Goats On The Go® was recently asked to offer opinions about virtual fencing for some academic research. Said research became a part of an article on Modern Farmer, a well known online publication.
Your website listings are getting a facelift
In an effort to clarify the Goats On The Go® brand message and make our affiliate structure less confusing to customers, your listings on GoatsOnTheGo.com and your profile pages will be soon be seeing some changes. These changes will be rolling out over the next several weeks. Here’s what you can expect.
Directory Listings
The goal: Help customers find “their affiliate” first by state and then by place. We do this by grouping affiliates together by state, and by listing several recognizable communities that are scattered across each territory to serve as geographic “anchors.” We want customers scrolling through all the affiliates in their state to say, “Oh, that city is near where I live. That must be the affiliate I need to contact.” Then, the customer can click the live-linked name of the people operating the territory to be taken to the affiliate’s profile page for more information.
The change: The anchor community names will remain, but they will be listed below the name of the affiliate territory, which contains the affiliate’s local descriptor. The territory name will now be the thing customers click to link to the affiliate’s profile page. This change emphasizes the GOTG-branded territory and makes it clearer where users should click to take the next step. The names of the people operating each territory will no longer be listed in the state-by-state directory since that information is not helpful to most customers during the early stages of their search. The graphics below to show how the Dubuque Iowa territory operated by Cox Springs Farm (Peg and Tim Harbaugh) looks in the directory before and after the change.
Before
After
Keep in mind: The places listed in the directory listings are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all communities each affiliate serves, but only to provide a quick reference point for the breadth of each territory. We took our best guess at what community names would serve as landmarks in your area, but we don’t have your local knowledge. If you would like different communities listed (usually three and no more than four), contact Olivia at olivia@goatsonthego.com.
Profile Pages
The goal: Introduce customers to “their affiliate” and make it convenient for customers to contact them. This is intended to be a more personal step in the process of matching customers to affiliates. The profile page is also an opportunity to help people understand they will be working with a local service provider operating under the GOTG brand, not with an anonymous national company. Finally, the profile page displays a more comprehensive — but still brief — description of the affiliate’s service area, a link to a map showing the boundaries of the service area, and potentially a link to the affiliate’s outside website.
The change: The headline of the profile page will continue to be the GOTG territory name (which includes the local affiliate descriptor). Now, however, the line below the territory name will begin with “Operated by…” Each affiliate may now choose to insert their own name OR the name of their business entity. For example, “Operated by Peg and Tim Harbaugh” or “Operated by Cox Springs Farm, LLC.”
Before
After
Keep in mind: By default we will show your personal name as the operator of your territory. If you would like to use a farm name or business entity name, please contact olivia@goatsonthego.com. However, if you choose to put a snazzy company or farm name on your profile page, that does not mean you can offer your grazing service under that brand instead of GOTG. Your affiliate agreement requires you to only offer targeted grazing services as Goats On The Go®. For the purposes of legal contracts, invoices, and bank accounts Peg and Tim can be “Goats On The Go® Dubuque operated by Cox Springs Farm, LLC,” or “Cox Springs Farm, LLC doing business as Goats On The Go® Dubuque.” But for all marketing, promotions, and public relations related to targeted grazing, affiliates must present themselves as Goats On The Go® followed by their local descriptor (e.g. Goats On The Go® Dubuque). Same goes for links from profile pages to social media accounts or outside websites. If you have a company/farm name or brand, it must ALWAYS be subordinate to the Goats On The Go® brand when targeted grazing services are being offered!!! If you need advice on how and where to draw the line, contact Aaron at aaron@goatsonthego.com.
URL Slugs
The goal: Create a website address that helps us organize affiliate profile pages efficiently. You know that extension that hangs off the end of a website address, like, “GoatsOnTheGo.com/harbaugh”? That is a URL slug. In the past we’ve always used the last names of affiliates as the URL slug.
The change: URL slugs will now be individual territory descriptors. So, Peg and Tim Harbaugh’s profile page will no longer be found at GoatsOnTheGo.com/harbaugh. Instead it will be GoatsOnTheGo.com/dubuque. If your territory descriptor is more than one word, it will be compressed with no spaces, dashes, or underscores. For example, Goats On The Go® Cedar Valley’s URL will become GoatsOnTheGo.com/cedarvalley.
Keep in mind: We’re making this change to be territory specific rather than person specific. That way if an affiliate withdraws from GOTG and a new one takes over the territory, there will be some continuity both internally and for our customers. This is also why we don’t allow business or farm names to be the URL slug. It’s worth noting that potential customers are unlikely to type in an entire URL into their internet search engines to find you anyway. Rather, they will simply type “Goats On The Go” or “goats go dubuque” or “go goats iowa,” all of produce search results with GOTG at the top of the list! Therefore, we recommend against trying to get your customers to memorize your URL and slug. It’s a losing battle. Instead, rely on the search engine optimization (SEO) we’re doing for you in the background!
