Brunch with Baby Goats

After years of pandemic delay,  my family and I finally attended the Brunch with Baby Goats Event at the Angeles Crest Creamery a couple of weeks ago.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Yes, I know what a goat looks like, but how would the brunch work?   Would it be a buffet?  Would we sit at picnic tables?  Not quite!

As you can see, this was much more like a picnic.  The food was delicious, and I immensely enjoyed the coffee.  I’m not complaining.  It was all part of the adventure.

The goat pen

After a relaxing breakfast/lunch, we turned to the main attraction, baby goats.   The staff warned us to watch where we stepped, but we were on our own other than that.  The goats must be very social because they didn’t budge when we entered the pen!

Look at those smiles.  (Do goats smile?)  It was a very peaceful setting.  I’ve visited petting zoos, small spaces with the goats, sheep, and visitors crowded together.  Only food would induce the animals to turn my way.  Angeles Crest Creamery is nothing like that.  Babies were among the visitors on the day I was there!

Goat Pupils

One of the stranger discoveries for me is that goats have rectangular pupils.  Why didn’t I know this?

I had to research this after the visit.  Wow, these rectangular pupils help goats see predators sneaking up on them.  The goat can be grazing and still notice what’s happening to the side.  I read differing accounts, but all say that these pupils let the goats see everything around them.  According to one article, only a few animals have such eyes: Goats, Sheep, Octopuses, and Toads.   They are all prey animals.  Oh, and a word of advice.  Don’t go down the horizontal pupil rabbit hole.  It becomes somewhat confusing.

Baby Goats are so relaxing!

The best thing about visiting the goats was how calming the visit made one.  With several bales of hay to choose from, each visitor could rest and pet a goat to his heart’s content.

Unlike the petting zoo mentioned above, there wasn’t any need to use food as a lure.  The goats were content just to come by and say hello.  A little petting was always welcome, too.  The following image says it all.

The Bobcat Fire 2020

The Bobcat fire began in September and quickly spread throughout the Angeles National Forest and across the San Gabriel Mountains.  The hillside communities near Pasadena were threatened, but the fire also moved north over the mountains toward the Mojave Desert.  The Angeles Crest Creamery was directly in its path.

Neighbors and volunteers pitched in to move livestock, including the baby goats, to safety.  The fire department worked diligently to save the buildings.  It was a very close shave.  I wonder if the goat brunch is now somewhat abbreviated because of the difficulties caused by Bobcat.

Tips for visiting the baby goats

• Valyermo is northeast of Los Angeles; the area downhill from the farm is desert.  Dress appropriately!
• There is nowhere to park near the buildings.  Park on the road and walk in along the drive.
• Pets aren’t allowed because they may not get along with the goats or the three sheepdogs.
• Be prepared to sit on a straw bale and then relax.  The goats will do the rest.

To see more images from my baby goat adventure, please click here.