Goats are the most entertaining faculty members on the farm and also among the most useful.

Our goat program serves two distinct purposes and teaches both simultaneously. First, goats are natural land managers. They clear overgrown brush, invasive plants, and dense shrubbery more efficiently and more sustainably than any machine, without chemicals, without fuel, and without compacting the soil. Students learn regenerative land management by watching and working alongside the herd as they do what goats have done for thousands of years.

Second, goats are extraordinary educational animals. They are social, interactive, and endlessly engaging for students of all ages. Through the goat program participants learn animal behavior and communication, basic veterinary observation, feeding and nutrition, and the broader role that grazing animals play in a healthy farm ecosystem. For younger students especially, the goats are often the entry point that makes the whole farm experience click.

And yes, we will absolutely be bringing goats on the Cool Bus.

How your donation will be used:
Funds go toward the purchase of the initial herd, fencing and shelter appropriate for goat housing and rotational grazing, feed and veterinary care for the first year of operation, handling equipment and enrichment, and the development of a goat and land management curriculum that documents the land clearing process from start to finish so it can be replicated at every extension site in our network.

How it will be tracked and reported:
Goat health, land clearing progress, and program enrollment are all tracked and reported quarterly. Donors receive updates with photos of the herd, documentation of how much acreage has been cleared each quarter, and stories from students who have worked directly with the animals. Land clearing progress is mapped visually so donors can see exactly what the goats have accomplished. All animal and infrastructure purchases are reported with receipts in our quarterly financial summary.

Why this matters:
A goat does not know it is teaching. It is just doing what it does. And somehow that is exactly what makes it one of the best educators on the entire property.

Goat Program