Yoder’s unveils ‘goat skywalk’

Most “kids” would be scared to trot along a 15-foot high wooden walkway.

But the young goats – also known as “kids” – at Yoder’s Country Market in Pratts are natural climbers and enjoy any opportunity to ascend into the sky, according to Owner Michael Yoder.

Now when visitors stop by the store’s farm area, they are greeted by animals on the ground as well as goats high above, walking along Yoder’s newly constructed wooden “goat skywalk” or “goat walk.”

Goats trot along the wooden boards – which are connected to platforms at different heights (the highest is 15 feet above the ground) – peering down at visitors below.

Yoder first saw a similar goat walk at Westmoreland Berry Farm in Oak Grove about five years ago.

“We thought it was a great idea we just never had the time to build it,” Yoder said. Finally, Yoder’s brother’s schedule cleared this spring and he constructed the walkway, which has been well received by both goats and humans.

“The other morning at 7 a.m. my dad came out here and there were nine different goats on there all on different perches,” Yoder said of the 100-foot-long walkway.

Although the goats enjoy their new “toy,” the Yoder family built the contraption with their visitors in mind.

“This is all about family entertainment for the people of Madison County,” the owner said.

Since the walkway was put up May 2, Yoder has seen an increase in the number of people who frequent the store’s farm area, which is on the west side of the main building.

“The traffic of people coming to see the animals has doubled,” he told The Eagle.

And even though the goats are often high above the visitors, Yoder made sure to maintain one of the standard activities available at most petting zoos – feeding the animals. 

On one side of the walkway the Yoder family constructed a pulley system alongside the pole that attaches to a platform with a large feed dish. Visitors can easily replenish the goat’s store of feed above while standing on the ground by pouring the food into a small dish attached to the pulley and tugging at the rope until it reaches the top.

And even though visitors can’t see the dish from the ground, it’s easy to know when more feed is needed, as some of the goats will bleat eagerly at visitors below until they’re met with more treats.

Yoder’s father typically feeds the goats using the pulley in the morning. Once one of the female animals – who “basically lives up there,” according to Yoder – sees him coming, she quickly trots along the 100-foot-long walkway, seemingly unconcerned about the height, or that the narrow wooden path lacks guardrails.

The side rails are unneeded along the walkway for the most part since the goats “seem to respect each other,” as long as food is not involved, according to Yoder. However, the family decided to install side railings along the platform that contains the food dish.

“When they’re around the food dish they bully and push,” he said.

Yoder’s Country Market is located at 927 Orange Road (Route 230) in Pratts. Its regular business hours are 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. For information, call (540) 948-3000.