An Oxford native left a six-figure salary in Tampa, Florida, to return to Oxford and figure out just what makes her happiest in life. Four years later, she has found that happiness in the tranquillity of her goat and chicken farm.
Jake Keiser’s story has gone viral after being featured in the number one magazine read in the world, Cosmopolitan. Since her recent feature in Cosmo, her blog “Gucci to Goats” has become instantly famous.
Keiser’s step-mother, Sue Keiser, is the chief of staff at The University of Mississippi. Her father, Dr. Ed Keiser, was a biology professor at The University of Mississippi. Keiser attended The University of Mississippi in 1992-1996; however, she earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and political science from The University of South Florida. Keiser is currently vice president of The Mississippi Sustainable Agriculture Network (MSAN) board of directors.
“Going to Ole Miss, being surrounded by beautiful women all the time, it made me realize that in business, no one will ever intimidate me anymore,” Keiser said.
She then moved to Tampa Bay and started running her own marketing and public relations firm, known as Keiser and Company. She found that a career in this field was 24-7, and a crisis could happen at any time that she would have to deal with. However, she was still able to find time in her busy career to maintain a social life.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “It sounds to me like she had it all.”
She owned a successful business. She had a six-figure salary, friends, and enjoyed lavish vacations. She did have it all. Right?
Wrong. Keiser felt empty inside. She realized this type of life was not making her happy, and she didn’t know who she really was or what would make her happy. But unlike most in her position, she decided it was time to do something about it.
“My family is here in Oxford. I had this deep need to come home and find myself again,” Keiser said.
Within a week of making the huge decision to move back home in search of happiness, Keiser secured a cabin and the five-acre land that now hosts her farm of goats, chickens, cats, geese and dogs.
“There is an incredible sense of community in Oxford and even more so in the rural community. The election made everyone out in rural communities seem uneducated and racist, and I have found the opposite of that,” Keiser said.
Within seconds of meeting her, one can easily get the sense of empowerment. Even if one were to disagree with her way of life, it would be hard to not respect all she has done.
“If the well is frozen, I go out and deal with it. If the goats need to be milked, I go milk them,” Keiser said.
She’s not your everyday feminist. She’s not dependent on anyone. She’s just herself. She lives without any regrets and claims to have figured out everything through trial and error.
When starting the farm, she quickly realized she needed to do research. However, she found there wasn’t much information out there. Keiser realized that she could do something about it and fill the gap of missing information. So, she started a blog, “Gucci to Goats,” so that other women or men who are going through the problems that she faced running a farm can be better informed.
When asked where her idea of Gucci to Goats came from, she said, “From two things. One, it was from my journey of going from being very social and having a kind of shallow lifestyle. Two, this transformation of authenticity and finding some self-reliance and finding this fabulous farm life, finding that balance. I still am this woman who likes nice things. I shunned that part for awhile, but I realized that’s part of who I am, and now I think I know who I am.
“At first it was just about me and my peace and finding myself,” she continued. “Then, it became about the people. More and more people were just really interested in coming out and seeing the animals and learning about them. People wanted to come out and bring their children. It has evolved into an educational laboratory.”
Keiser has big plans for the future. In fact, her farm just received a non-profit status.
Keiser said, “Children and adults have the opportunity to engage with animals at all stages of development, learn about local foraging opportunities and processes and gain skills about integrating sustainable living to all lifestyles.”
If you have a group who would be interested in visiting Keiser’s farm, you can contact her: https://guccitogoats.com/#
Check out Gucci to Goats on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gucci_to_goats/ Or check out her blog: https://guccitogoats.com/blog/
Featured image: Photo by Andrew Clancy – Cosmopolitan.com
Alex Kitchens is the social media editor for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at alex.kitchens@hottytoddy.com.
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