As spring arrives in Wisconsin, a local agricultural tourism destination has shifted into its most demanding and rewarding season. Eugster’s Farm Market in Stoughton balances a commercial vegetable operation with a petting farm. It is currently in the thick of “lambing and kidding” days. This is a six-week period that welcomes newborn animals and signals the start of the planting season.
For Kat Eugster, the excitement of visitors holding baby goats and lambs masks a rigorous schedule behind the scenes. To ensure the health of the herds, she and her father conduct health checks every few hours throughout the night.
“We actually check for babies at 10 PM, midnight, 3 AM and 6 AM,” Eugster tells Mid-West Farm Report.
When a mother animal is unable to produce enough milk for her young, sometimes in cases of triplets, Eugster intervenes by providing supplemental feedings.
Beyond the animal pens, the farm’s greenhouses are already active with the early stages of the vegetable season. This diversification is intentional, and it offers an educational look at agriculture for visitors.
While the public sees the joyful interactions, the operational side is a carefully managed science. From maintaining strict animal health protocols to teaching visitors the delicate process of handling newborns, the staff is focused on safety and education.
“It’s kind of like holding a human baby,” Eugster explains how she teaches visitors to hold baby farm animals for the first time. “You just have to be gentle and make sure they feel safe when they’re in your arms.”
With the spring rush underway and plans for an official winery opening next summer, Eugster’s Farm Market continues to diversify to meet the needs of the community.
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