Other Changes
We’re working to reformat and standardize a few other things on the website as well. In several places on the website customers will now be presented with the statement, “Service may be extended to other locations in the region on a case-by-case basis.” This will encourage customers to reach out to nearby affiliates even if their properties fall outside the boundaries of every affiliate territory on the map (remember, affiliates must get authorization from Aaron before pursuing out-of-territory leads).
We’re also working hard to update our SEO settings, which will impact how each affiliates’ listings appear to customers in Internet search results. This should help more customers find their particular affiliate without necessarily landing on the GoatsOnTheGo.com home page first.
Questions? Some of this is pretty technical, so don’t hesitate to reach out to aaron@goatsonthego.com with questions. If you’d rather just ignore these details, you can rest assured that everything we do is intended to make you more recognizable and findable as a Goats On The Go@ targeted grazing operator!
Large project training sessions coming up
If you’ve never taken large project training before, and you’d like to be eligible to do projects that are 10 acres in size or larger, plan to tune in to one of our upcoming Zoom calls on April 10 or April 29 at 7 p.m. Central.
Attendance is optional, but it is required before pursuing large targeted grazing projects. The training will take no more than 90 minutes. There is no charge to attend, but please register for either of the sessions using the following buttons.
Large projects logistics and pricing are quite different than projects under 10 acres. Here’s what the training will cover:
Herd size and grazing speed;
Risks unique to large projects;
Pricing and profitability considerations unique to large projects;
Labor inputs;
Paddock planning;
Loading and transportation with a large herd.
And more! See you there!
Check this out: our guest speaker on the Farm Dog podcast!
Did you know that Bill Costanzo, livestock guardian dog researcher at Texas A&M, is the guest speaker at the Goats On The Go® Affiliate Conference on Saturday, March 2? Did you also know that Bill has been featured several times on Farm Dog, a podcast hosted by GOTG’s Aaron Steele?
If you’d like a primer on the kind of research Bill has been doing, check out episodes 8, 37, 60, and 61 of the podcast by clicking the button below (or by searching “Farm Dog” on your favorite podcast app). Take notes and jot down your questions so you can get them answered, live and in person, on Saturday!
What if I have to miss the March Training & Conference?
The Goats On The Go® affiliate network gets bigger every year, so every year there are more issues that arise regarding the training requirement in the affiliate agreement. “What if I can’t make it to West Des Moines on that one-and-only date in March?” “Why do I have to attend in person?” “What are the consequences if I don’t keep up my training?”
These are excellent questions, with equally good answers, so we’ll address them in GOTG’s favorite format: the FAQ.
Q: I’m a new affiliate and I’ve run into an immovable conflict with the March 1 Basic Training. What should I do?
A: New affiliates in the first year of their contracts must attend the Basic Training in person before offering Goats On The Go® services to customers. We’re pretty hard core about that. But, we understand that life is also hard core, and things happen. The most important thing is that you communicate with us, as far in advance as possible, about the conflict. In most situations we will find a way to get you trained, but we can’t guarantee that the alternative is going to be as convenient, inexpensive, effective, or fun as attending “the main event” on the first weekend of March.
Q: I’ve done the Basic Training before, and this is not my first rodeo. Why do I have to attend a training event again?
A: GOTG’s affiliate contracts mandate a schedule of ongoing training (attendance at an approved training event required in years 1 and 2, and every-other-year thereafter) for a couple of reasons. First, GOTG exercises almost no control over the day-to-day operations of affiliates as they provide grazing services under the Goats On The Go® brand. It’s important that affiliates are continually and repeatedly presented with best practices and lessons learned from the experiences of others. Constant learning and communication help to ensure that the public image of the Goats On The Go® brand is protected.
Second, the market for targeted grazing and GOTG’s position in it is constantly changing. What was true a couple of years ago isn’t necessarily true today. We strive to keep you up-to-date on important developments in the industry and on complimentary agricultural issues. We utilize many different means of communication, but training events remain our best and most effective opportunity to get you the information you need.
Q: Okay, I understand the need for training, but why in-person? Couldn’t we do this by Zoom for a lot less money and less hassle?
A: Goats On The Go® is not just a brand, it’s also a community. One of the most valuable things about being a GOTG affiliate is the interaction with other affiliates. We believe this community can be nurtured with tools like Zoom and the Affiliate Facebook Group, but it’s built on real person-to-person engagement at GOTG training events. There’s just something about being physically together that fosters civil, genuine, edifying relationships that can continue remotely throughout the rest of the year.
