GOAT-TOBER. Erin Link raises rare San Clemente goats at her farm, EB Ranch. Because of her efforts – and the efforts of goat-lovers like her – she has raised the San Clemente goat population up from about 400 to 800.

Erin Link's goal for this year was to increase farm-to-community interaction at her farm, EB Ranch in Ridgeland, about half an hour north of Menomonie.

But when the pandemic hit, she had to adapt – just like her rare San Clemente Island goats.

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These animals are tough. They're adaptable.

Erin Link

owner of EB ranch 

“These animals are tough,” Link said. “They’re adaptable.”

Link pivoted to offer many of her products on a new website platform, Barn 2 Door Media, which allows opportunities for on-farm pick up, meeting, and shipping options.

Some of her products include goat milk soap, pastured poultry, and pastured whole goat meat shares.

She’s also partnering with local photographer Brittany Olson to offer 20-minute photo sessions in November for local folks who are interested in getting their holiday photos taken with a rare goat – and some festive mistletoe.

Link is passionate about her rare goats, whose global population has increased from about 400 to 800 since she adopted her first few in 2013.

“We really need to find out why we want to keep raising these animals,” she said. “It’s given me this thing to do that I really love doing.”

For Link, raising her goats is about food security and genetic diversity. A disease – not unlike the pandemic – can wipe out a species, but with genetic diversity, we can preserve the plants and animals of Wisconsin, she said.

Check out more at www.ebranchllc.com.