Beloved CT Family Farm Launches Fundraiser To Help Meet Expenses, Continue Growth

SALEM, CT — A fundraiser has been launched to help a beloved family farm in New London County meet expenses and move forward with its plans for growth and expansion.

According to the GoFundMe page's description, Syman Says Farms was first dreamt up by Aaron and Liz Syman in 2012 and has since grown into "a legacy rooted in love, hard work, and muddy boots."

"For 13 years, that dream guided everything they did," the description reads. "Every fence. Every barn repair. Every goat born on this farm. They poured their hearts, their time, and their entire lives into a place that would become Syman Says Farms."

Located in Salem, the small 10-acre dairy goat farm is family-owned and operated.

In addition to goat care, the farm produces a number of goat-milk based products such as soap, lotion and bath salts, according to the farm's website.

According to the fundraiser, created this week by Aaron Syman, the farm has continued to grow and evolve over the years, including recently with "family members moving in new directions," resulting in the Syman couple now "carrying everything on their own."

"And now they're staring down something they never expected," the page reads, "a real, immediate financial gap that threatens everything they've built since 2012."

The GoFundMe lays out the couple's plans for the farm, which includes building a solar and storage barn to eliminate utility bills and store hay in bulk, continuing a farm-branded coffee program, expanding on their handmade soaps and products, continuing an "ethical french bulldog program built on responsibility, health and lifelong support" and opening an on-farm Airbnb.

"Together, these projects create resilience," the description reads. "They create balance. They create a future."

Syman also noted the farm's beloved goats would continue to be "the heart of the farm," with the animals' health and wellbeing continuing to be their first priority.

According to the fundraiser, support provided through the GoFundMe will:

• Keep the animals cared for — always the top priority.
• Complete the Airbnb, unlocking a new, steady income stream.
• Finish the solar and storage barn, cutting utility costs and launching the hay program.
• Grow the coffee and soap operations, strengthening the farm for the long haul.
• Keep the beloved 24/7 Youtube livestream running, connecting the community to the goats they love.

The Syman couple are also working with state and federal programs and have applied for grants, however "those dollars are months away, and the farm can use the help now."

As of Friday afternoon, the GoFundMe page has already received 40 donations and raised over $4,800 toward a $17,000 goal.

Those who wish to donate to the page can do so here.

"This isn’t just a farm. This is a legacy. A dream. A place built with love, sacrifice, and unwavering belief. And right now… it needs its community," the page reads. "By supporting this moment, you’re not just helping Liz and Aaron. You’re helping keep small farming alive. You’re helping protect a home filled with animals. You’re helping continue a story that has touched thousands of people."