Herd Queen

In a goat herd the top goat is a female.

Known as the herd queen, she is responsible for making sure the herd is safe, watered, and fed. She is the first to signal they should move to new pasture, the first to try new forage to ensure it’s safety, the one who determines where they sleep for the night, and, she is also the final word in keeping the peace.

The herd queen is the matriarch.

It feels impossible to post about anything anymore without acknowledging the state of our nation. It also feels reckless not to. And so, I will simply say:

On this farm we believe that women’s rights are human rights.

We believe that human rights extend to all members of the human race, not just those that look like us, talk like us, love like us, or worship like us.

In this family we support each other. We are raising two children to be brave in the face of adversity, to follow their dreams without abandon, and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

So you better believe when I said I wanted to make a shirt that said “herd queen” on it, as a nod to our goat dairy but also in support of the radical belief that women are people too, Matthew didn’t even bat an eye when he asked me to make him a t-shirt and a tank top.

For him, the fact that he would be wearing a t-shirt that might be misconstrued was a non-issue. In his mind, he was paying tribute to a position in a herd that is so integral to the safety of the animals and, the most important part, honoring the women in his life who he values as mothers, mentors, partners and daughters. It’s this type of thinking that makes him more of man…not less. And for that I am so lucky.

Because at the end of the day, the mission of our farm is clear:

Our farm builds community, grows strong people, and heals the land -- everyone has a place at our table.

Amen.

Want your own herd queen shirt? There's lots of styles (for men, women, and children) and about a million colors to choose from.  Visit our Etsy shop for the full stock!