Live goat is membership draw for South Dakota

Live goat is membership draw for South Dakota

District commanders in The American Legion Department of South Dakota have an incentive to meet their membership goal for 2014-2015 — a live goat named Pinocchio. As of right now, South Dakota district commanders believe that if they have the lowest membership percentage, they will be taking care of the goat until the end of the following membership year when another district is lower in membership.

But Terry Hanson, South Dakota membership chairman, said he’s not going to make them take care of the goat — the goat will travel to district meetings and fall and winter conferences, but live at its owner’s home. Instead, he’s going to let everyone know at the mid-winter membership banquet and the department’s convention who is the district with the lowest membership by making the district commander wear a neon yellow T-shirt that says "Goat Buster" (featured above) on the front and "S.D. Basement District Commander" on the back with the Legion emblem.

"The best part is, we are all having fun with the goat," Hanson said. "I’m a big pusher in trying to get people involved and membership up."

The goat has also helped raise funds for the various department programs. Whenever Hanson brings Pinocchio to a meeting, Legion Family members will pay money for other members to kiss the goat.