Hancock Farms: A Little Taste of Farm Life in Parker
You don’t have to live on a farm to enjoy a little bit of farm life.
That’s the idea behind Hancock Farms, a family farm in Parker that has grown and evolved right alongside the family who calls it home. What began as a place for Marie Hancock to raise her children alongside animals has become a place where the community can slow down, get outside, spend time together and, of course, meet some very entertaining goats.
The family moved to Parker in 2015 and began building their little farmstead shortly afterward.
“I loved the idea of having a place where I could raise my kids alongside animals and give them some of the experiences that come with farm life,” Marie shared.
Over the years, Hancock Farms has continued to grow and change with the family. But earlier this year, Marie decided to take things in a new direction and dive more deeply into their love of fainting goats – and find ways to share that love with the community. That has opened the door to a fun new chapter for Hancock Farms.
Meet the Goats of Hancock Farms
If you’ve never met a fainting goat, you’re in for a treat.
Hancock Farms has embraced these quirky, lovable animals and is excited to share them with visitors. The farm has also recently started breeding purebred African Pygmy goats.
These compact little goats are known for their big personalities. They are naturally curious, playful and incredibly friendly, making them a pretty memorable addition to a family outing.
One of the things the family loves most about Parker and the surrounding Douglas County community is that, despite all of the growth, there is still an appreciation for local families, small businesses and the area’s agricultural roots.
“We’ve especially loved seeing how excited people are to come out to the farm,” Marie said. “There is something really special about watching kids meet a goat, families spend an afternoon together, or a group of friends put their phones down for a little while and simply enjoy being outside.”
That idea of slowing down and reconnecting is at the heart of what is being created at Hancock Farms.
More Than Just a Goat Visit
One of Hancock Farms’ newest offerings is quickly becoming a favorite: goat milk soap-making workshops.
The workshops are designed to be much more than simply making soap. Guests get to spend time outside, be creative and enjoy an experience with the people they love.
“I wanted to create a reason for friends and families to get outside in the sunshine, spend time together, be creative and make something beautiful with their hands,” Marie explained. “Most importantly, I wanted people to leave with memories they made together.”
Hancock Farms has welcomed adults enjoying a girls’ day out, couples turning it into a date, parents and grandparents bringing children – and even a two-year-old safely making soap alongside their family. And the workshops really are for all ages.
Guests create their own goat milk soaps by choosing their scents, colors and flowers. While the soaps set, there is plenty of time to enjoy the farm and visit with the goats.
It’s a simple concept, but one that seems to be hitting exactly what so many families are looking for: an opportunity to put down the phones, get outside and do something together.
Upcoming Soap-Making Workshops
Hancock Farms has several soap-making workshops coming up this fall, including:
- September 5
- October 3
- November – A cozy holiday-themed workshop, perfect for making handmade soaps that can also be given as Christmas gifts.
If you’ve been looking for a unique fall activity to do with friends, family or the kids, this could be a fun one to add to your calendar.
A Place to Slow Down
For the family behind Hancock Farms, the goal isn’t simply to raise goats or offer workshops. It’s about creating a place where people can step away from the busyness of everyday life for a little while.
“More than anything, I’d love people to know that you don’t have to live on a farm to enjoy a little bit of farm life,” Marie said.
“Life gets so busy, and it’s easy to go from one obligation to the next without really stopping. Hancock Farms has unexpectedly become a way for us to give people a place to slow down for an afternoon, laugh with the people they love, get a little dirt on their shoes, make something creative and spend some time with some very funny goats.”
And perhaps that’s what makes this little Parker farm so special.
You might arrive for the goats or a soap-making workshop, but hopefully you’ll leave with something a little more meaningful – a handmade bar of soap, some goat-filled memories and a few hours spent enjoying the people you’re with.
“If someone leaves our farm with a handmade bar of soap but, more importantly, a great memory with someone they love, then we’ve accomplished exactly what I hoped we would.”
Be sure to check Hancock Farms’ social media or website for workshop details, registration and upcoming dates.
