Jerusalem Ridge Farms

I find it interesting that two of the entertainment world's most glamorous women recently demonstrated an interest in becoming small ruminant producers.  Nicole Kidman wants goats and Elizabeth Hurley wants sheep .... and cows ... and pigs!

During a recent interview with Russell Crowe, Kidman said she plans to buy a farm in Nashville with her husband, country crooner Keith Urban.  "It's a great town, and it's actually been a great place for me to go and just be myself," she said. "We're gonna get a farm, and I really want a goat ... just to possibly contribute to helping me make goat's cheese, which is my favorite cheese."  Crowe quipped that she was going to need more than one goat!

Elizabeth Hurley has bypassed the china and silver on her wedding registry and opted instead for an odd gaggle of gifts.

To celebrate her marriage next weekend to Arun Nayar, Hurley is asking guests for live animals to help populate the couple's farm in Gloucestershire, England.

"It's the best thing I've ever done. It's the only place I want to be," Hurley said on the "Richard and Judy Show." "When we get our organic status, we're going to farm properly, and we're going to have a herd of cows and proper sheep and proper chickens. And we're going to have Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs."

Now, don't get me wrong - I'm really excited about these ladies mentioning their farm animal fascinations in a public forum.  As a goat industry observer and participant, I have long bemoaned the bucolic, rustic and often offensive image that many of the uninitiated have of goats.

In a recent column for the Parsons, Kansas-based Farm Talk magazine, Mark Parker wrote  "Out with the image of a goat chewing a tin can in the front yard of a hillbilly shack, in with a rapidly expanding - and economically viable - segment of American agriculture.  If goats aren't big business right now, they're certainly on their way."  Nicole Kidman mentioning on an internationally-viewed talk show that she wants some goats can only help to further enhance that image.

Thanks, Nicole.  Maybe we can help you start your caprine dairy herd.  And if anyone from Great Britan happens to be reading this modest missive, how about sending a couple of goats over to Liz as well!