From life-saving rescues and connecting the sanctuary movement, to awards for our far-reaching humane education programs and engaging sanctuary visitor tours, to groundbreaking advocacy for food system change, let’s reflect on another year of hope and healing.

Every impact we make, and every moment of progress for animals, people, and the planet that we achieve at Farm Sanctuary is made possible by our generous supporters, dedicated volunteers, and inspiring team members.

Read on for a few of our key highlights from 2025, and how we are planning to mark a major milestone in 2026, as Farm Sanctuary celebrates its 40th anniversary.

In May, Farm Sanctuary’s Acton, California shelter was honored with a Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Animal Encounter.” 

Newsweek’s content and reporting reach more than 100 million people monthly, and Farm Sanctuary’s recognition with a Readers’ Choice Award will help spread our message of compassion for farm animals around the world.

Did you know that public and private tours of our California sanctuary are available year-round? Book yours today to meet our rescued residents and see why Newsweek readers were inspired.

The same month Newsweek readers recognized us, Farm Sanctuary was honored by the Association of Professional Humane Educators (APHE) with the Educator’s Choice Award for the “Best Youth Humane Education Program” of 2024.

We were thrilled to be recognized by the APHE, as we work to expand our educational programs, reaching more students and engaging more teachers than ever before.

Through our current humane education programs, launched in 2017, we reached a milestone this year: 250,000 students reached! By offering multiple monthly webinars, a variety of free downloadable curricula, and more for grades K-12, we are fostering compassion and empowering the next generations of advocates.

This year, we began a new chapter in this vital work as Mercy Mize joined our team to lead our humane education programs, bringing over two decades of experience as an educator. Click here to learn about Mercy’s journey and how we’re working to build a kinder future for all.

In July, the highest court in the nation delivered a victory for California’s Proposition 12, as the Supreme Court declined to hear the latest industry challenge to this landmark law protecting farm animals from the most severe forms of confinement. 

For years, Farm Sanctuary and allies have fought to protect Prop 12 as animal agribusiness has fought this widely supported legislation at every turn, putting profit above all. With your support, we are continuing to safeguard Prop 12 from its latest threats, including the Food Security and Farm Protection Act and the Save Our Bacon Act—both of which could undermine the will of voters and undo farm animal protections passed at the state level.

On October 2, Farm Sanctuary marked World Farm Animals Day by shedding light on the lives and deaths of nearly 10 billion farm animals killed for food in the United States each year. Across our platforms, we raised awareness for these sentient beings who are too often unseen and unheard as they suffer their entire lives on factory farms. 

We sent out a call to compassion, and our supporters answered, raising over $100,000 to strengthen our ongoing efforts to combat the abuses of factory farming.

Farm Sanctuary’s Board of Directors plays a crucial role in serving our mission for animals, people, and the planet. This year, we were proud to announce the addition of four inspiring new Board members.

Read more about our Board of Directors, and join us in welcoming Caryn Ginsberg, Sarah Lyu, Sepi Sepasi, and Miyoko Schinner.

In April, Farm Sanctuary’s message of compassion reached an audience of millions on an episode of “Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin.” A biologist, conservationist, and Emmy winner, Corwin joined musician-activist Moby in visiting our Los Angeles sanctuary and meeting some of our rescued animal residents to share their stories.

This year, our Adopt a Turkey Project reached millions through media headlines, inspiring kind holiday choices and empowering people to support a turkey rather than eat one at Thanksgiving. Our campaign was featured in the Associated Press, ABC News, People, NBC Los Angeles, Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Life, and more.

The Christian Science Monitor explored a visit to Farm Sanctuary and what it’s like to see farm animals in a new light, following up on its earlier reporting on our compassionate research into the emotional lives of farm animals.

Plus, Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder Gene Baur penned powerful op-eds for The Hill and Newsweek on the dangers of bird flu and factory farming. In The Minnesota Star Tribune, Gene shed light on the millions of farm animals who die during transport to slaughterhouses.

Our Watkins Glen garden and cafe brought fresh, seasonal, plant-based dishes to our visitors, volunteers, and staff this year—with 90% of our meals made from scratch and 90% of our ingredients sourced locally or from our own farm. Thanks to the care and expertise of Specialist, Environment & Sustainable Horticulture, Elija Swertfeger, the garden yielded nearly 2,000 pounds of fresh produce for the cafe, powering creative meals.

The cafe team served thousands of breakfasts and lunches to visitors and staff, while also supporting major events, including Pignic, Hoedown, a wedding, and the Celebration for the Turkeys. To round out an incredible season, the team launched seven in-person classes taught by Chef Juan, covering topics such as pickling, sauerkraut, and plant-based cooking at home.

Garden expansion is already underway, as we construct new tunnels and plan to double the variety of vegetables grown. We’re also piloting online workshops that highlight simple swaps with a significant impact for animals, and we plan to launch public classes in 2026. Please stay tuned! 

Farm Sanctuary’s annual events are beloved days of food, fun, and compassion, bringing together people from across the country who want to support farm animals.

In July, nearly 200 people attended our summer Pignic in Watkins Glen, enjoying a vegan BBQ, time with rescued farm animals, live music, and moving presentations.

The following month in Watkins Glen, we brought our movement together at Hoedown Weekend. Inspiring speakers included Miyoko Schinner, Dr. Pat Brown, and more. Plus, we launched our Community Action Network to engage volunteers nationwide. 

In November, hundreds of people gathered with us in New York and California for our Celebration for the Turkeys, honoring the rescued birds of Farm Sanctuary and raising support for turkeys everywhere. 

Late this year, Manning Beef closed its doors following an undercover investigation revealing alarming animal abuse.

Farm Sanctuary’s Gene Baur wrote an inspiring commentary, looking back on our rescues of four cows with the help of actor Joaquin Phoenix and songwriter Diane Warren. These resilient animals escaped a heartbreaking fate at the last slaughterhouse killing cows in Los Angeles, and now inspire compassion for others like them.

“Every cow deserves the chance to be safe and free. The chance to live,” wrote Gene. “May Manning Beef’s final day in business mark the last time these sentient beings were killed in the City of Angels.”

In 2026, Farm Sanctuary will celebrate a major milestone: 40 years of hope and healing since our founding in 1986.

As the premier organization dedicated to farm animal rescue and advocacy, we planted the seeds that led to the growth of a global sanctuary movement. Today, Farm Sanctuary cares for hundreds of rescued farm animal residents at our shelters in New York and California. We also connect sanctuaries nationwide through our Farm Animals Adoption Network (FAAN) to save as many lives as possible. We educate thousands about the harms of animal agriculture and the benefits of plant-based living, while advocating for a food system rooted in compassion, not cruelty.

This ongoing work is only possible thanks to the generosity of our compassionate community of supporters. As we commemorate our 40th anniversary, we invite you to join us for events and other celebrations across the country in the months ahead.

We will also be excited to introduce Sanctuary Day, a shared moment for sanctuaries worldwide to honor this milestone and our shared mission.

Please stay tuned for updates by signing up for our newsletter. If you’re inspired to support our mission, find out how you can make an impact.