Student holding a goat at the Goat Cuddling event hosted by Student Affairs
By: Kate Lindsey-Hunter and Trace Espinosa, AUMnibus staff writers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — As midterms approach, the “Goat Cuddle” event on Feb. 17 was one way for students to comfortably destress by sharing some memories and some fur. Hosted by Auburn University at Montgomery’s (AUM) Student Affairs in collaboration with Sarah Warren, an owner of Goat Yoga Bham, this event provided warm, snuggly friends to our very own campus and any students willing to join.
A few goats were the center of students’ attention on The Quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We had the chance to attend the heartwarming moment as four goats, Skippy, Maggie, Penny, and Georgy, captured everyone’s hearts.
Students pet, hugged, cuddled and held these furry friends. The Goat Cuddle event created a space and time for students to relax, relieve anxiety and take their minds off the stressors that come with college in the middle of a school day.
Junior communication student, Jennifer Tolbert, noted that the most interesting thing about the event was interacting with animals on The Quad, considering that it isn’t common for goats to be on a college campus.
AUM student, Tre, shared his thoughts on the event saying, “It’s a good way to help people unwind. It’s also good to walk out on the quad and see some goats.”
Christa Burns, junior broadcast journalism student, noted that this event had a clear purpose, giving her a mental break from her difficult course work.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, eighty-four percent of pet owners claim that their pets have a significantly positive effect on their mental health. This data was collected from a 2024 poll conducted among 2,200 adults.
Goat Yoga Bham owners Wyatt and Sarah Warren decided to purchase a five-acre homestead with their goats to house the little guys after adopting them from their friends, the Pruetts.
Since October 2022, the Warren family has offered a variety of snuggle and yoga sessions. Don’t miss out on “Puppy Yoga” coming Feb. 22, “Farm Animals Snuggle” on March 9, as well as “Goat Yoga” on March 29.
You can visit the Goat Yoga Bham website if you are interested in the events to come.
AUM Student Affairs’ main goal in hosting events like Goat Cuddle is to remind students of the importance of having a life and living that life outside of classwork. Student Affairs aims to use engaging events to make way for students to discover and strengthen their passions.
Dr. Leon Higdon, Dean of Student Affairs, highlighted the purpose of Student Affairs in strengthening students’ social and professional skills. Higdon encourages students to use their voice and make their perspectives known.
To learn more about upcoming events, visit the AUM website.
