About Us

Education

By opening our barn doors to guests at our New York and California shelters, Farm Sanctuary provides visitors with the unique experience of seeing the world through the eyes of farm animals. After coming face to face with a rescued chicken, nuzzling up to a gentle cow and rubbing a grateful pig's belly, many Farm Sanctuary visitors are forever changed. In fact, a survey conducted during the 2007 tour season found that more than half of all visitors reported that they intended to make future changes in their diets based on their experience visiting our sanctuaries.

Our Visit the Farm program welcomes overnight visitors to our picturesque farms, where they stay in spacious cabins and awaken to crowing roosters. Free to roam the 300-acre sanctuary nestled in the coastal mountains near Orland, California, or the 175-acre sanctuary situated in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of New York, guests can pitch in with farm chores, or simply enjoy the companionship of farm animals.

Those looking for a more intensive experience can apply for a one to three-month internship and live at our California or New York shelter. Our Volunteer Internship Program has been around since Farm Sanctuary's inception, and has inspired hundreds of individuals to make a life-long commitment to protect farm animals.

For those who have not made the journey to visit our shelters, Farm Sanctuary extends a hand to communities via a variety of conferences, forums and outreach programs. Since 1987, our annual Walk for Farm Animals, which is now held in more than 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada, has raised awareness and funds for the plight and care of farm animals.

Since its founding, Farm Sanctuary has promoted a new Thanksgiving tradition. Our annual Adopt-a-Turkey Project encourages people to adopt a turkey instead of eating one. National and regional media stories have covered the effort and helped educate millions of consumers about the cruelty of factory turkey production, while encouraging a more humane alternative.

Farm Sanctuary has amassed an extensive video and photo library documenting the realities of industrialized agriculture. Our graphic images have appeared in print and broadcast media around the world, reaching millions, and we produce public service announcements and documentaries to educate citizens.

Our media outreach efforts have been featured in prominent newspapers and magazines including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and dozens of Associated Press stories advocating for reform. Television and radio coverage includes Prime Time Live, National Public Radio, Larry King Live, Animal Planet, The Food Network, CBS Sunday Morning and CNN Headline News.

Farm Sanctuary encourages people to move towards a plant-based diet to promote good health, environmental stewardship and compassion toward animals. Our Veg for Life Campaign provides a website and other resources to help, including dietary information and recipes. Newsstands across the country offer free copies of our Guide to Veg Living, advertisements run in prominent media outlets, and restaurants across the country are now signing our Veg Pledge, and agreeing to provide veg meals.

Farm Sanctuary's humane education extends to the classroom, where students learn to think critically about factory farming and the impacts of daily food choices. Our Cultivating Compassion Humane Education program, which includes the educational video, My Friends at the Farm, narrated by Casey Affleck, is available to teachers and students in communities throughout the U.S.

Children can also learn more about farm animals through the Farm Sanctuary Kidz Club. A joint partnership with Turtle Mountain, the Farm Sanctuary Kidz Club was created to tap children's natural affinity for animals and educate them about healthy nutrition and the impact of factory farming on animals and the environment. The Club offers prizes and interactive learning activities online.

Meanwhile, Farm Sanctuary is an ongoing presence at festivals and street fairs, where volunteers from coast to coast staff tables and educate citizens about animal agriculture and compassionate alternatives.

Back at the farms, annual events such as our 4th of July Pignic and our Country Hoe Downs are ever-popular, drawing overnight campers and day visitors who share a mutual interest in farm animal issues and delicious vegan food. The Hoe Down features presentations from prominent speakers, farm tours, hay rides, and a barn dance in the evening. At our July 4th Pignics, guests feast on tasty vegan hot dogs with all the fixin's, enjoy free tours and have the chance to give a pig a belly rub.