Goats in America
Tami Parr
The humble goat has played a surprising and important role throughout the history of the United States. Despite this, goats are often overlooked by many Americans, who tend to have strong opinions about this complex creature. In Goats in America Tami Parr calls attention to these often-overlooked animals, uncovering the remarkable stories behind everything from goat meat and milk to goat yoga and more.
Since arriving in North America with cattle and other domesticated livestock in the sixteenth century, goats have provided people sustenance and valuable products, including milk, meat, and mohair. But humans did not appreciate the animals, and as a result, throughout much of American history goats were persecuted as public nuisances and symbols of degenerate behavior. Nevertheless, over the centuries the tenacious goat has overcome many of these stereotypes and secured a spot in the hearts and minds of modern Americans, who love goat cheese and embrace goats as social media stars.
Examining key moments and notable developments in goat history and culture, Goats in America outlines the history and evolving role of goats in communities across the country, from San Francisco and New York City to rural Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation. Parr shows that the evolving reputation of goats in American society ultimately reveals more about humans than it does about goats themselves. So, the next time you are enjoying your favorite goat cheese, take a moment to consider the history and role of goats within American culture.
About the author
Tami Parr is a developmental editor and author of Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Northwest Cheese: A History (OSU Press). Her writing has appeared in The Oregonian, Edible Portland, and Goat Journal. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
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“Truly, I thought I knew a lot about goats until I read Tami Parr's Goats in America! I was blown away by the depth of information and delightful stories contained in this book. This book will appeal not only to goat lovers, but to anyone who enjoys exploring history from a unique perspective.” —Gianaclis Caldwell, author of Holistic Goat Care: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Healthy Animals, Preventing Common Ailments, and Troubleshooting Problems
“Who knew goats would make such a rich and captivating topic? Fortunately, Tami Parr did, and her exhaustive research and lively writing have produced a riveting narrative. Goats have had a turbulent trajectory in the United States, banished in some eras, beloved in others. Thanks to Parr, I have renewed appreciation for these gentle creatures that provide us with such nutritious milk, meat, and cheese.” —Janet Fletcher, author and publisher of the Planet Cheese blog
“In this lively, engaging ramble through the multifaceted history of goats in America, Parr leads us through the many twists and turns of goats in America from their role in Navajo culture to the current backyard livestock trend, always keeping the focus on how very malleable the place of goats in American culture has been.” —Frederic L. Brown, author of The City is More than Human: An Animal History of Seattle
