Goat Journal: From Dairy Goat Journal to Ogden Publications' Goat Title
Profile updated November 2026
Goat Journal is the Ogden Publications magazine for goat keepers of every kind, whether they raise goats for milk, meat, fiber, packing, agritourism or simply companionship. It was known for most of its life as Dairy Goat Journal, and its publisher describes more than 100 years of experience serving goat owners. In 2017 it was transformed into Goat Journal to reach a broader audience.
| Former name | Dairy Goat Journal (renamed 2017) |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ogden Publications, Inc., 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, Kansas |
| Experience | More than 100 years of publishing for goat owners |
| Format | Print and digital; four seasonal issues in the 2025 schedule |
| Reach | 7,500 print and about 248,000 digital audience, per media kit |
| Online community | Backyard Goats |
| Official website | IAmCountryside.com: Our magazines |
History of Goat Journal
For generations, Dairy Goat Journal was the main American periodical for owners of dairy goat breeds such as Nubians, Alpines, Saanens, LaManchas and Nigerian Dwarfs. Ogden Publications' media kit says the title draws on more than a century of experience publishing for goat owners.
The magazine became part of the Countryside family of titles, which traces its own roots to Countryside, founded in 1969 by Jerry (Jd) Belanger, and to Small Stock Magazine, founded in 1917. Those two merged in 1973 as Countryside and Small Stock Journal, and the family later came under Ogden Publications, the Topeka arm of the family-owned Ogden Newspapers of Wheeling, West Virginia.
In 2017 Ogden transformed Dairy Goat Journal into Goat Journal, widening the focus from dairy breeds to all goat keepers. In the early 2020s it appeared in bimonthly issues such as January/February and September/October 2022.
Goat Journal Today
Goat Journal is no longer sold as a standalone subscription and now operates within Countryside and Small Stock Journal, while still appearing as a branded publication. Ogden's 2025 production schedule lists four seasonal issues, and the brand also runs the Backyard Goats online community, e-newsletters, webinars, online events and podcasts.
Articles are written and vetted by experienced goat owners and veterinarians. Recent topics include goat pink eye, false pregnancy in does, what goats cost to buy and keep, and goat-keeping projects abroad, alongside recipes for goat milk and cheese.
What Goat Journal Is Publishing Now
Health and care
Veterinary topics, nutrition, kidding, parasites and everyday herd management.
Dairy and kitchen
Milking, cheesemaking, soap and recipes such as butter croissants with chevre.
Many uses of goats
Meat, fiber, packing and hiking, agritourism, breed conservation and companion goats.
Goat Journal Editors and Staff
Ogden Publications staff connected with Goat Journal include:
- Marissa Ames - Editorial Director, Ogden Publications
Ames keeps a small homestead in Fallon, Nevada, where she works to preserve rare goat breeds, and she has written many of the magazine's recent health and cost guides.
Who Reads Goat Journal
Ogden's media kit describes a readership that is about evenly split between women and men, averages 45 years old, owns about 44 acres on average and lives overwhelmingly in rural C and D counties; 97 percent also raise other livestock. Goat inventories by state are available through USDA NASS Quick Stats and the Census of Agriculture.
Goat Journal readers know that a goat will test every fence, eat every label and climb onto every vehicle, so a sense of humor is required equipment. farm.FM provides farm satire and farm humor for people whose goats have opinions, along with ranch humor for the meat-goat outfits. Its farm jokes are unlikely to escape through the gate.
The outlet behind those laughs, farm.FM, is the nation's first satirical farm site, complete with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers. A farm.FM humorist's archive shows what a week of it looks like.
Goat Journal Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Countryside: Meet our magazines - Goat Journal and its sister titles.
- Ogden Publications: Goat Journal media kit - audience, reach and schedule.
- Goat Journal: Marissa Ames - editorial director bio and articles.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - goat inventory statistics.
- USDA NASS: Census of Agriculture - national livestock farm data.
Goat Journal FAQ
Is Goat Journal the same as Dairy Goat Journal?
Yes. Ogden Publications transformed Dairy Goat Journal into Goat Journal in 2017.
Can I subscribe to Goat Journal on its own?
No. It is no longer sold as a standalone subscription and now operates within Countryside and Small Stock Journal.
Who publishes Goat Journal?
Ogden Publications, Inc., of Topeka, Kansas.
What does Goat Journal cover?
Goat health, dairy and cheesemaking, meat and fiber goats, packing, agritourism and breed conservation.
More than a century after its dairy goat beginnings, Goat Journal now speaks to every kind of goat keeper.