About Us
From Military Life to Farm Life
Transitioning from a military career to a life on a farm was a dream of my husband's, but I was initially hesitant about the idea. I preferred the convenience and luxury of suburban living and couldn't imagine myself as a farmer. However, my perspective changed when I came across some adorable chicks at Tractor Supply Co. The idea of raising a few chickens for eggs and capturing some great photos with my children sparked my interest in backyard chicken-keeping. I thought that once my husband saw how difficult farming could be, he would give up the idea, but to my surprise, I fell in love with it. Today, we own a 10-acre farm where we raise Nigerian Dwarf goats for dairy production and show, as well as laying hens that provide us with pasture-raised, free-range fresh eggs. We operate a herdshare program which offers raw milk, on-the-farm pick up to our members in the West Point/ Richmond/Williamsburg and surrounding areas. This life, which was once my worst nightmare, has become my dream come true. I never expected to become a farmer, but I'm so glad that I did.
Nestled among the York River, the Pamunkey River and the Mattaponi River in beautiful West Point,VA
We are Dave and Shelley Gholson of Riverwatch Farm. Riverwatch Farm is a small family/veteran owned dairy goat farm located in West Point, VA. We raise ADGA registered Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats and offer herdshare opportunities, fresh eggs, pet milk and other value added products to our local and surrounding communities.
We are dedicated and committed to making a significant improvement in the quality of Nigerian Dwarf goats in the dairy goat community.
Striving towards furthering our knowledge through various training opportunities like Langston University's Quality Dairy Goat Improvement Certification, working closely with our experienced farm vet, utilizing the data available to us through DHIR milk testing and Linear Appraisals through ADGA, we are continuously striving to offer the very highest quality breeding program possible. We take the same pride and care with all products that come from our farm, to include the cleanest raw milk standards, as well as other value added products. We will also continue to place an emphasis on Farmers Helping Farmers by working alongside other local farms in an effort to support one another.
Certifications & Memberships
- American Dairy Goat Association Plus
- American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Association
- Quality Dairy Goat Producer from Langston University
- FAMACHA Certification
