From Golf Courses to Nature Trails, Goats Are Reclaiming the Land

By Lindsey Weber

From Golf Courses to Nature Trails, Goats Are Reclaiming the Land

Stephanie Bowers

In Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley, Stephanie Bowers is proving that goats can do more than make mischief. Her herds are restoring golf courses, residential property, and nature preserves one bite at a time. At Glorious Goat Ranch, targeted grazing has become a family business built on land stewardship and creativity.

Each project comes with new challenges, whether it is curious onlookers, unpredictable terrain, or dense patches of buckthorn. Yet, the results are unmistakable. What began as a way to manage invasive species has grown into a movement that helps communities care for their land in a more natural way. “The goats get to do what they love, and we get to see the land come back to life,” Stephanie says.

Stephanie runs around 300 goats and 100 sheep, for conservation grazing projects. Throughout the grazing season, the herds work across a range of sites, helping to control vegetation wherever it’s needed. Before adopting Nofence, the work involved hours of setting up and taking down electronet fencing at each site.

Targeted Grazing Meets Technology

“Fence up, fence down, every single job,” she recalls. “We had nowhere near as many goats back then because it just wasn’t scalable. Now, with virtual fencing, it is.” Nofence collars allow Stephanie to define and adjust grazing boundaries directly from her phone. The result is a dramatic reduction in labor. “I’m constantly measuring how much time we save, and it’s huge. I keep a tally of hours saved on each job, and it’s a key reason this technology pays off.”

Family Business, Flexible Life

Stephanie’s grazing operation is a true family affair, run alongside her husband Jeff and their two children. During the busy grazing season, herds are spread across several sites, yet technology keeps her connected to every one of them. The ability to monitor and move animals from her phone has changed the way her family works and lives. “It gives us room to breathe,” she says. “I can check on the goats at 5 a.m. and know they’re safe before the day really starts. I can sit at my kids’ soccer games and still keep things moving. Without Nofence, we wouldn’t be able to do this type of work at all.”

Peace of Mind in Public Spaces

That flexibility has turned their grazing business into something the whole family can share. The kids help manage pastures through the app, learning as they go. “Our 10-year-old set up his own herd last year,” Stephanie laughs. “He even renamed half the goats with emojis. It’s fun for them, but it also helps them understand the responsibility that comes with caring for animals.” Many of Stephanie’s grazing projects unfold in the middle of public life, where curious onlookers, golf carts, and off-leash dogs are part of the daily scenery. That makes reliable containment more than a convenience—it is essential.

Trust in the Herd and the System

“We graze everywhere from golf courses to community parks,” she says. “There are always people walking dogs or stopping to watch the goats. Nofence gives me peace of mind because I always know exactly where my animals are.” The system’s real-time alerts have saved more than a few headaches. When a goat collar once triggered an alarm, Stephanie discovered a homeowner had picked it up and carried it past the boundary. “She couldn’t believe I knew right away,” Stephanie recalls with a laugh. “I told her, ‘Just don’t touch the chain, and I’ll come get it.’"

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