About Nicole Zaagman (Cowgirl Cole)
Bestselling author, business coach and entrepreneur, Nicole Zaagman grew up showing and breeding pygmy goats in 4-H. A 2009 graduate of Spring Arbor University holding a BA in graphic design, she worked corporately before starting her full-time creative agency in 2014. During that time Nicole opened a photography studio with her mother in Grand Rapids and also became a certified dog therapy handler team with West MI Therapy Dogs. In the years following, Nicole volunteered doing art assisted activities with Artist Creating Together and later spent two years working in equine therapy with Equine Assisted Development. In 2021, Nicole founded Parkside Farm and restarted her pygmy goat herd and witnessed the JOY that the pygmy goats provided local families. In December 2022, Nicole wrote, photo-illustrated and published a children's storybook called, Samson the Baby Pygmy Goat. In early 2023, Nicole created the Jump for JOY Program™ a Michigan farm education program utilizing pygmy goats for senior centers and special events. In late 2023, Nicole started the Farmilies Connect™ initiative to help connect farms and families in Michigan. Nicole is currently a member of the MI Farm Bureau, American Goat Society, National Pygmy Goat Association, Michigan Agritourism Association, International Organization of Professional Life Coaches and Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals.