For the Love of Goats!
Allow us to introduce the charming Meagan Fredrick, fondly known as the goat mother at Hemlock Neversink. The resident goats have captured hearts since day one, becoming a beloved highlight for our guests. Spending time with them in the goat fields and embarking on a morning goat hike after breakfast guarantees a happy start to your day. We're excited to delve deeper into Meagan's story, caring for dozens of goats and evolving into the ultimate goat mother.
Meagan Frederick, MA, LCAT, ATR-BC, CCLS, HTR was trained as an Art Therapist, Child Life Specialist and Horticultural Therapist, specializing in work with chronically and terminally ill children/adolescents in the New York City area. During her career of over 25 years, she recognized the strong healing power of animals and was involved in several phases of animal-assisted therapy within the populations she worked with.
As a young girl, Meagan dreamed of being Snow White, the woodland princess whom the animals adored as they helped her with household chores. (Actually, she still wishes that.) Later, that dream looked a little more like being Dr. Doolittle, communicating and helping animals (because talking to animals would probably be much more useful) When that didn't work out, and lacking the skill set for becoming a veterinarian, she became the rescuer of all living creatures in her path. Often, because animals found their way to her…
A kitten dropped from the undercarriage of a truck at a stoplight in Brooklyn, puppies were discovered on the side of a road in North Carolina in threat of being poisoned, a stray dog in Tobago laid at her feet just days away from starving to death, and she took them all home. (That’s true.) Not to mention recusing mice, birds, rabbits, squirrels, fish......
Oh, and goats. No, she did NOT dream of having a goat sanctuary one day. One goat (Marvin) wandered up the driveway of Frederick Farm with a sheep (Mable) one Fall afternoon in 2013 (Scott Woods, Master Gardener for Foster Supply Hospitality will tell you that he was the first one to spot them that day). She took that as a sign, since she and her husband had joked about getting goats one day. So, it was FATE!
Once you meet them and get to know them, you’ll realize how easy it would be to go from 1 to 37 (well, maybe not everyone would find it that easy, including Meagan’s husband from time to time ;). Goats are amazing, unique individuals whom also provide both mental and physical health benefits to the humans that care for and interact with them, as research shows.
When Hemlock Neversink approached Meagan about bringing some rescues to reside there permanently, it seemed too good to be true. Not only were nine extra lives saved by having placement available at Hemlock, but they now live their very best life, in the most beautiful pastures and taking daily walks on the stunning 230+ acre property with their guardian and guests.
Responsible for the care of almost 40 goats including the 9 that reside at Hemlock Neversink full-time, Meagan of Frederick Farm Goat Sanctuary is dedicated to maintaining a life-long home to as many goats as possible and giving them the very best life. They deserve nothing less.
Plus, Meagan loves nothing more than sharing these amazing creatures with guests! You can’t help but feel better after having a stroll with the goats. There is an undoubted healing quality in spending time with these sentient creatures, so we encourage you to come visit Meagan at Hemlock Neversink and see how your heart feels after spending some time with our beautiful goats!