Starks Goat Farm Open to the Public on June 21

Contact: Media contacts: Dick Brzozowski, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 1-800-287-1471 (in Maine); Nick Houtman, Dept. of Public Affairs, University of Maine, 207-581-3777

ORONO– The Sunny Ridge Farm in Starks will open its doors to the public on Saturday, June 21 for a University of Maine Cooperative Extension farm tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosts Rose and George Martikke have been raising Boer goats for seven years and will describe their approach to raising Boers for meat production.

The Martikkes also maintain a small herd of Nubien goats for milking. They sell goat milk and make a line of goat milk soaps.

The farm tour is part of the Goat Trail Tours 2003, a program coordinated by Extension educator Richard Brzozowski of the Cumberland County Extension office. “Touring a goat farm is a great way to learn about goats and gather information and ideas for your own farm,” says Brzozowski.

The Goat Trail Tour 2003 highlights goat operations in Maine and New England. The June 21 farm tour will include live demonstrations, a goat sale and samples of different goat meat recipes.

Sunny Ridge Farm is located in Starks (between Farmington and Skowhegan). From Augusta travel to New Sharon on Route 27. Take a left turn onto Route 2. In New Sharon, take a right turn onto Route 134. At the end of Route 134 take a right on to Route 43 and take a left turn onto Chicken Street. Look for Sunny Ridge Farm on the right. 

Registration is free and can be made by calling the Cumberland County Extension office at 1-800-287-1471.