Save Goat House Farm

Hello everyone! This fundraiser is for Goat House Farm, a non-profit goat education and support farm in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a place where visitors can take classes about goats, participate in clinics to learn how to do hoof trims and medicines (among a lot of other things!), visit goats rescued through the Leon County Sheriff’s Office (one is remaining to be adopted, let us know if you’re interested in a beautifully-horned Nigerian Dwarf buck!), and meet Melissa Hughes, the owner of Goat House Farm, who is a hotline for all goat owners who have questions or need help with their own goats.

Melissa works day and night to take care of these beautiful creatures. She answers the phone at all hours for people who are in need of advice on how to care for their goats. I have heard the emergency calls come in, and Melissa either tells them how to take care of it, or will sit down and research on what needs to be done. Melissa runs the Leon County 4-H Dairy Goat Project which teaches kids how to raise, show, and care for goats, and encourages growth and responsibility in our local youth. This includes holding monthly meetings, helping kids come out for their required 4 hours a month to practice leading their goats, and paying for vet inspections and transport to show, all so the kids can have a great experience learning about these animals!

Everyone, Melissa doesn’t want to admit it, but she has hit hard times. She is a professor, and half of her classes were cut, and her income has gone down. She offers AirBNB facilities, and guest visits have dropped. Feed costs have gone up. Fencing is breaking and is in need of repair. This year has been rough in Florida when it comes to parasites due to the early heat which started in January/February, and so many goats required expensive treatment.

Melissa has paid for everything she can, but now her mortgage is behind. She took care of the goats first, because she has given them everything they need: food, water, shelter, medical care - sure. But most of all? She’s given them love. So much love.

Now it’s time to help Melissa help the goats. Melissa lives on the property, and Goat House Farm would be a major loss to the agricultural community of Leon County, Florida and the surrounding areas, but also beyond. All of these sweet goats would need to be rehomed, and there are not a lot of people who want to take on goats right now. And we would lose a very important support person for young farmers who will be supporting our food networks in the future.

Any little bit helps. Please consider supporting Goat House Farm!