Judges Training & Pre-TC

So, you want to be a judge?

Your ability to evaluate the relative quality of dairy goats is of top importance. You must be able to both recognize utilitarian type and appreciate the aesthetic value of breed character.

According to Considine and Trimberger, a good dairy goat judge should; love dairy goats and desire to learn more about them; have a clear mental image of ideal type and be able to recognize desirable and undesirable traits; be able to work alone with just knowledge and experience as a guide; be able to quickly compare and rank groups of dairy goats; be familiar with the score card and faulting guidelines so that each placing is logical and made with confidence; have the courage and honesty required to make every placing fairly; be humble enough to recognize that one can make an honest mistake; have the knowledge, training, practice, and experience to give effective, accurate reasons; and possess a pleasant, even temperament and a firm manner, without being arrogant. Last but not least, a good dairy goat judge should have a true desire to help in some way in the breeding of better dairy goats. (Dairy Goat Judging Techniques, 1978)

How to become an American Goat Society (AGS) Judge

AGS offers a license to judge all breeds it registers. AGS does not offer any single-breed licenses.

If you possess an individual membership in the American Goat Society, are a member in good standing who is at least 18 years old, and would like to judge shows for the American Goat Society, send $20 to the office for a copy of the Judges Manual. To become an AGS judge, you will need to attend an AGS Judges Training Seminar. Such training may be offered to AGS members in good standing and instructed by a BOD approved panel of three or four official licensed AGS judges at the annual meeting and/or at other authorized locations.

Judges Training Seminar Rules & Fees

Training Fees are:
New candidates $150 (must attend the Pre-Training Conference), Returning candidates that are not attending pre-TC $100, Auditors $75, Classroom only audits $50. Note: Auditing does not include the pre-TC which must be paid separately. All individuals who plan to sit in on any portion of the conference must register and pay the appropriate fees. Auditors will be allowed to ‘convert’ to full candidates at the seminar, if they so desire, upon payment of the difference in fees. Candidates and auditors must be members in good standing with AGS. Fees are non-refundable. Candidates successfully completing the training will be assessed a one-time fee of $25 to activate their license. Subsequent license renewals will be in accordance with the most current renewal schedule and rates.

Training seminar will encompass:
Instruction in show rules, major faults, breed standards, ethical behavior of judges, dairy goat anatomy, comparative terms for reasons, importance of accurate reasons, giving accurate reasons, dairy goat structure and conformation, the Report of Awards A written exam requiring a passing grade of at least 75% on each of five sections: labeling a dairy goat picture with names of body parts, identifying the seriousness of faults, true and false and fill in the blank questions concerning conformation according to AGS standards, reasons, rules, etiquette, ethics, show rules, and special aspects of judging, breed standards & score card, the Report of Awards. Those candidates that have passed all sections of the written exam will move on to the oral exam.

An oral examination with at least 75% accuracy on each of two sections: placing at least eight classes, preferably representing all breeds, at least four of which will be in milk. A minimum of 4 breeds is required. If breed availability is limited, classes of 3 individual breeds and an AOP class containing another breed will suffice. Classes are made up of 4 animals each. 4 must be milking classes and the other 4 may be represented by junior does and/or bucks if needed. Giving accurate, appropriate reasons, and presentation on at least two of the classes.

The two day training seminar will encompass:

1. Instruction in:
   1. show rules
   2. major faults and disqualifications
   3. AGS breed standards
   4. the AGS Unified Score Card
   5. ethical behavior of judges
   6. dairy goat anatomy
   7. comparative terms for reasons
   8. importance of accurate reasons
   9. tips for giving professional reasons
   10. the Report of Award


2. A written examination requiring a passing grade of at least 75% on each of five sections:
   1. labeling a dairy goat picture with names of body parts
   2. identifying the seriousness of faults
   3. labeling true or false statements and/or filling in blanks concerning the conformation of animals according to AGS breed standards, reasons, rules, etiquette, ethics, show rules, and special aspects of judging
   4. breed standards & score card
   5. the Report of Award


3. An oral examination with at least 75% accuracy on each of two sections:
   1. placing at least eight classes, preferably representing all breeds, at least four of which will be in milk. The other four may be represented by junior does and/or bucks, if needed. A minimum of four breeds is required. If breed availability is limited, classes of three individual breeds and an AOP class containing at least one additional breed will suffice. Classes are made up of four animals each
   2. giving accurate, appropriate reasons and presentation on at least two of the classes


4. Upon successful completion of the training, the office will issue your license when you have submitted the following:
   1. a signed affidavit of eligibility and willingness to judge by AGS standards, and
   2. payment to the AGS office of the license activation fee ($25) BOD 2005. This is a onetime fee paid to facilitate activation of the individual's license and establishment of a personal judge’s folder in the office

NOTE: ADGA and/or CGS licensed judges may become AGS judges by:

1. paying AGS individual membership dues
2. paying $10 license fee

Licensing Period

All newly licensed judges will be eligible for apprentice (two year) licenses. As part of the AGS judges’ continuing education program, apprentice judges must renew their license by attending additional training seminars every two years. In the event no training seminar is offered when an apprentice judge is due to renew, the Judge's Committee may allow the apprentice to extend their license until such time as a training seminar is offered, (assuming the judge has not been delinquent in renewing their membership or license). At such time, they must attend the seminar and achieve scores of 75% or higher on all areas (written exam, placings, accuracy of reasons, and presentation) in order to maintain their apprentice license. Renewing apprentice judges who achieve scores of 85% or higher on all areas, will obtain "full" licenses and are no longer required to attend training seminars in order to renew their license.

Temporary Licenses

When an ADGA/CGS licensed judge seeks a temporary license (formerly referred to as a one day license) to judge an AGS sanctioned show, they may do so upon payment of the $10.00 license fee to the AGS office. Judges that submit those fees will be sent a packet containing information on AGS, miniature breed standards, score cards, faulting sheet and instructions on how to measure miniatures (this will be in lieu of the previously required 'mini test') and these judges will be placed on the AGS approved judges list. Any ‘special request’ circumstances will be directed to the Chairperson of the Judges Committee. (BOD 2006)

AGS recommends that every judge have their own official measuring device. However, it is the responsibility of the show sponsor to provide the judge with an official measuring device.

Renewal of Judges' Licenses

Licensed judges must renew their licenses yearly, following the schedule below:

License Renewal Schedule (BOD 2005):

1. judges will renew their licenses yearly, with no more than two years being paid in advance


2. to be eligible to renew, a judge must have judged at least one AGS, ADGA, or CGS sanctioned show within the last three year period


3. fees are: $10 if paid before January 1st
   $15 if paid on or after January 1st but before February 1st


4. judges who fail to renew their licenses before February 1st will be required to renew through an official AGS Judges Training Seminar (JTS).Failure to renew by February 1st will result in revocation of the judge's license until a JTS is attended and successfully completed as a candidate

Judges are trained to professionally represent the registry and dairy goats in general. Judges may have their licenses revoked as a result of an official complaint followed by an investigation and/or hearing.

AGS Judges' Pledge

I affirm that I have not been involved in any activities nor signed any documents with other organizations that would in any way conflict with the American Goat Society Judges Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct. I will always judge objectively, with strict adherence to the standards and code of ethics set by AGS in AGS sanctioned shows. I will set aside any personal desires of my own or of any other person or organization while I am representing AGS. I affirm that I have read and agree to abide by the items set forth in the AGS Judge’s Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct. Furthermore, I will always conduct myself in a positive and professional manner as a representative of AGS and the dairy goat industry.