From weed control to Goat Yoga: Where Fitness Meets Farm
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – The sun beams down over a grassy clearing just beyond the edge of town, where a small group is contorted into awkward shapes on yoga mats. Birds chirp overhead. It’s peaceful, serene – until a goat jumps up onto someone’s back.
Laughter erupts. The goat stands proud, clearly unfazed by the ripple of giggles it just caused while another tugs at a water bottle. The class continues, now more about balance and belly laughs than meditation.
This is goat yoga, Arkansas-style – and it’s the bread and butter of Greedy Goats of NWA, a quirky small business that has grown from a backyard curiosity into a beloved brand in the region.
What started as a weed control experiment has become one of the area’s most charmingly unusual businesses. Greedy Goats of NWA, based on a four-acre plot in Fayetteville, provides goat yoga, petting zoos, and “goat grams” – a kind of live animal telegram – to events across Northwest Arkansas.
Founded and managed by Connie Rieper-Estes, the company was born out of curiosity but has grown into a joyful, community-driven service with an unexpected following.
“We started our company in May of 2015,” Rieper-Estes said. “After a while, the goats just weren’t interested in eating brambles anymore. We had to pivot.”
Pivot they did. From helping the city clear brush to appearing at birthday parties, the goats have carved out a place of their own in the local economy – and in the hearts of Fayetteville’s residents.
In 2004, Rieper-Estes and her husband bought a property with no livestock, just a patch of land that grew increasingly unruly with every passing season. After two years of research and consultations with the county extension agent, they adopted their first three goats.
“We didn’t know much, but we learned fast,” she said. “We studied everything. The agent helped us figure out our fencing, our layout, what we had, and what we needed.”
As the herd grew – now up to 20 goats and two donkeys – they began volunteering the goats for vegetation management. For five years, the goats cleared brush at Wilson Park for the city of Fayetteville.
“We’d bring them out for three weeks every year,” Rieper-Estes said. “We’d sit with them, let them wander, and then load them up when they were done. They worked on their own time.”
That work didn’t go unnoticed. Greedy Goats received recognition from the city, and their green approach helped Fayetteville earn awards for environmental efforts.
But eventually, the goats lost interest in landscaping.
“They just didn’t want to do it anymore,” she said. “So, we had to figure out a new way for them to make a little money, at least enough to pay for their hay.”
Enter goat yoga. After seeing the trend take off on the West Coast, Rieper-Estes decided it was worth a try in Northwest Arkansas.
“It just made sense,” she said. “Our goats were already friendly. People already loved them. And it turns out, when people Google ‘goat yoga near me,’ we’re the only ones who show up around here.”
Today, goat yoga is the most popular service Greedy Goats offers. Five goats, specifically chosen for their temperament and lack of horns, are the designated yoga stars.
“They’re really good at yoga,” Rieper-Estes said with a smile. “They know how to interact without overwhelming anyone.”
Classes often involve gentle goat interactions: a nuzzle here, a curious hoof there, and the occasional leap onto someone’s back.
Beyond yoga, the business offers mobile petting zoos and goat grams – surprise visits where goats are brought to a party, classroom, or workplace to delight the unsuspecting.
“We’ll pull people outside to surprise them with a goat,” Rieper-Estes said. “It makes their day every time.”
Because most of the goats are rescues, they come with their own names and personalities. Rieper-Estes insists on keeping their original names, saying it adds diversity and depth to the herd.
The goats live in a U-shaped pasture that wraps around the family’s house, giving them space to roam while staying connected to the hub of activity. They have access to a barn, two water troughs, and round bales of hay. They’re given free choice and are checked on daily.
The business is also a haven for unwanted animals. Many of Rieper-Estes’s goats were rescues – purchased or given away by people who didn’t realize how big goats get or how social they are.
Greedy Goats gives those animals a second chance, along with a job and a family.
While the goats are the stars, Rieper-Estes is the engine behind the business. She manages everything from advertising and event bookings to invoicing and social media.
“I do it all – marketing, paperwork, finding venues, managing the animals,” she said. “It’s a lot, but it’s worth it.”
Greedy Goats has a strong presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Eventbrite, and they’ve built a website where customers can learn more or book services.
“Having that online presence really helps,” she said. “People love watching the goats and sharing their stories.”
Fayetteville has embraced Greedy Goats as more than just a business – it’s part of the city’s identity.
“You know the saying, ‘Keep Fayetteville funky’? Well, what’s funkier than goats?” Rieper-Estes said.
For Rieper-Estes, it all comes back to the goats. The business, the buzz, the belly laughs – they’re just byproducts of something deeper.
“They’re family,” she said. “Each one has a story, a personality, a little spark. I just try to give them the life they deserve – and share that joy with the community.”
