Prodigal Farm has already sold out two baby goat festivals in April due to the ever-growing popularity of baby goats and its diverse vendors and events.
Prodigal Farm, a dairy farm known for their goats and cheeses, began their goat festival following the high volume of visitors from Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Farm Tours, a non-profit organization that advocates for small, local farming.
“We were shocked and intrigued that so many people seemed to want to come to our farm," Prodigal Farms co-owner Kathryn Spann said. "We started having our own goat fest days that was not a part of the farm tours.”
Spann said local farmers encouraged the baby goats trend because conventional dairy farms quickly sold or killed baby goats. Baby goats wouldn't make farms any money because a young goat's only job was either to breed more goats or to make milk. Goat festivals changed this.
“I think a lot of folks have been starting to realize there is a community out there that’s interested in connecting in one way or another with farming,” Spann said. “And baby goats are particularly irresistible, and when we have regular tourism that's centered around them, they really start to earn their keep.”
Apart from the plentiful amount of baby goats to pet and hold, Prodigal Farm hosts multiple different vendors at their goat festivals, changing vendors and activities depending on the season, weather or availability.
They’ve held events like beekeeping, blacksmithing and soap making. They've also offered food from a food truck and drinks like cider from Botanist & Barrel, mead and beer from a local brewery.
