The Goat Conspiracy
~by Bob Gustin
Josh Jackson (holding Bear Plachy Jackson), Tonya Plachy, Nicole Schonemann, and Mark Veldman. photo courtesy of Simon Schonemann-Poppeliers
T
he Goat Conspiracy formed about five years ago when two Bloomington couples decided they were ready for a change in careers and lifestyles. The coconspirators were looking for sustainability, a slower and simpler pace of life, getting in touch with where food really comes from, and the notion of getting back to the earth. They found it on 46 acres at 6022 East Kent Road in Brown County, near the T.C. Steele home, which now features about 130 Nigerian dwarf goats, a cheese processing center, free-range chickens, and a vacation rental home. Tonya Plachy and Josh Jackson were both working at Bloomingfoods in Bloomington and Nicole Schonemann was their neighbor. The fourth person in the conspiracy is Nicole’s partner, Mark Veldman. They’ve been
16 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2019
Goat yoga session at the farm. courtesy photo
