There is a new sport gaining in popularity. Goat Cuddling. It has not yet been approved for Olympic competition, but it may soon be. But a warning from the Surgeon General: Goat Cuddling can be quite contagious.
On Tuesday this week, my wife and daughter, Laura, went on a Goat Cuddling expedition to Waynesboro. Their mission was to cuddle with as many baby goats as possible. They came back with baby goat breath on their cheeks and a dazed look in their eyes. Baby goats, you see, are about the cutest things on the planet.
Supposedly, goat cuddling, or hugging, got started at the Caromont Goat Cheese Farm in Southern Virginia. About a hundred baby goats were born there in less than two weeks and the young ones needed attention. Understaffed, the owner, Gail Hobbs-Page, posted on Facebook the need for “Volunteer Goat Cuddlers”. The response was massive – over 2,000 people wanted in. Since then, numerous goat farms have offered baby goats for visitors to cuddle. The closest to Charlottesville is MyPeepsFarm in Waynesboro. The 10-acre spread along the South River raises Nigerien Dwarf goats for sale and for cuddling. Goat’s milk and cheese is the best there is, say many. Owning your own animal would allow an owner a continuing source of delicious, healthy dairy products.
MyPeepsFarm has registered Nigerian Dwarf goats, chickens, guinea hens, barn cats, and two amazing livestock guardian dogs.
Goat cuddling is not a year round sport. It must be done in the spring of the year when the babies are born. Some new twin baby goats are scheduled for delivery at MyPeepsFarm in early June. Call them at 540-228-1544 and make a cuddling reservation. Admission to the farm is $10 per adult, $5 per child and kids under three are free. More information on the farm is at found at mypeepsfarm.com. The address is 593 Rockfish Road, Waynesboro.