Going to the Goats: 9 Awesome Goat Buys
Get your goat (products.)
From goats yelling like humans, to goats with jobs, it may just be The Year of the Goat. Ok, ok, we know it’s not actually the year of the goat, but we have found that the cloven-hoofed creatures seem to bring people together. They’re a universally loved barnyard favorite, a petting zoo perennial. So we rounded up our favorite goat buys for Goat Week. Whether you own a goat or just wish you did, there’s something for everyone. (Including goats.)
[mf_h5 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]1. Fat Toad Farm, Goat’s Milk Caramel, $20
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Fat Toad Farm in Brookfield, Vermont is home to a herd of French Alpine Diary goats who graze rotationally on 30 acres of pretty pasture and are milked twice daily. Their milk is used to produce a number of hand-crafted products, but the most decadent may be the tangy goats milk caramels, or cajeta, a traditional Mexican treat. The creamy sauce comes in four flavors: Original, Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon and Salted Bourbon. The flavored caramels are made naturally, with vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and, yes, Kentucky Straight Bourbon and organic sea salt.
[mf_h5 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]2. Hoegger Supply Company, Kid Coat, $15
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Oh, surely you must be kidding! (Sorry, but really, who can resist a good goat pun? Not the staff of Modern Farmer.) Hoegger is a goat supply company with a compelling origin story — in 1935, company founders Joe and Miriam Hoegger could not get their infant son (also named Joe) to bulk up. When a doctor prescribed goat’s milk, the Hoeggers were game to try, and found that the milk did the trick. They started their own goat farm and issued the first Hoegger Supply Catalog in 1938. The company is still family run today. They sell a number of beautiful and practical products, but it’s this sweet denim goat coat that stopped us in our tracks. Yes, it’s adorable but it’s not just for making cute. They help keep vulnerable little kids warm in cold weather. The cute-factor is just an awesome bonus.
3. Goats in Trees 2014 Calendar, $15
It’s a timeless problem: The holidays are just around the corner, and you don’t know what to get the goat lover in your life who has everything. This playful calendar celebrates the humorous side of the goat, creatures that love to climb. It pretty much says it all in the name — these photos will leave you wondering how the little goats made it to their station without wings.
4. Drunken Goat Cheese, $22/lb
Oh, my, this cheese is good. And fun to say. And it’s fun to think about drunken goats tottering around a field, but rest assured, all the booze in this cheese is applied post-goat. This semi-firm Spanish cheese is cured in red wine, giving the rind a brilliant purple color. But you won’t taste wine in the cheese — yes, it’s slightly fruity, but mostly it’s a wonderfully mild cheese with just the right pliant texture. It’s amazing in mac’n’cheese or in a grilled sandwich, but just as good on its own.
5. The Original Henry Milker, $179
The Original Henry Milker promises a number of advantages over the competitor: It allows the user to adjust the pressure while milking their goat, thus alleviating constant strain on sensitive udders and teats. It also delivers fresh milk straight through a tube into a sealed milk container, and it’s easy to clean up after. Don’t agree? They offer a 100 percent refund, no questions asked, if returned in 30 days.
6. Windrift Hill Soaps, Goat Milk Lotions, $9
Windrift Hill is based in Conrad, Montana and named for the windy hill on which the Maier family lives. They make over 40 soaps from natural ingredients including, of course, fresh milk provided by their herd of Nubian goats. Their creamy lotions and body butters are just the thing for rough, thirsty skin. Before you chuck the box and start applying, take a second look, the family often includes a hand-written note with orders.
7. Leather and Chain Goat Collar, Tractor Supply, $15
Now that your kid has graduated from her wee denim coat, it’s time for something a bit more mature. This chain collar is chrome plated and the smooth leather strap doubles as a handle. Snaps let you adjust for size.
8. The Backyard Goat, by Sue Weaver, $12
Want to get a goat but don’t know where to start? This compendium covers all the basics like care, breeding, milking, and even how to teach your goat to do simple tricks. It will help you chose the right goat for your desired purpose, be it meat, fiber or milk. The author, Sue Weaver, lives on a small farm in the Ozarks where she raises livestock.
9. Genesee Bock Beer, $8
We’ve sung the praises of this beer before, but it would be a huge oversight not to celebrate Genesee Bock Beer during Goat Week. This crisp, tasty special edition is released annually by the brewery for a limited time. For the low, low price of $8 a twelve pack it’s a great deal for the taste. We’ve even used it with great success in beer bread. And who can resist the cheerful green can and frolicking goat?
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