Traveling is expensive in both dollars and time. We understand that. That’s why affiliates can always satisfy their training requirement at no cost (other than their travel) by attending the Basic Training the first weekend of March. Yes, it will be a bit of a rerun after your first year, but the content changes over time as we hear back from affiliates about their needs. And, many affiliates report back to us that some of the information they thought they absorbed from the training in their first year didn’t really “click” with them until they heard it a second time with the benefit of some real world experience.
Finally, if you’re not interested in taking the Basic Training again, the Conference on the second day of the March event remains a great value. For a small registration fee that covers your entire team, you get to hear from excellent guest speakers, fellow affiliates, and GOTG leadership, all while contributing your own experience to the valuable learning and networking that happens there.
Q: What happens if I get off-schedule with my training? Will my affiliate contract be voided?
A: Assuming you’ve attended Basic Training in the past, you have a history of paying your fees on time, you’ve communicated proactively about your obstacles to attending training, and you’ve generally represented the GOTG brand well, we’re not likely to send you a default letter because you’re a little behind on training.
However, you may not be eligible to access new benefits and opportunities as they come along in the future until you’re caught up. What benefits and opportunities? Let’s take a purely fictional example. Suppose we decided to offer affiliates a “pay as you go” option for paying affiliate fees. Instead of paying the full sum at the beginning of the year, GOTG takes a percentage of the revenue from each of the affiliate’s grazing projects until the full fee is paid. This very attractive — and fictional — option might only be open to affiliates who have checked all the boxes for paying on time, maintaining their required training, etc. One could imagine all sorts of good things that might pop up, so it it would be wise to stay in a position to take advantage of them!
Q: Besides the main Affiliate Training & Conference that happens every year on the first Friday and Saturday of March, are there any other events that would satisfy the contractual training requirement?
A: Yes! We highly value getting lots of affiliates together in person at the main event in March, but we also want to give people some flexibility. Additionally, some events offered by select third parties would greatly benefit affiliates’ businesses. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we would consider attendance at certain non-GOTG events to satisfy the contractual training requirement. Here are the additional training options for 2024:
Solar Farm Summit, Chicago, IL, July 8-10, registration open now, $550 per person (must include educational sessions)
Oklahoma State University Meat Goat Boot Camp, Ada, OK, October 21-23, registration open April 1, $200 per person
(Tentative) Goats On The Go® “Quick Start” Affiliate Basic Training, late July or early August, fee to be decided
That last one is still just a concept, but it’s nearing reality. It’s intended to train new affiliates who sign on during the summer and don’t want to wait until spring of the following year to start their Goats On The Go® grazing businesses. It will also be a good option for experienced affiliates who missed the March event and need to fulfill their training requirement. However, there will be a registration fee for this one and there will not be a conference associated with it. March is still your best option for the broadest, newest content and the lowest cost.
Q: If I’ve attended the Basic Training in the past, and I want to get credit for attending one of the new options, what should I do?
A: Contact Aaron Steele at aaron@goatsonthego.com to talk through it. Also, watch for a more detailed policy to be ready by June 1. It will be posted on the Affiliate Facebook Group and on FarmLaunch.me.
Affiliate Social: networking for people who hate networking
Do you hate the idea of “networking?” When you hear the word do you envision putting on a fake smile and psyching yourself up to approach a stranger with a business card and some lame small talk? Me too.
Fortunately, that’s not what the GOTG Affiliate Social on Friday night, March 7 is about. Instead, think of it as a group of friends you haven’t met yet, who all share the same interests as you! You can talk about goats endlessly with this crowd and no one will think you’re crazy!
The Affiliate Social serves several important purposes:
It allows conversations that were started earlier in the day at the Basic Training to continue;
It makes a fun transition from Friday’s brain-wrinkling rush of business information to Saturday’s wide-ranging conference content;
It introduces new affiliates to more experienced ones just rolling into town for Saturday’s conference;
It allows attendees to talk goats to their hearts’ content…with a beer!
The social is extremely casual, and it begins right after the Basic Training at 5 p.m. in the same venue (West48). If your kids are traveling with you and you can pull them away from the hotel pool, they’re welcome to attend the social. The venue includes ping pong, foosball, and other games that go well with kids and casual conversation.
If you didn’t include the Affiliate Social when you registered, it’s not too late! Just click the button below to return to the registration system on FarmLaunch.me and punch in your details. We’d love to see you there!
2024 affiliate fees and contracts due soon
If you are not a brand new GOTG affiliate, by now you should have received an email nudge to take one of the following actions for 2024:
Let Aaron Steele know that you plan to take advantage of the one-year extended term built into your affiliate agreement, which would then be followed by an email with a link to arrange payment of your 2024 affiliate fee; or,
Sign a new affiliate agreement if your previous agreement expired at the end of 2023, which would then be followed by an email with a payment link; or,
Pay your 2024 affiliate fee using the payment link that was sent to you if you have at least one more year left on your current agreement.
2024 affiliate fees are due January 15, so don’t delay! Without a valid agreement and full payment you will lose access to all the resources available on FarmLaunch.me on January 16, including the ability to plan and register for the 2024 Affiliate Training & Conference.
If you have any questions or need any clarification, contact Aaron at Aaron@GoatsOnThego.com.
Thanks for taking action soon!
Check this out: Guest speaker set for 2024 GOTG Conference
Bill Costanzo, Texas A&M AgriLife
We’re extremely excited to have Bill Costanzo, livestock researcher at Texas A&M AgriLife, as our guest speaker this year! Bill is a great guy and frequent guest on the Farm Dog podcast. His program is perhaps the only formal research effort helping farmers and ranchers find more success with livestock guardian dogs. His studies address the common on-the-ground challenges that goat and sheep producers face with their protection dogs.
How do I keep my dogs from wandering? How do I feed them out on the pasture? What’s the best way to bond them to the herd when they are puppies? How do I know if the dogs are doing good work? These topics and more are the focus of Bill’s professional life, and he’ll share his expertise with us on March 2 in West Des Moines.
Click below for more information about the 2024 Affiliate Training & Conference, and to register. Remember, you can bring as many representatives from your farm/grazing business as you like to the conference on March 2 for one registration fee! And, as always, the first day of the training and the all-affiliate social on March 1 are free to all!
Complete your easy annual report by February 15!
Any GOTG affiliate who operated in 2023 is required by contract to complete an annual report. Sounds scary and time consuming doesn’t it? It’s not!
All you have to do is click the button below and answer the poll questions, which are focused on the types of customers you served in 2023 and how many acres you grazed for each type. What do we mean by “types of customers?” Think back to your GOTG Basic Training when we discussed the concept of “market segmentation.” Or, if remembering things is too heavy of a lift this soon after the holidays, click here for a refresher. You’ll be taken to the market segmentation resource on FarmLaunch.me, so you’ll have to sign in to view it.
It might help to have access to your customer invoices as you complete the poll. But, if you find yourself spending hours digging through records and sweating over the details, you’re overthinking it. This poll should take no more than 20 minutes! Provide the best answers you can, but don’t worry about extreme precision.
We use this information to continually gauge how well we understand GOTG’s customers, and to train new affiliates how to approach their business launch. It is extremely valuable, and it’s required, so please set aside a little time to complete the report by February 15.
Thank you!
Ask Margaret anything...New Year Edition, this Friday!
We try to have informal, optional video call-ins several times a year so you can chat with other affiliates (sort-of) in person, and get answers to your questions from a Goats On The Go, LC representative. These are usually led by Margaret Chamas, our resident goat expert and former goat grazing affiliate. Thus, “Ask Margaret Anything!”
Margaret will host a call-in this Friday, January 5, at 7 p.m. Central. All topics are up for grabs, but here are some timely things we’ll likely discuss:
Information about the upcoming Affiliate Training & Conference in West Des Moines, Iowa, March 1-2;
If you’re a new affiliate, how to make use of GOTG’s resources between now and the training event;
Off-season business development — winter promotions, site visits, securing projects in advance;
Plus, anything you want to talk about!
So, pour yourself a drink, grab a stale Christmas cookie, and settle in next to your computer. See you Friday!
Check this out: The Secret to Making Better Marketing Decisions
When you’re considering spending some money to promote your targeted grazing business, does it seem like you’re just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks?
In this episode of the Business Made Simple podcast, host Donald Miller talks with his own company’s Director of Marketing about how she uses the ICE Method to sort through all the marketing options to find promotions that have the most ideal combinations of Impact, Confidence, and Ease.
This is a great method because it’s simple and not overly-reliant on data that require lots of time, money, and expertise to gather and analyze. It’s intuitive enough that any business can add some basic analytic structure to its marketing decision-making.
Find Business Made Simple on any podcast app, or click right to the episode using the button below.
This brand is our brand, this brand is your brand
“I have a great name for a goat grazing business, and I’ve already created the logo/purchased the URL/created an LLC. Do I have to use the Goats On The Go® brand if I become an affiliate? Can I cross-promote with my own brand?”
These are common questions from potential affiliates as they consider joining Goats On The Go®, and they’re also some of the most difficult to answer in a way that leaves all parties with shared expectations going forward. Why? Because the differences between what is allowed by the affiliate agreement and what is not are subtle. So in the interest of clearing up confusion and avoiding conflict, here is a Q&A you can refer to whenever you’re unsure.
Q: Why is it important to use and protect the Goats On The Go® brand?
A: There is tremendous value in lots of tiny companies banding together to offer their services under a single brand. If done well, all of the companies sharing the brand benefit from goodwill and positive exposure built up collectively by all the affiliates. We have a “brand identity” established in the marketplace — a momentum that can carry us all forward and give us an edge over our competitors. By becoming an affiliate you told us you want in on that.
Q: Cut to the chase. Can I use my brand or not?
A: The quickest, simplest answer is “no” — at least not for the purpose of offering and providing a targeted grazing service to customers. When you signed your affiliate agreement you got access to lots of information, training, and support, but at the core of the agreement you signed-on to license the use of the Goats On The Go® brand for your targeted grazing business.
Q: Okay, but just because I paid for the right to use the Goats On The Go® brand doesn’t mean I have to use it, right?
A: You’re right, sort of. You don’t have to promote, offer, or deliver a targeted grazing service with the Goats On The Go® brand. We don’t require you to make a dime. But, when you became an affiliate you agreed not to compete with Goats On The Go®. If you promote, offer, or deliver a targeted grazing service under another brand name you will be competing with Goats On The Go® (paragraph 3a in most of your agreements).
Q: What if my brand isn’t about targeted grazing, but it’s sort of related?
A: It depends on what “sort of related” means, but here’s a common example. An affiliate owns a farm that raises goats. They use the goats for a targeted grazing service which is offered and delivered under the Goats On The Go® brand. So far, so good. They also invite customers to their farm for goat petting, goat yoga, and goat hikes, often using the same goats used in their targeted grazing service. They promote and sell the goat-aided relaxation services to customers using the brand “Easy Goats It.” All good. Because the “Easy Goats It” brand hasn’t been used to offer or deliver a targeted grazing service, the brand doesn’t compete with Goats On The Go®.
Q: Can I cross-promote my brand with Goats On The Go®?
A: Yes, as long as your brand is complimentary to — not competitive with — Goats On The Go®. Let’s continue with the previous example. “Easy Goats It” has a website that gets lots of traffic from stressed out people who think goats walking on their backs during a yoga session will help them unwind. These people also tend to have wealth and own property, so the affiliate decides to promote their Goats On The Go® targeted grazing service on the “Easy Goats It” website. Again, no problem because they are distinct services offered under distinct brands. The services are simply sharing space on the same website. We’d recommend putting the services under unique menu buttons to avoid customer confusion, but otherwise there are no issues.
Q: Can I bundle all my goat-related or farm-related businesses under the Goats On The Go® brand?
A: No. You can cross-promote as described in the previous answer, but section 1 of your affiliate agreement grants a license to use the Goats On The Go® brand only for targeted grazing services. You might have two-sided business cards with one brand on each side, or hold an open house where you’re handing out brochures for every business you’re involved in, but the GOTG brand needs to be clearly — and only — attached to your targeted grazing service.
Q: The legal name of my business is “Acme Goat Grazing, LLC.” That’s the name on my bank account, that’s the name on my insurance policy, that’s the name I file my taxes with. Are you telling me I can’t offer targeted grazing as Acme Goat Grazing?
A: Let’s distinguish between a brand and a business entity. Sometimes they are the same and interchangeable, sometimes not. They don’t need to be. The business entity is necessary for all sorts of official business dealings, but the brand is designed for offering, promoting, and delivering a specific product or service. For example, the company Proctor & Gamble doesn’t promote any products under that name but you will immediately recognize the names (and even envision the logos) of dozens of brands that P&G owns — Pampers, Tide, Bounty, Charmin, Gillette, Old Spice, Febreeze…the list goes on and on.
You can do the same with your business entity. You can be “Acme Goat Grazing, LLC DBA Goats On The Go® Atlantis.” DBA means Doing Business As. Check your state’s regulations regarding the setup of a DBA, but it may be as simple as filling out a card at your bank to ensure that customer checks written to Goats On The Go® Atlantis get deposited in Acme’s account.
Q: I already created a website for Acme Goat Grazing, LLC. What now?
A: It doesn’t matter that your website is paid for with Acme’s credit card or that it says “Copyright 2023 Acme Goat Grazing, LLC” in the footer. All that matters is how the targeted grazing service is presented. When in doubt, ask yourself this question: “When a potential customer views my website, will they believe they are hiring Goats On The Go® Atlantis or Acme Goat Grazing?” We’re going for the former, not the latter. You have access to Goats On The Go®’s logos, Brand Manual, and professional photo portfolio. Use them to make the brand prominent on your site.
