Close to 1,000 goats, puppies parish in fire

Photos by Chad Koenen
Several local fire departments responded to a fire at Cornerstone Farm in rural Henning on Friday morning. Close to 1,000 dairy goats, puppies perished in the fire.

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent 

Sheriff deputies, on May 13, reported the loss of approximately 1,000 goats and a litter of puppies, the result of a barn fire northeast of Henning.

Upon arrival of the Henning Fire Department, close to 520th Avenue, the large goat barn was fully engulfed in flames. 

A barn loafing shed and milking parlor were also destroyed in the fire, which took place close to 10 a.m. Also assisting were firefighters from Deer Creek, Ottertail, Vining and Wadena.

An investigation as to the cause of the fire later took place by members of the county sheriff office in coordination with the state fire marshal. 

Photo by Chad Koenen
Members of the Henning Fire Department put out a fire at Cornerstone Farm in rural Henning on Friday morning. The fire destroyed the goat dairy operation and close to 1,000 goats and a puppy litter.

The fire was located at Cornerstone Farms, which is goat dairy operation owned by Stephen and Brittany Springer of rural Henning. 

The family suffered a fire on Dec. 24, 2020 at their goat dairy operation in the same location. That fire also destroyed the barn and the goats as part of the operation. They rebuilt the goat dairy operation near the original dairy operation, which reopened last year. 

Chad Koenen contributed to this article