A local business is making an impact in the world of handcrafted, nearly all-natural body care products. Robyn Ruggeroli, owner of New Liberty Farms, LLC, operates under the name Fainting Goat Soap, a brand she built from the ground up. What began as a small, family-driven project has flourished into a thriving business, driven by necessity, passion, and a dedication to quality.
Robyn’s journey into soap-making began nearly a decade ago when her daughter was an infant struggling with eczema. A friend gifted her a bar of goat milk soap, and the results were astonishing—her daughter’s skin cleared up almost immediately. That experience sparked an idea that would eventually lead to the formation of her business. With plans already in place to raise goats, Robyn saw an opportunity to make her own soap and quickly fell in love with the process. What began as a personal project soon became a small-scale operation as family and friends raved about her products, prompting her to start selling them at local markets.
Over the past three years, Robyn has fully committed to her craft, participating in farmers’ markets and craft fairs to bring her products to a wider audience. She primarily sells at the Farmers Market at Tractor Supply, where customers can find her high-quality, handcrafted goods. Her product line has expanded well beyond soap, driven by personal necessity. When her hands started cracking from working outside in the cold, she developed a rich and nourishing body butter bar. Dissatisfied with commercial lip balms that felt too waxy, she formulated her own, and her body cream was created to offer long-lasting moisture without the heavy residue of many commercial brands.
One of Robyn’s most recent experiments has been incorporating tallow—a rendered form of beef fat—into her skincare products. Purchased from a cosmetic supplier, the tallow has proven to be an exceptional moisturizer, particularly for facial skin. It brightens, hydrates, and helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, making it a valuable addition to her body butter bars. With an unwavering commitment to using only the best ingredients, she continues to refine her formulas to meet both her personal needs and those of her growing customer base.
Affordability is a cornerstone of Fainting Goat Soap. While many handmade skincare brands command high prices, Robyn strives to keep her products accessible to families like hers. Her soaps are priced at $7 per four-ounce bar or three for $20, with bulk discounts available. Her luxurious, long-lasting body cream sells for $12 per four-ounce jar, and her magnesium cream—a product she developed to help with restless leg syndrome—is priced at $15 per jar. Though she maintains a website, she admits that keeping it updated is a challenge amid the demands of family, production, and market sales. Instead, most customers reach her through Facebook for orders and inquiries.
Robyn’s love for her craft extends beyond soap-making; she is also an avid beekeeper. Situated on one acre across from Pahrump’s sprawling hayfields, she shares her land with nine fainting goats, a breed she had dreamed of owning for two decades. Her husband played a pivotal role in making that dream come true, promising her the goats in exchange for moving to Pahrump with him after he proposed. Today, she enjoys watching them from her kitchen window, a simple joy that underscores the deep connection she has to her animals and her land.
Beekeeping became an extension of her business when she and her husband purchased two hives a few years ago. The raw, unfiltered honey they harvest is unlike anything found in stores, with a rich flavor that likely benefits from the neighboring alfalfa fields. Their passion for beekeeping only grew, leading them to invest more in hives and equipment. However, an unexpected hurdle arose when Robyn received a letter from the county stating that her property was not zoned for beekeeping.
The issue stems from zoning regulations that require a minimum property size of four and a half acres for beehives. Despite Pahrump’s reputation as a haven for agricultural freedom, Robyn found herself entangled in a bureaucratic struggle that she never anticipated. The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies bees as livestock, and given that her zoning permits livestock, she was shocked to discover restrictions on beekeeping. Even more puzzling is the fact that urban areas like Las Vegas and Henderson allow beekeeping on much smaller lots.
Determined to fight for her right to keep bees, Robyn has been researching avenues to challenge the regulation. She has spoken with Ian Bayne, a county commissioner who provided guidance on applying for a waiver and appealing if necessary. While the process is daunting, she is resolved to push for a broader change that would benefit all local beekeepers rather than just securing an exemption for herself.
The struggle comes at a significant financial cost. She and her husband recently spent nearly $2,000 on new hives and equipment, confident that they were in compliance based on prior consultations with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The process of applying for a waiver will require additional fees, not to mention the uncertainty of the outcome.
Despite the challenges, Robyn remains optimistic. She is fueled by her love for her bees, her passion for crafting high-quality, natural skincare, and her commitment to providing her customers with products she truly believes in. She takes pride in knowing that everything she creates—from soap and body cream to honey and beeswax-based products—is something she would (and does) use herself.
Fainting Goat Soap is more than just a business; it’s a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and dedication to quality. Whether she is milking her goats, harvesting honey, or formulating a new skincare product, Robyn Ruggeroli pours her heart into every aspect of what she does. As she continues to fight for her right to keep bees, she hopes to not only secure a future for her own apiary but also pave the way for others in the community to enjoy the many benefits of beekeeping. Until then, she remains steadfast in her mission—bringing the best in natural, handcrafted skincare to Pahrump and beyond.