Q: I already created social media accounts for Acme Goat Grazing, LLC. What now?
A: This one is a little more gray. We understand that as the GOTG affiliate network has grown, more and more iterations of “GoatsOnTheGo” have been snatched up for social media handles. If you want to use your business entity name for your social media accounts instead of some version of “GoatsOnTheGo” we ask you to find other ways to draw attention to the fact that your targeted grazing service is offered as an affiliate of Goats On The Go®. Start by using the Goats On The Go® logo as your profile graphic. In your bio say something to the effect of “Acme Goat Grazing, LLC is a proud affiliate of Goats On The Go®.” Use “#GoatsOnTheGo” at the end of your posts. Add the GOTG logo to the corner of photos you post. Finally, link to GoatsOnTheGo.com or to your own website that clearly brands your service as Goats On The Go® (see question above). There’s no exact recipe here, but we want to see a good faith effort to embrace and promote the Goats On The Go® brand.
Q: I’m all in on using the Goats On The Go® brand! Are there any best practices or common mistakes I should be aware of?
A: If you read and follow the guidelines in the Brand Manual, you should be good. You can even print out a copy of the manual to give to your print shop or graphic designer. Still, we do see some common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid:
Crowding the logo. Respect the logo’s space! Don’t put other words or graphic components too close to the logo. Think of the logo as a photo on the wall with a thick, transparent frame around it that cannot be touched by anything else on the wall. Details in the Brand Manual.
Dismantling the logo. Accept our logos for who they are! Download the logo files from FarmLaunch.me and use them as they come. If you scale them up or down, do so without changing the proportions. Do not separate the goat from its environment of green block and blue words. This will make the goat very sad (and it’s a practice reserved for Goats On The Go, LC and its founders).
Dropping your caps and R’s. When writing the brand name in text, always capitalize the first letter of each word and use the ® registered trademark symbol [Goats On The Go®]. Your English teacher would cringe, saying that “on” and “the” are not important words and should not be capitalized, but you never really liked your English teacher anyway, right?
Thank you all for doing your best to promote and advance the brand we share!
Save the date for the 2024 Training & Conference!
Dates have been set for Goats On The Go®’s annual Affiliate Training & Conference in 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa, so enter these essentials into your calendar:
Basic Training, Friday, March 1, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. All new affiliates must attend this in-person training before they can begin operating their targeted grazing businesses. Non-new affiliates are welcome and encouraged to attend. Your ongoing training requirement can be satisfied by attending this free event (even though you attended in the past).
All-Affiliate Social, Friday, March 1, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. — All affiliates are invited to share drinks, snacks, and conversation courtesy of Goats On The Go®.
Affiliate Conference, Saturday, March 2, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. — This event will include at least one guest speaker, experienced affiliates sharing their knowledge, and presentations on a broad range of topics that impact Goats On The Go® operators. The registration fee has not yet been determined, but in 2023 it cost $200 per affiliate for an unlimited number of representatives to attend.
All events will be held at West48 Conference Center in West Des Moines, Iowa. More details to come!
Remember, all affiliate agreements require in-person attendance at a training event in the first two years and every-other-year thereafter. We may add other events that satisfy the training requirement in the future, but this one — held annually during the first weekend of March — is the only one we promise will be available.
Contractual obligations aside, it’s a ton of fun to have a large group of like-minded professionals together in the same room, all pushing toward the same goal — to own successful, profitable, targeted grazing businesses! We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
New logo apparel and accessories for fall/winter
There’s a chill in the air (at least here in Iowa), and you may be thinking, “I don’t have anything warm to wear with the Goats On The Go® logo on it.” Or, maybe you’ve mused to yourself, “Wouldn’t it be nice to curl up with a cup of coffee and a GOTG microfleece blanket?” You might even have wished, “If only I had a tote bag with which to carry a GOTG-branded Long Sleeve Baby Rib Bodysuit for the new infant in my life...”
Okay, that last one’s a stretch, but the point is this: you can still promote Goats On The Go® with your wardrobe when the temperature drops! There is lots of new logo gear on the affiliate store at FarmLaunch.me! Hoodies, crew neck sweatshirts, jackets, totes, knit caps, and blankets abound!
Keep yourself warm this winter with GOTG gear, and consider giving some away as a thank you to your customers. Click the button to be taken directly to the store, or access it through FarmLaunch.me under the heading “Goats On The Go® Affiliates > Store.”
Check this out: Goats On The Go® on the Savanna Institute Podcast
Aaron Steele was recently interviewed for the Savanna Institute’s “Perennial AF” podcast. The conversation covered pretty much everything from goat grazing to solar grazing to farm dogs. Aaron even acknowledged some of his most stupid farm mistakes. Check it out here or on any podcast app.
