THE BEEKMAN FARM is dedicated to raising animals using the most comfortable and humane farming and husbandry practices possible. The Beekman goats, which provide milk for our soap and cheeses, graze freely on the pastures and range in number from fifty to over one hundred depending on the season. The herd consists of Nubian, Alpine, and Sannen breeds. While primarily a goat farm, Beekman is also home to many different animals of many different breeds. The poultry coop houses Bourbon Red Turkeys and Araucana Chickens – which lay eggs ranging from light blue to pale green. A cow or two is frequently in residence, as are a couple of pigs. Our barn cat population grows and shrinks by the year, but two cats seem to have made the Beekman their permanent home: "Bubby," (the best mouser despite his titanium hip after a car accident) and "Jolene," (a close second place mouser, with seven fingers on each paw.) Our llama, "Polka Spot," is best known for her demanding diva personality, but also pulls her weight by herding the goats in and out of the barn and protecting against coyotes.
John Hall ("Farmer John") expertly tends to his herd of goats, as well as all of the other animals that call the Beekman home.
The barn itself is over a century old and was restored using methods of its original construction. There is little record available of what was originally farmed at the Beekman, but the region was at one time renowned for its hops production. It is known that there have been several more outbuildings built and destroyed over the years, and that several of William Beekman's structures were consumed by arson of an unknown perpetrator in 1823.
– from HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY, William Roscoe, 1882.