© Dawn Kish

GOAT FARMER

Ask John Bittner why he got himself some goats and he'll tell you it was for the fudge. "I always wanted to make goat's-milk fudge," he confesses. "Who the heck ever heard of goat's-milk fudge?" Besides being a fudge aficionado, Bittner also has a soft spot for these "very loving animals." He's owned goats, on and off, for the past 45 years. But after he and his wife, Joyce, purchased llamas, they left Scottsdale and headed north for some breathing room. The Ranch at Fossil Creek, near Strawberry, is home to the Bittners' small herd of goats (plus the llamas). It's also a destination for folks wanting to reconnect with Mother Nature. Or, in the case of the 12-and-under set, to bottle-feed the babies. In addition to fudge — Bittner swears it's delicious — he and his wife also make cheese (including cheddar and havarti), soap, lotion, ice cream and cheesecake. Clearly, Bittner isn't joking when he says, "There's no such thing as having too much goat's milk."

— Kathy Ritchie

The Ranch at Fossil Creek is located at 10379 W. Fossil Creek Road in Strawberry. For more information, call 928-476-5178 or visit www.ranchatfossilcreek.com.

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