New solar grazing videos
If you’re interested in adding solar grazing to your repertoire as a Goats On The Go®/Sheep On The Go® affiliate, you’re definitely going to want to check out all of the newly posted videos on the Video University section of FarmLaunch.me. Among all the valuable videos you’ll find there, here’s what’s new:
Intro to Solar Grazing — This presentation was given at the 2020 Affiliate Training & Conference by Lexie Hain who was the director of the American Solar Grazing Association at the time. Lexie outlines some solar industry basics and covers the foundations of the practice of solar grazing.
Solar Grazing Intro Q&A — This was part 2 of Lexie Hain’s presentation at our 2020 event where she addressed questions from our affiliates.
Solar Grazing Update, spring 2023 — We held this Zoom meeting exclusively for affiliates in late April 2023 to bring our network new information about where the solar industry is headed and the demand for solar grazing. We also discussed why some affiliates may want to pursue it and other may not, and introduced the idea of subcontracting for more established grazing companies such as United Agrivoltaics.
United Agrivoltaics Q&A — Executives from United Agrivoltaics joined us to explain and answer questions about their “Farm Partner” program for connecting aspiring solar graziers to solar grazing projects. This program may be a good opportunity for some affiliates.
If you have more questions about solar grazing after watching the videos, contact Aaron Steele at Aaron@GoatsOnTheGo.com.
New and improved branded apparel store is live!
We are so excited to announce that we have a new vendor for our Goats On The Go® merchandise store! You can access the store through FarmLaunch.me, or by clicking here.
We created this store to give you, Goats On The Go® affiliates, quick and easy access to branded merchandise. You can always take the full logo (the one with the goat, green block, and the words “Goats On the Go”) to your own vendors to create your own branded gear, but we’ve hired a graphic designer to create compelling products for you at a reasonable price. This store is also the only source of branded gear using the goat silhouette logo, which is reserved for use by Goats On The Go, LC.
We hope you’ll find that our new and improved branded merchandise store has a greater variety of products at a better price with lower shipping costs. We’ve tried to answer your requests for more women’s specific apparel (including tank tops!) and a greater variety of colors.
There are no minimums to buy because each item is produced on-demand as a custom order. While Phelps (our vendor) will stand behind their work, they generally don’t grant refunds or returns because each order is custom. All transactions are directly between you and Phelps, and they handle all customer service so questions about orders should be directed to them. Still, we’d like your feedback on the items because we can make changes to the product offerings as we see a need.
Happy shopping!
2023 Affiliate Training & Conference FAQ
The 2023 edition of the annual Goats On The Go® Affiliate Training & Conference is less than a month away. If you haven’t registered yet, what are you waiting for? Perhaps you have unanswered questions. FAQ to the rescue!
Q: What are the dates of the Training & Conference?
A: Friday, March 3 (Affiliate Basic Training and All-Affiliate Social), Saturday, March 4 (Affiliate Conference). Click here for an overview and to download an agenda.
Q: Where is the Training & Conference?
A: All events will be held at West48 Conference Center (1601 48th St, #100) in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Q: Where can I find details about travel, accommodations, and things to do?
A: FarmLaunch.me
Q: Is there a “Conference Hotel”?
A: No, not really. There are many good hotels within a short drive from West48. However, because it’s the only hotel within walking distance to West48, we have negotiated a special rate for our affiliates at the Sheraton West Des Moines. That rate is only available until February 10, so don’t wait!
Q: What can I attend, and what do I have to attend?
A: All events are open to all affiliates. If you are a new affiliate you are required to attend the Basic Training on Friday, March 3. All other affiliates can satisfy their training requirements by attending either the Basic Training or the Conference (or both!). Remember, your affiliate agreement requires you to attend training in your first two years and every-other year thereafter.
Q: Is there a fee for any of the events?
A: The Basic Training and Social are free to attend. The Conference has a $200 registration fee per affiliate (bring as many representatives from your targeted grazing business as you like for one fee).
Q: Do I have to register even if I’m only attending the free stuff?
A: Yes, please! Registering for each event you plan to attend helps us with our planning.
Q: Can I bring people with me?
A: We encourage you to bring multiple representatives from your targeted grazing business at no extra charge. Family members, employees, etc. are all welcome — anyone you would consider to be part of your team.
Q: Can kids come along?
A: All of the events involve intense learning that young children would likely have trouble sitting through. If you have older kids (roughly middle school and up) that will be a part of your business, bring them!
Q: What’s the dress code?
