Wildwood Goats have quickly become not only showstoppers, but a therapeutic outlet for a Stanthorpe couple
A Stanthorpe family-run miniature goat stud has seen their prized possessions feature in many southeast Queensland shows in the past five years, but their greatest achievement was providing a therapeutic escape to their devoted owners on their IVF journey. Full story here.
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Wildwood Goats is far from the shetland pony farm Sophia Holland grew up on, but it has quickly become a family run stud producing a prize-winning buck and doe.
These larrakin animals aren’t just a means of income for Sophia and Liam Holland, who often felt comfort from spending time among the paddocks during their IVF journey.
The Holland’s miniature goat stud journey began almost five years ago when the couple came across an advertisement for a miniature pygmy buck.
“We’ve still got him to this day, he’s our grand champion buck who’s (since) won that award at quite a few shows,” she said.
“A lot of his kids we now show and have had a lot of success (with them) in the show ring.”
The couple couldn’t resist the charm and amusing nature of the young buck and were quickly assisted by Mrs Holland’s parents in starting up the family business.
Wildwood Goats is now home to a variety of miniature goat breeds who have featured in many shows around southeast Queensland.
Mrs Holland said the success of the stud has meant at times they’ve had to sell some of the breeds kids who aren’t to be featured in upcoming shows to help keep running costs down.
“My husband and I went through an IVF journey which was challenging for us (on top of) the costs of being on a farm and feeding animals,” she said.
Inspired by the beloved children’s film, Sophia and Liam welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world named Flicka.
“It was a bit of a journey to bring her into the world, but we’re so happy that she’s here,” she said.
Now at one-years-old Flicka has quickly become the stud’s resident ‘goat whisperer’ and enjoys nothing more than being surrounded by their many miniature goats.
IVF is often not an easy journey and for the Holland family, having their beloved goats just outside their doorstep was in a way therapeutic in between travelling to and from Brisbane and Toowoomba for treatment.
“Even now when I have rough days it’s always nice to go and spend some time with the goats and even taking them out to shows can be a bit like therapy for me, and going through IVF it was really nice to go and sit in the paddock with the goats when I was having a really tough time,” she said.
“It was definitely handy being a family run stud and having my parents there to help us, we’re very appreciative of their help (with the stud) and also with Flicka.
“My husband and I also both work, and working on a farm can be pretty tough at times so we’re very appreciative to my parents for helping out where they can.”
Wildwood Goats will feature in Kalbar’s end of year Christmas show, which Mrs Holland said will likely see some very fancy dressed classes.
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