Goats in America: A Cultural History
Goats in America breaks new ground, charting the journey of America’s goats from their arrival in the Western Hemisphere via European ships – serving as mobile milk providers along the way – to the rise in popularity of goat’s milk and cheese, to their modern-day roles as meme stars and goat yoga participants.
September 2025
Oregon State University Press
Indiebound | Powell’s | OSU Press | Amazon
ISBN 9781962645454 (paperback)
6 x 9, 236 pages. 43 b/w photos
Environmental Studies
Food & Drink
History & Biography
Praise for Goats in America
“Who knew goats would make such a rich and captivating topic? Fortunately, Tami Parr did, and her exhaustive research and lively writing have produced a riveting narrative. Goats have had a turbulent trajectory in the United States, banished in some eras, beloved in others. Thanks to Parr, I have renewed appreciation for these gentle creatures that provide us with such nutritious milk, meat, and cheese.”
—Janet Fletcher
Author and publisher of the Planet Cheese blog
“In this lively, engaging ramble through the multifaceted history of goats in America, Parr leads us through the many twists and turns of goats in America from their role in Navajo culture to the current backyard livestock trend, always keeping the focus on how very malleable the place of goats in American culture has been.”
—Frederick L. Brown
Author of The City is More than Human: An Animal History of Seattle