A: No dress code, just a few recommendations. All events will take place entirely inside. Dress casually and comfortably. We’ll take plenty of breaks, but there will be a fair bit of sitting. If you’re staying at the Sheraton and plan to walk to and from the event venue, be sure to bring outerwear suitable for Iowa’s highly variable March weather.
Q: Are meals on my own?
A: We’ll provide snacks and drinks but meals, including lunch on Friday and Saturday, are on your own. We find that most attendees need a long lunch break away from the conference center to mentally recharge. There are lots of restaurants near the conference center.
Q: Tell me more about the All-Affiliate Social.
A: That’s not technically a question, but here goes: the social is the highlight of the weekend for many people. It’s simply a time to visit with other affiliates, ask questions, share experiences, and enjoy some appetizers and drinks. This year it will begin right after the Basic Training finishes (5:00-ish), but you don’t have to attend the Basic Training to come. If you’re attending the Conference on Saturday, plan to arrive in town early enough on Friday evening to join the party!
Q: My affiliate agreement says I need to attend a large project session in order to do projects 10 acres or bigger. Will that session be part of the Training & Conference.
A: Not this year. We’ve bumped it to make room for other good stuff. Instead, we’ll be offering the large project training remotely (by Zoom) in late March or early April. There will be no cost to attend.
Q: How do I register, and what’s the deadline?
A: Click the button below to register. You’ll add each event to your cart (even the free ones) just like any online store. Always enter “1” for the quantity. You’ll be cued to indicate how many team members from your business will attend before you check out. It would be extremely helpful to us if you register by February 15.
Check this out...Will Harris of White Oak Pastures on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast
Will Harris is one of the most inspirational and well-known figures in the regenerative agriculture world. Joe Rogan is a huge celebrity and the host of the most popular podcast in the world. They got together for a three hour discussion recently that was fascinating. Click here to see the first 15 minutes of the interview. You’ll have to be a Spotify subscriber to listen to the whole thing, but this interview may be worth the subscription fee.
Incidentally, Goats On The Go®/Sheep On The Go® has been working with White Oak Pastures on a cooperative event for our affiliates. We hope to bring you more details about this exciting opportunity early in 2023.
How much fencing and equipment do I need?
How much stuff should a new affiliate buy and when should they buy it? Our many affiliates probably all have different opinions, and I’m sure some of them would do things differently if they could start all over again. This would make a great discussion topic on the Affiliate Facebook Group, by the way, but here are some things to think about in the meantime.
We will be recommending specific models of fencing to you at the Goats On The Go® Affiliate Training & Conference on March 3 & 4. We’ll also tell you why we prefer some models over others. If you just can’t wait for the full explanation, the list of fence and energizer models eligible for our 15% discount from Premier 1 Supplies is available here (on FarmLaunch.me). All of the models in the list will work, but we have a definite preference for short, light, and simple.
You will likely be setting up your targeted grazing projects in multiple, small paddocks of 1/2 to 1 acre. The full length fences from Premier are 164’ long. Let’s do some math…a paddock that is 164’ by 164’ in a perfect square encloses 26,896 square feet. An acre is equal to 43,560 square feet, so a square paddock made from just four fences encloses 0.62 acres. A square paddock that uses six fences encloses 1.39 acres. So, we should have more than enough length with six full length rolls of fencing, EXCEPT…
We are rarely able to set up paddocks in anything that resembles a perfect square. Rectangles are more common, and as they become skinnier and skinnier they lose area quickly. A paddock made up of one roll of fencing on the ends and two on each side, for a total of six rolls of fencing, only encloses 1.23 acres instead of 1.39 acres if those same fences were set up in a square. AND…
It’s always advisable to have enough rolls of fencing for the paddock currently being grazed AND the next adjacent paddock at the same time. That way the goats/sheep can be easily moved from one enclosure that is out of food to the next enclosure that is full of fresh vegetation. AND…
When doing targeted grazing projects there always seems to be a need for just one or two more rolls! Also, it’s a common practice to build narrow alleys with fence rolls to load and unload animals, and move them to non-adjacent paddocks.
Our standard advice is to buy 10 - 12 rolls of fencing and one high quality solar fence energizer rated at 1 joule or larger. Some affiliates find that shorter rolls are easier to carry. If you go that route, make sure that you end up with a total length of fencing equivalent to 10 - 12 164’ rolls. You’ll probably buy more equipment once you get some projects under your belt, but this will be more than enough to give you a good start.
By the way, Goats On The Go, LC has built a Fenced Area Calculator spreadsheet that affiliates can download from FarmLaunch.me. Just enter all of the fence lengths that you use to build a paddock (hypothetical or real) and the calculator will spit out an approximate area for the enclosure. It’s a fun tool to mess around with, and it will help you visualize how your equipment will be used in practice.