Biography for Cathy Van Wyhe

Hi—I am Cathy Van Wyhe and  I am your current IMGA President.  My background as a farm enthusiast and livestock producer started  early in life as  my grandparents as far back as you can go all have been farmers  in both my parents families.

My immediate family consists of  husband Rick, daughter Steph (19) and son Carson (18).  Our farm name is Trickman Boer Goats which derived from my drag racing husband Rick’s nickname “The Trickman”.   Rick decided a few years ago to sell his  drag car and become a goat farmer after our son introduced us to this wonderful animal.  When we first began our goat enterprise , we searched high and low for goats and goat information.  Through our adventures we have located not only great goats and goat information but more importantly made a lot of friends along the way.

To keep current and involved with the goat industry in our local area we have volunteered to be 4-H advisors, became the Goat Superintendents for the Poweshiek County Fair and active members of the Poweshiek County Fair Board.  To assist at the State level we joined the I.M.G.A., became a Board Member of IMGA, organized two successful Goat Production sales and recently joined the Tall Corn Meat Goat Wether Jackpot Association.  Also we are members of A.B.G.A. and the Northern Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association.
Our farm consists of 80 acres, located South of Grinnell, Iowa, where we have the usual and somewhat unusual assortment of animals including ducks, guineas,  horses., a  miniature donkey, turkeys, roosters, cats, dog  and of course somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 to 100 meat goats.

We have had a lot of interesting opportunities due to owning our goats  which  includes showing Boer goats.   Recently we were filmed by a crew to be included on RFD TV for a show called “Living The Country Life” to be aired in December 2009.  Our segment concentrated on raising meat goats and living in rural Iowa, it was quite a wonderful experience for my family and hope the show helps the audience understand the fascinating world of raising goats.

I definitely want to thank the past board members of the I.M.G.A as without their foresight and diligences  the association would not even be in existence.   As far as plans and goals for the future of the Iowa Meat Goat Association, it is my hope the association continues the principles, goals, and values the original founding Board members of the IMGA envisioned when the association first arrived.  Also, I would like to see growth in membership, educational events as well as shows and possibly a sale sponsored by the IMGA.   I encourage every member past, present or future to voice your opinions , make suggestions and volunteer to head  committees or be a member of committees.  It is important for our board to hear the voice of the membership so please talk to us in person —or through email, phone calls, write articles or letters to the editor for the newsletter or send one of us a letter in the mail...it does not matter how we communicate—just so we do communicate to make the IMGA a strong and vibrant organization all about meat goats!