05/27/2026
Last night was bittersweet as we said goodbye to our original foundation buck, Highland Farms Goose. Goose was the first registered goat we ever owned and the first goat I ever took to a show. He was a gorgeous boy, known for his extravagant beard and the most massive, wrinkled neck I have seen on a buck. He was aggressively friendly and he did everything with gusto. His breeder, Linda Schelling, told me that her hope for him was to go to a home where he would be “loved and useful.” I have never forgotten those words and Goose was definitely both.
Goose was getting old for a buck, and we knew in our hearts that he probably wouldn’t do well in our summer heat this year. When his body started shutting down, we decided that since he was comfortable surrounded by his friends in the barn where he had lived the majority of his life, we would let him go naturally as long as he wasn’t in distress. While we have had deaths over the years, this is the first time euthanasia wasn’t utilized because of the circumstances and it was actually very beautiful.
Sitting quietly while listening to Goose’s breathing and watching his herd mates settle around him and say goodbye was very touching. The younger boys were curious and needed a little reassurance before they retired for the night. His longtime companion, my horned wether, Johnny, was a different story. Johnny is even older than Goose, and they were very bonded. Typically pretty quiet and skittish, Johnny was very vocal and clingy and did not want me to leave the pen yesterday at all. He stood vigil at the barn door for most of the day while Goose was inside and only came out to run over and give me updates when he saw me coming. Of everyone, he’s having the worst time of it, so if you can spare a prayer or positive thought to send his way, we’d all be grateful.
RIP to our OG goat daddy. Wherever you are, I hope there are lush pastures, beautiful does, and lots of cheek scratches. You were loved and useful ❤️
