January 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
Fresh from the Farm: Goats in the Bathtub
By Shelley Young
It has been 25 plus years since we got into the dairy goat business. My oldest daughter, Jane, said “Just one goat mom, just one.” Now Jane, for the most part, had been raised in a barn, had a few years of 4-H under her belt showing cattle and knew what a commitment it was to take on an animal to raise and show. I caved.
Off to the sale barn to purchase our first two goats. That just didn't work out well so off to the reputable breeder to purchase our first second goat.
Sareena was a lovely white, recorded grade doe kid. White meant cleaning at showtime but I knew my daughter was up to the task. Home we went [with] goat in tow. This was late April so she had time to work with Sareena and make her that special goat.
It was something Jane took seriously...and Sareena graciously accepted!
July rolled around and fair haul in was that week. The cattle and other 15 projects were ready to roll. All that was left was to get the goat ready.
I told Jane I had to run to town and she was to bathe her goat to ready her for show. Again, she had bathed all the show calves. How hard could a goat be? A knowledgeable 4-Her and a very spoiled goat. What could go wrong? For them, nothing!
I returned from town and pulled in my driveway. My bathroom window faces my drive. I get out of my truck and was greeted by "BLAAAAAHHHHH." Where in the world was this goat dying at? "BLAAAAAAAHHHHHH"
"JANE MARIE!!!" (Every child knows that it's not good when it's loud and includes their middle name.) Here she comes, bouncing out the door with the distinct look of accomplishment.
"Jane, why is there a goat standing on my toilet yelling out the window? And where, exactly did you bathe this goat?" I asked.
"Oh, you said to give her a bath; so, I put her in your bathtub."
Deep breaths.
"And why is she on my toilet yelling out the window?" I asked.
"She has to dry mom; I didn't want her to get cold.”
It was July.
So that was our first goat bathed in the house. No, she wasn't the last, just the ground breaker.
At the time I was mortified that there was a goat in my bathtub. And standing on my toilet yelling out the window.
We raised seven children in this home.
That first goat bath was one of those incredible memories I have raising my children in this home. One of those wonderful memories I laugh about whenever it graces my brain.
I have been so blessed with so many wonderful memories that I can, at the very least, smile at, but more often, belly laugh at. All of them created by my children in this very simple home, where we put goats in the bathtub.
Wishing you all a joyous and blessed New Year.
Shelley Young
Lifetime Hopeite
Sharing life through love and laughter
