Professional Goat Eating Contest to Determine Top Feeder in Inaugural Event
New York City is set to host an unusual eating competition on July 12, 2025, as the Riverside Park Conservancy introduces the **Great Goat Graze-Off**. This one-of-a-kind event will showcase five goats—Kash, Rufus, Mallomar, Romeo, and Butterball—competing to consume invasive plants the fastest.
The competition, which will take place on the lawn north of Ten Mile Playground, West 151st Street, and the West Side Highway, aims to celebrate the goats' natural eating abilities while helping rid Riverside Park of invasive plant species such as poison ivy. The event will run from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM, with a rain date of July 19, and will be emceed by George Shea, the well-known host of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and chair of Major League Eating.
The goats have been a part of Riverside Park's ecological management for several years, gradually weakening invasive species through grazing. Their role in environmental care will be highlighted in a fun and engaging way for the public during the Great Goat Graze-Off.
The competition format involves a timed contest, with the goat consuming the most invasive plants in the shortest time being crowned the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) Grazer. The winner will receive a celebratory photo-op and bragging rights.
Apart from entertainment, the goats help control invasive plant growth naturally by continuously grazing on weeds down to the roots over the summer season. The event is free, and RSVPs are encouraged.
In addition to the competition, the Great Goat Graze-Off will feature live music by Nice Brass, a New Orleans-style brass band based in NYC, providing a lively atmosphere for spectators.
The Riverside Park Conservancy has been hosting goats at Riverside Park for the past five summers to help clear invasive plant species. Goat poop improves soil nutrients, making the park healthier and more vibrant. Most invasive plant seeds are destroyed by goats' four-chambered stomachs before they can be spread.
For those interested in staying updated on events and news related to the Riverside Park Conservancy, the conservancy's website offers a daily newsletter. More information about the Great Goat Graze-Off can be found on the conservancy's website.
[1] Riverside Park Conservancy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.riversideparknyc.org/ [2] Mid Michigan Land Conservancy. (n.d.). Benefits of Using Goats for Controlling Invasive Species. Retrieved from https://midmichiganland.org/benefits-of-using-goats-for-controlling-invasive-species/ [3] Ettinger-DeLong, A. (2025, June 1). The Great Goat Graze-Off: A Professional Eating Competition between Goats Comes to New York City. Retrieved from https://riversideparknyc.org/news/the-great-goat-graze-off-a-professional-eating-competition-between-goats-comes-to-new-york-city/
During the Great Goat Graze-Off on July 12, 2025, visitors can enjoy not just the thrilling competition but also live music by Nice Brass, as the event transforms the park into a lively festival. Meanwhile, in another part of New York City, sports enthusiasts might tune into the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, emceed by the same host, George Shea, who will be overseeing this unique goat eating competition.
