Our Story

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GoatCountry began with a single, spirited little goat, and a family searching for light in the darkest of times.

In 2021, life brought us to a crossroads we could never have anticipated. Cassie, my wife, faced a battle with cancer. The weight of illness was heavy enough, but the shadow of depression that came with it threatened to overshadow every day. In the midst of that struggle, Cassie longed for something she could nurture, something that could awaken joy not just in another life, but in her own.

That longing led her, almost impulsively, to drive two hours north and return with a four-week-old goat we named Ernest. We had never spoken of owning farm animals in our 25 years of marriage, yet here he was, tiny, fearless, and full of personality. From the moment he met our dog, the chaos was immediate: Ernest stood on his hind legs, head-butting our grouchy canine companion with a confidence far beyond his size. It was absurd, hilarious, and utterly captivating. In that moment, laughter returned to our home.

Ernest became more than a pet; he became a quiet healer. Every two to three hours, Cassie would rise to care for him, feeding him, tending to him, and in doing so, she found herself nurtured as well. Day by day, she regained strength. Spirit by spirit, she rediscovered joy. By the time Ernest had grown a little, Cassie had grown too, stronger, healthier, and ultimately cancer-free.

Watching the transformation Ernest inspired, we realized this experience was too powerful to keep to ourselves. We left our careers, Cassie from nursing, me from maintenance and reliability, and founded GoatCountry. Our purpose was simple: to share, in every way we could, the subtle, life-affirming therapy these goats offered.

What began in a small studio soon outgrew its walls. From goat yoga and therapy sessions to children’s movie and craft events, our programs now reach countless people, helping them pause, laugh, and feel in ways they may not have expected. Today, GoatCountry thrives on our farm, home to a lively and loving herd, each goat with its own personality, each offering a moment of joy and connection.

We share our story not as a tale of business, but as an invitation, To laugh, To heal, To slow down. To experience, even for a moment, the transformative magic of life alongside these extraordinary animals. Ernest taught us that sometimes, the smallest creatures leave the largest footprints on our hearts, and that is exactly what we hope every visitor discovers here at GoatCountry.