June is Dairy Month

Many DNR programs ask farmers for groups of goats to clean up different areas with invasive species of plants.

“You would be amazed at how much they have cleaned up the buckthorn and the woods,” Paul said.

The goats’ stellar clean up job in the woods has made it a great place to take a walk in nature.

Paul and Kathleen like to take strolls out in their woods with the goats and their dogs. They had a Kelpie dog named NJ (Not Johnny) that was extremely good at herding the goats.

“NJ was a great dog,” Paul said. “He has since moved onto higher headquarters, but over the years he saved us a lot of work.”

Raising goats brings challenges, but the Baughman’s are grateful for the many experiences and memories their goats have given them.

“With any farming, some years are good and some

PHOTO BY GRACE JEURISSEN Kathleen and Paul Baughman hold some of their kids May 2 at their farm near Cannon Falls. Kathleen works at a school during the week and comes home to help care for the goats.

some years are good and so me years are bad,” Paul said.

Kathleen agreed.

“The goat market is hot right now,” she said.

Many young 4-H and FFA kids have gotten into F showing goats, much like s their son, William, did t around the time they a fi rst got their goats. g

The Baughmans said, Goats being smaller than G cattle are a great way for c kids to get their feet wet k

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Goats are playful creatures that enjoy jumping and climbing on whatever object is in their path.

SUBMITTED PHOTO These goats are basking in the sun while enjoying dinner along the edge of the Baughman property.

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CZ-June4-1-B-LS in the show ring. They don’t require large facilities and equipment to care for them, so families can get started with goats easier than they would with cattle or horses.

The Baughman’s enjoy supporting the families that purchase goats for 4-H or FFA from them. They will travel to different county fairs supporting the kids showing and offering advice.

“One of my favorite things is going to the fairs and seeing the kids show, even if they don’t win,” Kathleen said. “They learn so much and it’s great to see how far both our goats and the kids have come over the summer.”

Paul agreed.

“We could sell the best-looking animal on the farm, but if they don’t put in the work to train it and care for it, it won’t reach its potential,” he said.

The Baughman’s spend a lot of their time with the goats. Kathleen will come home after work and spend the evening looking over and playing with the goats. “It’s like her therapy,” Paul said. Kathleen agreed. “It’s fun to watch them because animals do the strangest things,” she said. “It’s the purest form of entertainment”. O n e of the advantages to raising goats for the Baughman’s is they don’t require large equipment. With the other part of their farm business being grass hay production the Baughman’s have almost all of their goat needs right at their fi ngertips.

They feed mostly grass hay other than the small amount of grain the lactating goats and kids get.

“We believe that what you put into your animal you get out of it,” Paul said. That’s why we spend time with them and watch them closely.” ‘‘ One of my favorite things is going Paul and Kathleen focus on good animal husbandry, and have learned a lot from their 15 years of raising goats. “We make mistakes, and we’ve probably to the fairs and made almost every one seeing the kids in the book,” Paul said. show, even if they don’t win, they The Baughmans are always trying to breed up. They try to get the learn so much and best bucks and make it’s great to see their next generation how far both our goats and the kids stronger than the last. Something they have done to help the have come over growth of their kids, the summer. is to have a few dairy goats or crossbred does - Kathleen that produce more milk.

Baughman They have noticed how much better the kids on the crossbred does do. “I love a goat with good mothering ability,” Kathleen said. “A good udder and solid feet and legs are important too, but you can’t go wrong with a good mama goat.” The Baughman’s are invested in their goats, and the people that buy them. They make sure that when people buy a goat from them it has already been dewormed, deliced, had its hooves trimmed and been given its vaccinations. “We make sure our goats are taken care of,” Paul said. “It’s a lot like taking care of your own children, if they are sick, you help them.” The Baughman’s encourage people interested in goats to get a hold of a breeder, and ask questions. There are many people, including the Baughman’s, willing to mentor those looking into raising goats.