GRetta's Story

Gretta Winkelbauer is the founder of Gretta’s Goats, a farmstead creamery, apiary and soap workshop located in Pecatonica, Illinois. Gretta is a flourishing farmer who happened to get started with Angelic Organics Learning Center- she took our classes and milked a goat for the first time with us. Gretta took our Get Your Goat class over a decade ago, and is now able to share her story of success.

How did you get started?
I grew up surrounded by nature and animals in Michigan. My parents had a small hobby farm where my mom raised sheep and we had a mischievous goat named Sundance that I loved. A graduate school program brought me to Chicago for an internship and after graduation I took a job in the city. I always felt like something was not quite right and I missed open spaces, nature and animals. Eventually, I was able to change jobs and work in the suburbs. I was drawn to a Conservation Community in Grayslake called Prairie Crossing where at the heart of the neighborhood was a working organic farm. I met many local small farmers from living there and became passionate about local food in the Chicagoland area. Soon after moving there, I applied to a farm business development program that was offered at the farm. Most of the other beginning farmers there were growing vegetables, but I was super drawn to goats and all of the different products you could make from their milk and fiber. I never thought that I would be accepted into the program because I did not have degrees or a real background in agriculture. I was so excited when I was accepted. I purchased three goats as soon as I was accepted and the herd slowly grew from there! My husband and father-in-law built me a small barn on wheels where I could move the goats from pasture to pasture with portable electrical net fencing.  I spent four years in the program before moving to Pecatonica and purchasing my own land and farm to build a dairy to make cheese.

How did you first hear about Angelic Organics Learning Center?
In the very beginning dreaming phase of starting my farm, a local small farmer told me about Angelic. I was so excited that there was actually a place near Chicago that taught you about goats and other farm related topics! I quickly signed up for Get Your Goat and dragged my husband along. I also took How to make Goat Milk Soap and 3 Cow Marketing with Charlotte Smith. Angelic Organics Learning Center was the first place I ever milked a goat!

What products and experiences does Gretta’s Goats offer?
We offer farmstays that immerse you into farm life, soap and cheese making classes, goat hikes, baby goat snuggle sessions, occasional goat yoga and farm rentals for parties. We also host girl scout troops and retirement communities for tours and classes. Our products include raw honey (seasonal), goat milk cheese (seasonal), goat milk soap, beeswax products, goat milk caramels.
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What are your proudest achievements?
Our soap was featured on Oprah’s website in 2011 as one of her perfect presents. In addition, our soap was carried nationwide in Crate & Barrel stores for a one year contract. The biggest achievement was purchasing our own farm and figuring out how to build a certified dairy and a creamery!
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Do you have advice for someone who wants to start farming?
My advice would be to keep your day job as long as you can. There is a tremendous amount of money that you will need to start a farming enterprise with unexpected costs when buying farm land or building infrastructure. Make friends in your community if moving to a rural place. You need your neighbors in the country!  Find a good livestock veterinarian. They are worth their weight in gold and hard to find. You always end up needing one during kidding season in the middle of the night.

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