Devoted to caprines

HOLMEN, Wis. — After Alyssa Shisler’s dad encouraged her to attend a 4-H meeting in 2017, something sparked inside Alyssa and she wanted to start working with dairy goats.

That meeting led Alyssa on a journey to earn the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair Premier Dairy Goat Exhibitor award and be named the Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association’s youth representative in 2023 and 2024. Recently, she earned the American Dairy Goat Association’s national youth representative alternate honor.

“When I started, I didn’t know what I wanted,” Alyssa said. “I just wanted to pet goats and the family I was working with saw something in me. … I would not have ever thought I’d be at the national level of anything, much less state or local competition.”

In her role with the ADGA, Alyssa acts as the youth representative at the national convention and national show. She will help lead other youth who are beginning their venture with the association and will present the pottery and medals for the winning goats at the national show.

She and the national representative from California have quarterly papers and will have similar responsibilities at the upcoming national show.

“It was a cool competition because all the competitors were so supportive of each other,” Alyssa said. “It was nerve-racking because you didn’t know who was observing your actions until you got into the in-person interview on the last day.”

Along with a representative position, Alyssa has also cultivated relationships across the country.

Alyssa got her start in dairy goats with the Nerby family who she met through 4-H.

“I instantly fell in love with their Nubians,” Alyssa said, “I got their number right away to potentially buy goats and I told her I needed to talk to my parents.”

In lieu of buying goats right away, Alyssa’s dad, Rick, and his wife, Robyn, agreed to let Alyssa work on the goat dairy two days a week, which eventually turned into Alyssa going to the farm every day.

When it was kidding season, the family asked Alyssa if she would like some goats of her own. Alyssa and her family bought two and the Shislers began to create their own dairy goat herd.

Rick and Robyn decided to ditch plans to build their dream home, and instead the Shislers built a dream home for their family of goats to further support Alyssa, and her sister, Alexa, who had also taken an interest in dairy goats. The dream home for the Shisler family has turned into a family enterprise with 54 goats and the experience of working side-by-side as a team.

“Everything in our barn we put up ourselves,” Robyn said. “In July of 2020, it was the four of us and my dad. Every screw, nail and board that was installed went up with our own hands. We even dug the 100-foot trench to get power and water run out to the barn.”

For Rick and Robyn, having a dairy goat farm was not on their agenda, but a life in agriculture was something they appreciated, and they value the hard work and dedication it takes to make it work.

“I was a country boy at heart,” Rick said. “Anytime we had a day off from school or on the weekends, I was calling up my aunt and uncle to come up to the farm. Having a place where we can help teach hard work and dedication, that’s what we wanted to do.”

It has been a learning experience for all involved. Although Rick spent time on his aunt and uncle’s farm, goats were not part of the equation. The original Shisler farm had dairy cattle when Rick was younger, and now houses beef, pigs and horses.

Alyssa’s passion for goats and her involvement with the ADGA have helped her learn from people all over the country, as well as the family that helped her get started.

“When I was announced as national alternate, Kim Nerby (who helped me get started) was the first one to run up to me and give me a hug,” Alyssa said. “She was so happy for me.”

What started as two Nubian goats from the Nerbys, now has Alyssa working with other breeds as the Shislers continue to expand their dairy goat herd, adding Saanens to their herd two years ago. Alyssa wanted to add them for their milk production and mellow personalities.

“We feed all our milk to the babies to get them growing, and now we don’t have to buy store milk,” Alyssa said. “When I saw the Saanens, I knew I wanted to add them to our herd.”

Family support and support from others in the dairy goat community have continued to support Alyssa’s passion, as well as helping her maintain a leadership role within the organization.

“My support system has helped me so much,” Alyssa said. “When I told my family I wanted to get into this, they picked up and supported me and helped me in countless ways. They support me but definitely teach me that if I’m going to do it, I’m going to put my own money, time and effort into it.”

That message is something Alyssa’s parents have attempted to instill in their girls. Alexa is working with goats of her own, hoping to continue in Alyssa’s footsteps.

Joining a 4-H meeting eight years ago has transpired into relationships and experiences Alyssa never imagined she would have as goats have led the Shisler family to building a barn, a herd and their family connection.