By Erika Estrada, Staff Writer
Newman students who need to relieve a little stress can do so from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at an event called “Goats with Goad.”
The event, put on by Newman’s Mental Health Advocacy Team, is intended to help students let go of their stress with the aid of four baby goats, owned by assistant professor of biology Daryl Goad.
Goad and his wife, Kate, who live on a three-acre hobby farm in Buhler, always had dogs for pets. Then, they purchased their 1900s farm house and decided to try raising goats, mainly because they wanted to make their own fresh goat cheese.
Three years later, their herd has grown to seven adult goats and four playful babies. A typical day for the couple now revolves around their goats.
"We bottle-feed the babies twice a day and feed the adults," Goad said. "The best part is in the evening when we sit outside, scratching the adults and watching the little ones play."
Their decision to bring the baby goats to Newman came after Ivy Annen, Newman’s mental health coordinator, reached out and asked Goad to bring the goats to campus. In the past, the department had put on stress-relieving sessions that included dogs, but they wanted to try something new.
"I was happy to agree," Goad said. "I hoped they would provide a great outlet for stress relief and bring joy to the students."
Goat ownership, however, isn't without its challenges, Goad said. One time, his herd knocked down a metal shed on his property trying to get to the hay inside.
"Their intelligence and curiosity are a handful," he said.
Goad says students should not be surprised if the goats he brings today get a little extra friendly.
"Our goats are very well-socialized and friendly," he said. "If they nibble on you, that's just their way of exploring. They use their mouths like we use our hands. We always joke that they taste everything and everyone to see if they are food”
The event will happen on the Dresselhaus Patio by Mabee Dining Center and Sacred Heart Hall.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Unsplash
