We're only interested in shows for our little girl but the only show around is an ADGA 2 hours away. And they told me they don't register nor plan to register Mini breeds. ADGA has an awesome website and directory, but their 'customer service' was not very awesome... I don't know how else to nicely say it. I contacted them 3 times with questions and each time the person replying was abrupt.
One of our girls was registered with TMGR. I have no idea if they have shows in our area because they are located in California and their website has little information. They have one member in my area and 7 members in all of Georgia. Their customer service was very nice. Their website is not very helpful.
The MDGA has virtual shows which is really cool and sounds like something we'd do at some point but I have no idea about their member listing. Their membership directory goes to a 404 error page. I also was not able to get in touch with anybody trying to contact them a few times but their website is pretty helpful.
IDGA had a very helpful website and they were very nice over the phone. The have production rewards testing with DHI like everybody else but suggested I go to 4H for shows for our kids. They would also be able to register our full size girls and had stricter size requirements for our mini's (3in less than TMGR and 1.5in less than MDGA). They were pretty adamant against something called NAIS, which I didn't know about until I heard from them and looked it up.
After my experience with ADGA I just don't have a desire to become a member with them. Their website is fantastic and their presence is huge. They have shows all over the country and a great history on all full size breeds.
After my experience with TMGR I liked the person I spoke with and one of my goats came from TMGR. I just wish I would be able to register any full size/nigerian breeding stock and they had more locally. Their website is really lacking and I couldn't learn much about them anywhere other than their friendly customer service. Their standards are the loosest when it comes to mini breeds (32in max at the withers for a "Mini-Nubian" 30in for purebred status.... my Full Nubian is 30in at the withers and weighs 125lbs....)
I don't have any experience with MDGA but they seem like a stand up organization at face value. the V-Show is a great concept I'd like and their standards seem 'right'. I'll try to contact them again today.
After my experience with IDGA I really liked them philosophically and their goals in the goat world. My only issue is they seem like the "black sheep" of the registries but I'm not sure why. ADGA won't have anything to do with them I hear and while TMGR and MDGA have communication with them, they are sometimes at odds? Maybe because they don't like NAIS, they support goat owners who don't dehorn and have a NOA/Grade book? In their history, philosophy and record keeping they are stand up. They were the first registry to recognize Nigerian Dwarves and have stricter standards for their mini's than the other two and strict "grade" standards for all other goats and require pictures all registered animals.
Those are my findings. Again, I'll try to contact MDGA later today.