Harrison K. Harrison, World’s Largest Yoga Goat
His legacy was larger than life. He was giant, he was goofy, and he is dearly missed. This is the story of the huge baby boy who won my heart and shared my name. Harrison K. Harrison 2017-2024
Harrison K. Harrison esquire, World’s Largest Yoga Goat, ascended to his eternal reward on 6 April 2024. Harrison successfully balanced his career as general counsel of Harrison Farm with his passion for yoga, winning the hearts of his adoring public. He was preceded in death by his mother Mustard E. Goat and his beloved best goat friend TeaCup. He is survived by his young mentees Oreo, Louis Armstrong, and The Outlaw, who he trained on the posh Bellwether Lifestyle. He is survived by his treasured friends from the Harrison Farm team Julia, Skylar, Mackenzie, Austin, Rebecca, and Elsa. He is also survived by his special human friend Gina (who always brought him treats), by his favorite yogi Dana (who recognized his Goat Yoga star potential), and by his Goatherd — who misses him dearly. Harrison was laid to rest at Harrison Farm in a private service attended by his human family Sam, Kat, Connor, and his Goatherd. His legacy was larger than life.
Baby Goat Harrison was born at Harrison Farm on 13 May 2017. His mother was our longtime herd matriarch Mustard E. Goat. Goats do not go through menopause, so they can continue to have babies throughout their lives, as long as they are healthy. Mustard was at quite an advanced age when her last baby was born. The labor that birthed this giant gangly newborn may have been too much for Mustard, and she began to quickly go downhill when the baby was only two days old. Mustard passed away in the barn with her head in my lap on 15 May 2017. I had truly adored this noble lady, and the loss hit me all the harder as it was the anniversary of my own mother passing onward. As Mustard took her last breaths, I held her, and promised that I would always look after her baby. Now, seven years later, I have fulfilled that promise.
From the moment he became a bottle baby at two days old, Baby Goat Harrison discerned how to wrap humans around his hooves. We struggled to come up with the proper name for him, so he was just Baby Goat Harrison at first — but somehow that stuck. As he grew, he picked up the moniker of Harrison K. Harrison, attorney at law. As a lawyer, he was easily bribable with goat treats, but Harrison K. Harrison would get you your money!
When Baby Goat Harrison came to Goat Yoga, he was a chaos goblin. And he never really outgrew that persona. In the early days, one helper at yoga would have to be assigned just to watch Harrison, due to the level of hooligan behavior he exhibited. Thanks to a month-long stint at a local greenhouse for their fall festival, he returned to the farm with a much more respectful attitude after entertaining numerous children day after day. As he grew (and grew, and grew . . .), Harrison would be allowed out to Goat Yoga about once a month. If it was a treat, he would be on his best behavior. If he came out more than that, he began to act entitled. He was fortunate to have a good friend in Dana, who always wove his shenanigans into the magic of Goat Yoga.
Harrison became known during his first years for trying to die on an annual basis. He survived the struggles of being an orphan, the ravages of parasites, a horrible bout of listeriosis, and near fatal polio — plus numerous poor life choices that put him in precarious situations. It was a miracle that Harrison survived the listeriosis. He suffered some brain damage from it, and we had to help him regain basic skills. Bee Keeper Rebecca helped me teach Harrison how to properly eat again so he could regain his strength, and she was also the one who found him when he had polio. Goat Polio can be easily treated if caught in time, and Harrison was very lucky that Rebecca found him that day. If not for Rebecca’s quick actions, we would have lost him then.
Fortunately, the last couple years were more mellow for Harrison. He developed special relationships with several interns from our team. His love for Intern Skylar was quite touching, and it was Harrison that really bonded Intern Mackenzie to the farm. Harrison trained several visitors to the farm to bring him treats, and he was particularly close to Gina & her family, who visited him on a regular basis. During these golden years, Harrison just kept growing. He was so big that I could essentially ride him. In his youth, I would straddle him to get him to move . . . And then he became so tall, that he could just walk off with me.
It was my chosen daughter Sam who found that Harrison had peacefully slept away. On a Friday night, Harrison laid down next to the interior barn wall, where he liked to sleep. Whether it was a heart attack or a stroke, something took him during the night. When Sam found him, Harrison was curled up in his usual relaxed pose, but had slept away into eternity. I consider 8 years to be a good goat life. Harrison was almost 7 when he passed onward. I suspect that much like extra large dogs tend to have fewer years, extra large goats could be the same. We laid Harrison to rest that day, and it took me, Sam, Kat, and Connor all working together to carry him. To his last day, Harrison never missed a meal.
I miss him. A LOT. Somehow, though, I am comforted that Harrison went so peacefully after a life lived on his terms. He was big, he was goofy, he was prone to illness and accidents, and he was loved. I also find a lot of peace knowing that he is now reunited with his best goat friend, TeaCup. When Harrison was orphaned, he became very bonded to another little goat who was a bottle baby. She was a tiny goat, jaunty and full of life. He was a big dude from the moment of his birth, who was completely sweet on her. It is a great hope of mine, that these two are reunited in the next world, and are still causing chaos with much joy.
For years, we have had a special Harrison Farm toast (often offered while drinking our signature cocktail of Harrison 13s) which references some of our iconic goats. It includes the line: “just as Harrison & TeaCup found each other and became best friends, may you always be surrounded by friends who become chosen family.” Harrison lived his best life, Harrison overcame challenges, and Harrison cultivated relationships that became his chosen family. He was ridiculous, and I adored him — and he will always inspire me to live life to the fullest, no matter the struggles of our mortal existence. It was a big loss in every sense of the word, but Harrison will never be forgotten.