Goats Spotted on the Hillside: Brush-Clearing Herd Draws Attention on 69 Highway
Along the grassy hills of 69 Highway, west of McCleary Street, a herd of goats has been sighted in Excelsior Springs. They are used by Goats Gone Green LLC, a land grazing and management business under the ownership of Kyle Alvis from Garden City, Missouri, as he utilizes goats to clear unwanted brush without chemicals and machinery. The goats have been hired to graze the hard-to-mow areas owned by Waller Trucking in Excelsior Springs.
Alvis explained that the idea of using his livestock was brought to his attention by a close friend who saw potential in the goat grazing market.
“A friend of mine turned me on to this,” Alvis recalled. “He said, ‘You need to get into this in your area. This is getting ready to blow up.’
Initially, Alvis noted he saw the opportunity with goats on his own property as he got tired of consistently brush hogging seven acres that he owns. But after three years of research and preparation, including finding the right fencing techniques, he discovered the potential goat grazing actually had.
“Once I got them broke to an electric fence, our property was weed-free. We had beautiful grass and clover all over,” he said.
From there, Alvis started with a few goats and portable fencing servicing homeowners, then to servicing for commercial clients, like lagoons for American Water. This has led to his business being noticed all over the Kansas City region, including jobs like the one recently sighted in Excelsior Springs, providing a sustainable solution for weed and brush control in hard to reach areas.
Since gaining more popularity, Goats Gone Green has become an official LLC, Alvis began investing in more goats and fencing, while continuing to generate traction with business and property owners. He attributes a portion of his success to his largest client, the Port Authority in Kansas City.
“The Port Authority deal was great for us. It really put us on the map,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t be in Excelsior Springs if it hadn’t been for the Port Authority.”
The job, according to Alvis, brought major media attention from bigger news outlets such as Channel 5 and 41 Action News, along with the Port Authority’s media team, who helped set up interviews that gave Goats Gone Green LLC a business spotlight.
With that exposure, Alvis said it led him to other locations, such as Homeowner Associations. One of which is located in Liberty, Mo., near the home of Bob Waller of Waller Trucking in Excelsior Springs.
“I did two jobs right next door to [Waller’s] property,” Alvis said. “Bob Waller essentially told me, ‘Just show up to Waller and bring the goats.’”
Since then, the goats have been seen by those passing by on 69 highway, turning heads as they drive by, along with chatter on social media.
Alvis explained the goats have already been on site at Waller Trucking for two weeks and will remain until they have cleared the brush on the hill west of Walmart. He explained that using goats to clear brush and other invasive plants is a natural and cost effective solution, but that the work is not always easy. It involves moving the net fencing and weed eating the area in order to move them to the right location. He added that he is “running a serious agricultural business and the goats are working animals.”
However, Goats Gone Green does offer more than just brush clearing with his goat grazing service, as he noted it is a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments and mechanical landscaping. Alvis said, “We’re seeing more companies reach out because their insurance for traditional landscape maintenance has become prohibitively expensive, and we offer a natural, cost-effective solution.”
Alvis also noted that or most people wanting to use goats as an alternative, the removal of invasive plants and brush is not a permanent solution, as it may take several grazing sessions to get the overgrown landscapes under control. This results in several visits needed from the herd to reduce overgrowth.
In the future, Alvis said he has more plans for his small business, and that he would like to incorporate internship opportunities for agricultural students, especially those in programs such as Future Farmers of America. to help others get started in the goat herding or agricultural business. He also mentioned he hopes to sell proven goats that can “handle any terrain you throw at them.”
For Alvis and his herd, it’s about more than clearing land, “We’re showing people a different way of thinking about land management. These goats aren’t just eating weeds; they’re solving problems.”
For more information about Goats Gone Green or to hire their services, visit their Facebook page or call Alvis at (816) 529-3410.
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