McGuire noted one downside, however. Goats need good fences or constant supervision. They love young trees, flowers and all kinds of bushes, making them a liability with neighbors. McGuire does not expect to see a thriving American cashmere market in the near future, but she has hopes that it will happen in her lifetime. To bring that about, cashmere producers are touting goats as FFA and 4-H projects for children.
Children can choose between showing meat wethers or fiber animals.
Fiber animals are appealing to children because they don't have to be slaughtered at the end of the project. Cashmere Producers of America is presently training judges and working on project standards. McGuire also works as a consultant for those who want to learn about goat breeding, and she shears goats. She was the grand champion goat shearer at the National Western Stock Show in Denver two years ago, and her goats have won many awards. Capricorn Cashmere has been named premier exhibitor three times in the NWSS cashmere goat show.