silly.’