Cronk hopes goat project leads to long-term business

A trip to the Verdigre Stockyards turned into an FFA district championship, years later, for Summerland student Levi Cronk, of Page.

Cronk said, "I ended up walking out of the sale barn with two new boer goats."

The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Now, Cronk owns a herd of 20-plus goats.

"That is not including the new kids, or baby goats, I've had this year," he said.

Earlier this year, Cronk's goat production entrepreneurship project received first gold and district champion.

His supervised agricultural experience will advance to state judging, Saturday. If Cronk's project finishes in the top three, he will present his SAE at the Nebraska State FFA Convention, in April, at Lincoln.

It isn't the first time the Cronk farm had kids running around.

His siblings raised and showed dairy goats in 4-H, but Cronk said those goats were sold before he was old enough to have his own.

He has shown his herd, at the Holt County Fair, for more than 10 years.

Cronk's SAE entails his daily dealings with his heard.

"I record all of the expenses that I had with buying feed or anything like that. I also have to record each time I make money from my goat herd," he said.

Cronk also compiles breeding records throughout all the years he has raised goats, to show how his herd as expanded.

He estimates he works with his goats between 10 and 14 hours a week during the school year.

"During the summer, though, I work nearly 21 or more hours a week with them, to get them ready for 4-H shows."

Cronk has been an FFA member for five years.

In addition to the goat production SAE, Cronk has been involved in discovery speaking, junior public speaking, natural resources speaking, livestock judging, agronomy and livestock management.

It's an organization he believes has a lot to offer.

"It doesn't matter if you live on a farm or in town, own livestock or not, or even if you don't have any agricultural knowledge, FFA offers everyone something," citing examples involving speaking, livestock and business.

"FFA also offers many opportunities to prepare for life outside of school," Cronk said.

He plans to put that preparation into practice.

"My long-term goal with goat production is to turn it into a business that will last for a long time. I want to be able to sell good-quality goats to kids around the area for them to show at numberous 4-H and FFA shows.