Whether it is sports, food, or some other random topic, if you read one of my blogs over the course of the year you know I am up for a good debate or input on something that fits into the GOAT category. On the acronym front that would be “Greatest of all Time.”

 

If I am talking about something that I consider “the greatest,” then that is where I like to hear others tell me if they agree or have their own favorite to something. Usually, on the sports front, I am talking about “the greatest player” in some sport, or “the greatest moment.”

 

Those usually result in good, healthy debate. Today’s blog is different. There is no debate.

 

The GOAT at Bridgeport High School is in place. There is no debate. There is no opinion. It cannot be argued.

 

About the only thing to possibly debate is it just considered one or three or now perhaps six – this six you will understand shortly. Confused? Don’t be.

 

The GOATS at Bridgeport High School some know. Most do not. Their names are Mazy, Abra, and Paisley.

 

Last names? They do not have any. Not because they are so special that they are like Prince or Cher. Rather, because they actually are GOATS. For proper terminology, they are goats.

 

I met the goats on Feb. 21. They were relatively new to the school, and I had no idea they were even there. My friend Debbie Wagner, who doubles as BHS administrative office staffer, saw me at halftime of a basketball game and took me to meet the goats who are stationed in the courtyard at the school that, for as long as I can remember, essentially served no real purpose.

 

To say Debbie is a fan of the Bridgeport goats would be an understatement. She brought her husband Dave to meet them and is frequently taking them “nilla wafers” as a treat or feeding them crackers. Needless to say, the goats like her too.

 

“I’m out there a lot and I enjoy them. I think most of the kids and the staff enjoy them as well,” said Wagner. “You’re having a hard day as a teacher, or a student and you can look out and see them playing and roughhousing. It’s educational and gives everyone a nice break when needed.”

 

Perhaps that leads to the biggest questions. Who brought the goats there and why are they there?

 

The answer to both questions is the same. Justin Arnold, Bridgeport’s first-year vocational agriculture teacher, is owner of the goats as well as the proprietor of the BHS goat operation.

 

Arnold arrived last year as part of a teaching residency out of West Virgina University. Although he is from Frederick, Maryland, Arnold had a connection to BHS that led him to Harrison County.

 

“I found out the position was opening up with Mrs. (Anita) Byrd leaving because her husband was a professor of mine at WVU,” said Arnold of Preston Byrd, who is now teaching at the collegiate level in Georgia. “He pushed for me to get the residency, and here I am.”

And so are the goats.

 

In his line of teaching, the goats are not simply for show. Rather, Arnold believes his field of teaching requires hands-on application. Goats, as opposed to cattle, are easier to utilize in a limited area, and the courtyard became an option after approval from the administration.

 

“It’s worked well. Hands-on learning is appealing to students because they are learning by doing,” said Arnold. “This is really a different part of the curriculum because you are feeding and watering animals and learning about training and selecting animals for breeding and marketing.”

 

The unique thing is the school started with chickens before going exclusively with goats, even though the chickens are still part of the learning program and are still in the courtyard with their goat friends. Arnold said his work with goats goes back several years.

 

“When I was involved in 4-H, I showed dairy goats. Goats are a good model animal that is safe to the students and you’re learning the same stuff you would with cattle without the fear of getting kicked or having permanent harm,” he said.

 

The work on the goat courtyard actually began last year. There is fencing and a raised area in the event the courtyard gets wet. Once the work was done, the goats were brought in during the second week of February, he said. That means I was among the first outsiders to get to see and pet them and asked immediately to do a story on them.

 

I was politely asked to hold off on the story until something important happened. That something important happened this week.

 

When the goats arrived, two of them were pregnant. Mazy gave birth to two boys and a girl, while Abra is anticipated to give birth in May. Mazy’s boys are Milo and Maverick, with the girl named Meadow. BHS students had a hand in the naming of the babies.

 

It is safe to say most of the staff and students are more than just enamored with the three goat babies. It is easy to see why. They are adorable. More important from Arnold’s side, they are drawing interest to a program that just recently was revived at Bridgeport High School.

 

“I get a lot of questions from students and staff, which was sort of the purpose for having them here. Curiosity has led to student excitement, even where they’re featured on video announcements and when staff members check on them,” said Arnold. “This will be a great recruitment initiative for the program and enrollment is already up.”

 

So, what happens when the school year is over?

 

“They’ll go home with me,” he said.

 

That may sound like unwelcome news, but there is good news as well.

 

“They’ll probably come back with me in September,” said Arnold.

 

Arnold will be bringing back an important teaching tool. And the undisputed GOAT(s) of Bridgeport High School.

 

For any parent wishing to learn more about the program, contact Arnold via email. He can be reached at justin.arnold@k12.wv.us.

 

Editor’s Note: top photo shows Mazy and one of her babies, while Justin Arnold shows off one of the newborns. Staffer Debbie Wagner gives cracker treats to Abra, left, and Paisley in the third photo. Bottom photo shows student Presley Carlyle giving some hugs to baby goat Milo (photo courtesy of Jennifer Duarte). More photos below.