Snuggle up with Baby Goats: Cuddle Therapy Awaits at an Eastern Iowa Farm

Someone posted a meme on Facebook a while back asking what one thing makes you smile whenever you see it.  The top-rated smiling event was seeing an animal with their head out the window of a car enjoying the ride.  This seems like it would be kin to that, it just makes you smile.   

Visitors to Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch are sure to have a memorable experience, with the highlight being the Baby Goat Cuddling Exhibit. How could you not smile when thinking about cuddling with a baby goat?  Would you dare say, Baaaah, humbug? Cuddles are available from goats that are just 10 days old, and they’ve become quite the attraction.   

Thanks to WHO13, they reported Farmer Fred Howell, a fifth-generation farmer, introduced the baby goat cuddling experience shortly after the pandemic began. The goats are treated like daycare children. They are gathered for cuddles each day and then returned to their mothers in the evening. I'd like to ask him if any of the goats scream about not wanting to leave the cuddling because they’re having too much fun?  That would make for a real day-care-like feel.   

There is another delight these charming goats provide therapeutic benefits. Many visitors find the experience calming and stress-relieving. 

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Long-time attendees also emphasize the goats’ sweetness. “People don’t realize how affectionate these animals are until they actually come out and hold them. I really encourage everyone to give it a try,” one frequent visitor remarked. 

The Baby Goat Cuddling Exhibit will be available until September. Tickets can be purchased through the website. Howell's Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch