The Ones Behind The Goats

Annlilita and Larry Cihanek have always loved animals, and
Larry has always loved goats — he has extensive experience in
the dairy goat industry long before Green Goats and had been
invited to Cornell to provide lectures to students and faculty.
When Annlilita and Larry moved to Rhinebeck, they had several
goats as pets so that their children could enjoy spending time
with the goats and their kids.
Larry has always loved goats — he has extensive experience in
the dairy goat industry long before Green Goats and had been
invited to Cornell to provide lectures to students and faculty.
When Annlilita and Larry moved to Rhinebeck, they had several
goats as pets so that their children could enjoy spending time
with the goats and their kids.
How We Got Started

The roots of trees growing on a historic mortar emplacement
were causing damage and spreading the stones in
Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, NYC.
The NPS staff could not access the trees they needed to
remove in order to get to stop the spread of the stones.
The one thing stopping them? Walls of dense thorn bushes
and poison ivy.
Somewhere, the park manager had heard that goats
“love that kind of stuff”.
were causing damage and spreading the stones in
Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, NYC.
The NPS staff could not access the trees they needed to
remove in order to get to stop the spread of the stones.
The one thing stopping them? Walls of dense thorn bushes
and poison ivy.
Somewhere, the park manager had heard that goats
“love that kind of stuff”.

Cornell University supplied the staff with 400 names of
goat owners in a hundred mile area asking via email, “
Would you bring your goats to Fort Wadsworth?”
Only eight of the 400 responded and seven said “no”,
or that it couldn’t be done.
We said “yes.”
In 2007, Fort Wadsworth was the location of our very
first “Green Goats” project.
goat owners in a hundred mile area asking via email, “
Would you bring your goats to Fort Wadsworth?”
Only eight of the 400 responded and seven said “no”,
or that it couldn’t be done.
We said “yes.”
In 2007, Fort Wadsworth was the location of our very
first “Green Goats” project.
Our Take

At our farm, we take in goats who are in need a good home.
All of our goats are either retired dairy goats who are no longer
producing, beloved family pets that cannot be kept any longer
for any reason, individual goats and herds who have been surrendered
to the ASPCA and goats whose only other option is being sent to the
livestock auction or meat market.
We give our goats their own version of “the American Dream”
— they get to eat for a living.
All of our goats are either retired dairy goats who are no longer
producing, beloved family pets that cannot be kept any longer
for any reason, individual goats and herds who have been surrendered
to the ASPCA and goats whose only other option is being sent to the
livestock auction or meat market.
We give our goats their own version of “the American Dream”
— they get to eat for a living.

At Green Goats - Rhinebeck, we prioritize the safety and health
of our goats. They are not just working goats, they are our pets
who we love to scratch, pet, hug, and maybe even the occasional
smooch.
If a goat is getting too old to wander our clients’ fields, they can
stay home and wander our fields for the rest of their days.
Our goats also take sick days to recover from any illness or injury
that may occur on a farm.
of our goats. They are not just working goats, they are our pets
who we love to scratch, pet, hug, and maybe even the occasional
smooch.
If a goat is getting too old to wander our clients’ fields, they can
stay home and wander our fields for the rest of their days.
Our goats also take sick days to recover from any illness or injury
that may occur on a farm.