The mission of the APHE is to “empower those who promote empathy through education,” and that is precisely the aim of Farm Sanctuary’s wide-ranging teaching efforts. Our programs foster compassion for farm animals, teach the benefits of plant-based living for animals, people, and the planet, and support the next generation of advocates to create a just and sustainable food system.

In the first two years of Farm Sanctuary’s humane education programs, they were based in the New York Tri-State Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. In 2019, Farm Sanctuary earned an Excellence Award from the Humane Education Coalition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we began offering free virtual classes on Zoom, giving teachers and students nationwide access to our programs.

Today, our reach is international—in 2024 alone, 68,000 students in 32 U.S. states, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Mexico engaged with our humane education resources.

“Each year, it is so moving to hear from teachers whose students have benefited from Farm Sanctuary’s humane education efforts for animals, people, and the planet,” says Ardyn Cieslak, senior humane education manager. “To receive an Educator’s Choice Award is further validation of the importance of these programs and their tangible impact in classrooms and beyond.”