ABOVE: Chloe Groe and Gavin Hledik crouch down with some of their goats, of which they have eight total.

BLUE EARTH – What started as a simple project for a family member has become a growing business, G & C Goats, for two Blue Earth young adults.

It began this August when Chloe Groe’s grandmother had a grove, which she wanted to clean up and remove vegetation from.

“We thought of the idea, well, we could get goats to clean up the grove,” she said. “After we started doing that, and it went well, we decided we could do this for other people. That’s how it started.”

‘We’ refers to her business partner, Gavin Hledik. Both have experience in raising animals, as Hledik grew up on a farm raising pigs, and Groe said she has raised a variety of animals.

They started with four, which they purchased from a local sale yard, then a week later, they got four more from a friend they knew at the Blue Earth Fire Department. They picked goats over machinery and pesticides because goats are more eco-friendly, and can get into tight spaces machinery can’t.

In raising eight goats, Groe said there are several tasks they need to go through.

“We have to make sure they have water, are fed and have hay,” she said. “We also make sure that they have the vaccinations that they need, and making sure to keep their hoof care nice and make sure their hooves are nice and trimmed. We make sure they have a nice environment to live in, a clean area.”

The goats are kept on a 2,500 square foot piece of land, with shelter and equipment to engage them.

They also started their business in August, and they have already received an influx of demand.

“Just today, I’ve had three phone calls about people looking for it,” Groe said. “The only issue we’re running into is a lot of people want it in residential areas, and currently, we’re not allowed in residential areas.”

This is because goats are classified as livestock, which are not allowed within residential areas in Blue Earth and Fairmont. Ordinance changes to allow goats for grazing purposes are possible, with New Ulm as an example, approving a change to their ordinance at their Nov. 7, 2023, meeting.

For those who have been able to utilize this service, Groe said it has been a resounding success.

“Everyone has loved it,” she said. “They’ve cleaned out. When we put them up, a lot of times, it’s completely full of weeds. When they leave, it’s gone. Everything is gone. It’s bare ground. Everyone has enjoyed seeing them and watching them.”

Currently, they bring the goats, either four or the full eight, out to where they’re needed and set up a 40-foot by 40-foot electric fence pen where the vegetation needs to be removed. They take care of all the transport, setup, and removal process, only needing to be told where to put the electric fencing. Generally, all of the offending material is removed in half a day. If it is a denser area, it can take up to a full day.

In this area, Groe and Hledik agreed buckthorn is the most common offender they run into.

Looking forward, Groe said they have expansion on the brain.

“We’re hoping to get quite a few more goats,” she said. “By next year, we hope to have between 10 and 20 goats. We also plan on milking the goats and getting goat’s milk from that and making soaps and maybe some cheeses and some lotions.”

Groe is a full-time college student, and Hledik works full-time outside this business. Hledik said they started it as something they could invest in after hours. Eventually, they think it can evolve into a full-time pursuit.

For more information or to inquire, email g.c.goats2025@gmail.com or call Gavin at 507-525-6157 or Chloe at 507-525-1857.