The Best California Farms for Baby Goats and Cheese

"Jennifer Bice—who grew up raising goats in 4-H, started selling raw goat milk in the 70s, and built her family dairy into a national brand—recalls the joy of spring kids: “It’s like puppies or kittens,” and “The babies are always the cutest thing… Then by the time they’re a week old, they’re jumping in the air, like only goats can do.” Founded in 1968, the operation was acquired by a Swiss company called Emmi in 2015 and later merged with Meyenberg; Bice is now in “semi-retirement” but keeps a small herd and is returning to artisanal roots by supplying milk to a local cheesemaker called Mt. Eitan. The site sits on about 20 acres and houses roughly 60 milking mamas and 120 goats total, representing four breeds—hardy Alpine, white Saanen, tiny-eared LaMancha, and floppy-eared Nubian—many of them show winners whose kids travel the country. Tours (by reservation) include cuddling the babies, feeding the mamas, and trying your hand at milking; the farmstand sells cheese, soap, olive oil, and flowers, and you can unwrap Mt. Eitan cheeses on a picnic table—examples on offer include the Gefen wrapped in grape leaves, Ady lightly brined feta, and Raya mountain tomme. It’s an easy drive about 60 miles north over the Golden Gate into West Sonoma County." - Becky Duffett