Exploring Life & Business with Nicole Zaagman of Parkside Farm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Zaagman

Hi Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The story behind my business starts with a little girl and her dream. Many years ago as a young girl, I fell in love with pygmy goats. Around the age of 10, I purchased my first pygmy goat, named Daisy. I dreamed about working with animals as a career, someday. I have fond memories as a child staying at an animal farm daycare. I would sit for hours outside with the animals in their pens petting and watch them play and eat. It was run by a woman and to this day I think how she inspired countless children, just like me.

Sadly for a span of 11 years, I wasn’t able to have pygmy goats as an adult. In an effort to stay connected with animals in some way, I took my Maltese dog named Nickel through a local dog therapy certification program. After testing in, going through weeks of classes, passing our exam and shadowing, we were placed for therapy visits at a local hospital for volunteering. We brought many smiles to patients and their families. Nickel, sadly passed away at only 6 years old due to a rare blood platelet disorder.

Shortly after that, with my art degree and career background, I started volunteering at the same hospital doing art therapy with a local art therapy non-profit with patients in long term care situations. I learned so much about the importance of kindness, empathy and compassion. After 2 years in that opportunity, I started volunteering with a local a horse therapy center and was later contracted as their Marketing Strategist. Through all the latter experiences, I dreamed of having pygmy goats again, a dream which came true in October, 2021.

In 2021, was able to restart my pygmy goat herd and start my own goat therapy and farm education program. Fast forward to 2024, today, I am a coach, author, speaker and farm founder of Parkside Farm in Byron Center, Michigan. Something that motivates me is: dispelling myths surrounding agriculture. Everyday, I strive to be an inspiration to women and to those in my local community and provide hands-on learning opportunities for children and families to learn about livestock, history and where their food comes from.

I believe agritourism (my farm’s business model) is the future of vibrant communities, sustainable farm profits and a bridge for future generations to be engaged with agriculture. I am a passionate AgVocate for agriculture, farmers and farm education. I desire to shrink the disproportionate gender gap in agriculture by encouraging and coaching women to diversify their farm operations and simultaneously encourage families to engage with their local farmers through agritourism.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Challenges in my industry, farming and agriculture, women are considered a minority. Statistics shared by American Farmland Trust (https://www.farmland.org/women), women are more likely to have smaller farm sizes and profits compared to their male counterparts. Female farmers’ experience a higher percentage of land access challenges, exclusion from networks, difficulty accessing credit and tendency for the retiring generation to choose male heirs as successors.

There is a significant gap when it comes to overcoming challenges as a woman in the agriculture and farming industry. Understanding the disproportionate amount of opportunities male counterparts have, spurs me on to overcome and educate the public on these issues. Empowering and encouraging other women in agriculture can help other women overcome their own barriers to help them achieve success and status in the agriculture and farming industry.

Through my involvement with Michigan Farm Bureau, I have had opportunities to inspire, influence and impact local municipalities and state legislators in policy decision making to help support farmers and those in agriculturally zoned land in my local community and beyond. I am proud to be a part of a professional, grassroots organization that prioritizes opportunities for farmers to impact positive change for future generations, including women who are looking to succeed in agriculture.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In December, 2021 I decided to grow my farm. Since then, Parkside Farm has grown to a family-friendly agritourism destination and hosts a 100 year old farmhouse families can rent for farm stays. With my animal therapy experience, I created the Jump for JOY Program™ and I travel across Michigan visiting senior centers, children’s programs and special events with my pygmy goats. This year, Parkside Farm opened a small Farm Market featuring maple syrup made with sap collected from trees at the farm, cut flowers, goat milk products and gifts, potatoes, pumpkins and squash.

My farm serves thousands of families a year through education programs, agricultural and historical tours, products and free events at the farm. Despite facing many setbacks over the last year, I have persevered in efforts to “spread joy” and inspire others to keep moving forward in the midst of adversity. These unexpected challenges have resulted in me getting actively involved in local and statewide efforts for public policy change, advocating for farmers rights through local, state and hopefully down the road, national public policy.

This unexpected career diversion has introduced me to a wide range of professional opportunities to influence and impact local municipalities, state legislation from opportunities through Michigan Farm Bureau and their professional development opportunities provided to young farmers and ranchers. Because of my determination, Kent County Farm Bureau invited me to sit on the Policy Committee and Board in 2024 along with serve as the Young Farmer Committee Co-Chair for 2024. As I finish out these roles this year, I have recently been nominated and elected to serve a two year district term with Kent County Farm Bureau.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One thing that helped build my reputation in my market was creating a unique service and experience called the Jump for JOY Program™, combined with publishing my own children’s storybook,
S, Samson the Baby Pygmy Goat and Stella Bella’s Pygmy Goat Miracles. I chose a livestock animal that is rare in the state of Michigan, and a breed of goat I had many years of experience raising, which has helped my credibility. The pygmy goat is a breed I am very passionate about and have been since I was young.

In my opinion, order to be successful; you have to be passionate about what you are doing. People can tell if you’re not passionate about what you do. My passion is reflected in my clients testimonies. Many clients have shared how much they’ve learned and how knowledgeable I am when I present to different groups and how evident it is that I deeply care for the pygmy goats and other animals that call Parkside Farm home. I believe anyone can be successful in their market. If I can, anyone can.

One example that illustrates resilience in my business journey and a setback I faced when I started the Jump for JOY Program™ was finding a liability insurance carrier that would cover my work with the pygmy goats. I spent three months contacting insurance companies all over the world to get a policy underwritten. I kept getting rejection after rejection and finally found one agent that was able to get a policy that met all my needs for a reasonable price. Such an answer to prayer.

Don’t let multiple no’s stand in the way of the one yes you need. One key thing to take to heart is taking action on your idea and not just sitting on it. If you let the what-if’s stand in the way, setbacks and surprises stop you from moving forward, you’ll never get started. My closing advice is, if you feel the Lord calling you to do something, be obedient and do it! If it’s His will, He will make what seems impossible, possible. I hope and pray my story will be inspiring to someone else to follow their dream!

Pricing:

• Farm Market Products $10+
• Animal Classes $60+
• Farm Tours $100+
• Pygmy Goat Visits $250+
• Overnight Farm Stays $675+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicolezaagman.com/parksidefarm
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parksidefarmmi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parksidefarmmi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@parksidefarmmi/videos
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@parksidefarmmi