By Christian Coffman

NATCHEZ — Peyton Bell knows a few things about raising goats.

The Natchez 10 year old recently won numerous awards at the Mississippi Dairy Goat Association spring show at the Hinds Agriculture Center arena in Raymond.

Bell took home several awards, including the first-place showman award for 8-9 year olds.

“Showmanship is how you handle the goats,” Bell’s mother Ashley Murray said.

Her four goats — Vixen, Dazzler, Shiloh, Gretl and Sage — won several other awards including two first place ribbons for Shiloh in the Junior Doe Recorded Grades category.

Bell’s mother said her daughter and her goats had to undergo many trials for the competition.

“I had to show my goats, make sure (they) were clean and had to make sure the procedures were right,” Bell said.

One part of the competition was a side-by-side line judging, when two contestants had their goats stand beside one another to see which contestants had better control over their animal.

Judges asked contestants about the parts of the goat, their age and how many times they’ve had offspring, among other qualifiers.

Bell said she prepared for the show with information the judges gave her beforehand.

“Mostly the show picked the goats for me,” Bell said. “You have the specific breeds and the age groups, and I had to go with the ones the judges told me.”

Bell said she feels good about winning because she enjoys being competitive.

Bell has also placed first for showmanship at the Mississippi State Fair and Dixie Nationals.

“Most of the other shows she’s done are in association with the 4H Club,” Murray said.

The 4H club teaches youngsters about agriculture, health, science and citizenship and is offered through the Mississippi State Extension Service.

Murray said she is excited for her daughter’s future.

“I think it gives her the opportunity to meet new people,” she said. “When (children) compete, they get a chance to win scholarships, so it is getting her ready for college.”

Peyton’s father is Charoyd Bell of Natchez. She is the granddaughter of Joseph and Shirley Ivory of Natchez, Henry Bell of Harriston and Bettye Bell of Natchez.