Dairy, Meat, and Fiber for Profit
This course is formatted to guide beginning farmers through the production and marketing of goats. Goats can function as a profitable stand-alone enterprise or can be integrated into your existing farm structure to provide a variety of products and make use of marginal lands that would otherwise go unused.
Target Audience
BEGINNER – Farming has a difficult learning curve because it requires experience in both production and marketing. This course is designed to illustrate the many successes and failures experienced by other goat producers so that students can learn from and adapt their particular systems and resources based on those that have come before. These modules are intended to be beneficial for those who are interested in adding goats to their farm or those who are expanding their operations.
Course Objectives
During the course, you will:
- Learn the basics of raising goats, including feed, water, shelter, fencing, and basic health care
- Understand the common perils and pitfalls that affect goat producers
- With the help of the class and the instructor, outline a basic production plan for goats on your particular property including fencing set up, water set up, and integrating the animals into your existing on-farm enterprises
- Discuss marketing strategies regarding the sale of live animals, animal products, and value-added products
Webinars
The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.
Webinar Schedule
In 2025, this course will be offered live for 6-weeks on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from January 15 – February 19. While we encourage live attendance, so you have the opportunity to engage with presenters and ask questions, all webinars are recorded and posted in the online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely, and can return to participate in the live webinars in future offerings of the course if you wish. Join us!
Your Instructor
Jenn Bassman is a Communications Specialist for ZERO TO THREE. She owns a 15-acre farm in Berkshire, NY where she raises Kunekune pigs, Icelandic sheep and Toggenburg goats primarily on pasture. She has a teen daughter who is a 3rd generation 4-H’er and a competitive dancer.
Student Testimonials
"The collected knowledge and experience of the instructor and all the guest presenters was impressive. I will be making some key changes to my livestock management this year and feel confident that I can improve my profitability as a result."
"I appreciated the professional resources and ability to speak directly with experts practicing in the field."
"A lot of information was provided in short period of time and i am still in the process of going through the information to upgrade my goat farm."
Course Curriculum
-
StartWelcome & Instructor Contact Information
-
PreviewWebinar Schedule and Participant Guide
-
StartPre-Course Survey
-
StartFORUM: Introduction
-
StartNavigating in Teachable; Getting a Course Completion Certificate; and More
-
PreviewKiva US - 0% Interest Loans up to $15,000
-
StartRESOURCE: BF234 Goat Production Linktree