Tami Parr Author Event • Goats in America

Tami Parr is a developmental editor and author of Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Northwest Cheese: A History. Her writing has appeared in many places including The Oregonian, Edible Portland and Goat Journal. She has served as President of the Oregon Cheese Guild and as a judge at both the American Cheese Society and American Dairy Goat Association competitions. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Find her at tamiparr.com.

Janet Fletcher is the author or co-author of more than 30 books on food and beverage, including Cheese & Wine, Cheese & Beer and the Audible lecture series Cultured: The Epic Story of Cheese. Janet publishes the weekly Planet Cheese blog and has taught cheese-appreciation classes to thousands of cheese enthusiasts around the country, both in person and virtually. A former staff food writer and cheese columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, Janet received three James Beard Awards and the IACP Bert Greene Award for her journalism. Her food writing has appeared in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, Saveur, Fine Cooking and Food & Wine. She is a member of the invitation-only Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Janet and her winemaker husband reside in Napa. (www.janetfletcher.com)

Goats in America- The humble goat has played a surprising and important role throughout the history of the United States. Despite this, goats are often overlooked by many Americans, even if they have strong opinions about these complex creatures. In Goats in America Tami Parr calls attention to these disregarded animals, uncovering the remarkable stories behind everything from goat meat and milk to goat yoga and more.

Since arriving in North America with cattle and other domesticated livestock in the sixteenth century, goats have provided people sustenance and valuable products, including milk, meat, and mohair. But humans did not appreciate the animals, and as a result, throughout much of American history goats were persecuted as public nuisances and symbols of degenerate behavior. Nevertheless, over the centuries the tenacious goat has overcome many of these stereotypes and secured a spot in the hearts and minds of modern Americans, who love goat cheese and embrace goats as social media stars.

Examining key moments and notable developments in goat history and culture, Goats in America outlines the history and evolving role of goats in communities across the country, from San Francisco and New York City to rural Wisconsin and the Navajo Nation. Parr shows that the evolving reputation of goats in American society ultimately reveals more about humans than it does about goats themselves. So, the next time you are enjoying your favorite goat cheese, take a moment to consider the history and role of goats within American culture.