Program Spotlight: Farm Sanctuary Humane Education

Humane education takes many forms. While most members of the Association of Professional Humane Educators work in animal welfare organizations, there are many settings in which humane education programming is successful and needed. Today, we are focusing on the world of farm sanctuaries by interviewing three professionals dedicated to both humane education and the wellbeing of the animals with which they share their time.

Meet our experts:

Jessie Miller, CHES

Founder / Compassionate Creator, EPIC Outreach

EPIC Outreach exists to inspire compassion by sharing information to create a kinder world for people, animals, and the planet. Started in 2015, EPIC Outreach solely focused on going into schools to teach kids about being kind to animals through teaching better care, talking about adoptions, and sharing about living with wildlife. In 2019, the farm sanctuary was created, providing a physical space where EPIC Outreach was able to take in resident rescued farm animals that would become education ambassadors. Today, kids and adults come to the farm to build on the human-animal connection. The goals of EPIC Outreach are to continue teaching and inspiring compassion through children's books, education outreach, and in-person and virtual farm tours.

Emily Tronetti, EdD

Humane Educator/Consultant, Coexistence Education & Consulting

Emily Tronetti has collaborated with several organizations in various capacities within the animal sanctuary and sheltering communities and beyond. Emily recently graduated from the Institute for Humane Education in partnership with Antioch University with her EdD. Her dissertation work included the development of a resource guide for sanctuary staff and volunteers about recognizing, supporting, and teaching about the agency of farmed animals in sanctuary education.

Mary Miller

Farm Manager, Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester

As one of the few facilities in Western New York that helps house and rehome farm animals, Lollypop Farm takes pride in the farmyard. As the Farm Manager at Lollypop Farm, Mary Miller has a degree in Animal Science from Murray State University and has worked for the last eight years as a zookeeper. She also has a background as a wildlife rehabilitator and veterinary assistant. She loves matching adopters with farm animals in need of homes. She also enjoys educating the public about how to take care of farm animals and how to be empathetic towards them. 

How do farm sanctuaries fit into today’s humane education landscape?

JM: Farm sanctuaries play an integral role in the landscape of humane education by sharing stories about farmed-type animals to inspire compassion for all species. Farm sanctuaries provide an essential educational platform to promote animal welfare, ethical and sustainable living, and environmental conservation; not just for dogs and cats, but all species like horses, pigs, chickens, bunnies, and various other farmed-type animals. Through helping people understand and connect directly with farmed-type animals, farm sanctuaries inspire people to make choices that will help create a kinder world for all.

ET: We, as humane educators, have become increasingly aware of the interconnections between the well-being of humans and the well-being of the more-than-human world. Animal agriculture is a powerful example of these interconnections; it negatively impacts the well-being of humans, the nonhuman animals used in farming, the health of our shared environments, and more. Sanctuaries for farmed animals are particularly well-equipped to bring awareness to these impacts. Sanctuaries inspire connection and change as they share the stories of the residents (the formerly farmed animals who call the sanctuary home) and highlight their individuality and desires to thrive. Sanctuaries can serve as models for the humane education field and beyond, illuminating alternative ways of living and being in relation to farmed animals and providing us with insight into what a kinder, more humane world can really look like.

MM: Being located so close to a city, I think it’s important to be able to connect inner-city kids with farm animals. We can empower the upcoming generation to empathize with farm animals by seeing them in person and connecting with them. Otherwise, kids might not get a chance to see a horse or a pig in person other than at a farm animal sanctuary/rescue.

What do you want the broader humane education field to know about the work you do? Are there ways to better collaborate or support each other?

JM: I think the work that we do is not different from the work of others. For me, the purpose of Humane Education Outreach is to share information to inspire others to be better, do better, and know better. My favorite thing is, “until I know better, I can’t do better.” I know firsthand that as I get information from reading, learning from others, and hearing stories, I expand my consciousness and make more educated choices in life. I think that whatever industry we are in, humane education is a game changer to making an impact and changing the world for the better. I believe in collaborating and supporting each other as we can learn from one another. I learn a lot from the tools and resources I get from the animal sheltering world and apply those things to the sanctuary side in many areas - many things are very transferable. We are stronger together, so when we collaborate and share resources, ideas, and inspirations, we can make a greater impact - together!

ET: Perhaps the most important thing I’d love for the broader humane education field to know is that farmed animal sanctuaries exist and could use your support! Additionally, the farmed animal sanctuary movement has grown significantly in recent years, but there aren’t yet many resources (except for those found on The Open Sanctuary Project) on humane education in sanctuary spaces. There is so much exciting opportunity for growth and collaboration, not only among sanctuary educators but also among humane educators in all settings. Learning from each other and working together is essential to expanding our impact on our communities and beyond. We do so by embracing the different perspectives and knowledge that we bring to the table and being open to change. This isn’t without challenge, but it’s incredibly worth it, and I’m deeply appreciative of APHE for facilitating these conversations and collaborations!

MM: At my facility, not only do we teach about how to be respectful and kind to animals, but we also counsel on how to be a good home for a pet farm animal. Most of our farm animals are available for adoption, and it’s so important for us to be able to make sure that the families and animals are set up for success. We also focus on going out into the community and offering classes on how to properly care for different species of pet farm animals.

What is your favorite part about the work you do? Are there any stories or examples of the impact you have set out to make?

JM: I love to inspire people, and when I get to see the connection they make when they meet a pig or a horse for the first time and actually get to touch them, learn their name, and watch the animal respond and almost emulate the dog or cat they cuddle on the couch with, it is everything. People are often just blown away when we call JIMMY the large Yorkshire pig (an agriculture farmed type pig), and he comes running full speed to his name. They often say “I have never seen a pig run like that,” or “He reminds me of my dog when I call him. He looks so happy when he runs.” JIMMY the pig was rescued from going to the factory to become meat, and he has changed many hearts and minds who return to visit him again. Some share that they have stopped eating bacon or pork because they met JIMMY the pig. If that wasn’t impactful enough, we have a thoroughbred horse that is retired from the racing industry. His name is BUCK, and he is very tall and big. People are often intimidated by his size; and rightly so, he is huge! However, one incident stands out to me the most: a school in an underserved community took a field trip to visit the farm. There was a young boy, elementary age, who had never touched or met a horse before. He was so afraid to go near the horses. We took a tour of the sanctuary and walked the pasture, sharing the stories of the animals as we walked. By the end of the tour this young man not only stood next to BUCK the horse, but he touched him and became instant friends with one of the most gentle giants at the sanctuary. It was transformative for the student, and I know that encounter impacted him and will stay with him for the rest of his life. It instilled courage, bravery, love, compassion, kindness, and friendship in that young student.

ET: There's so much I love about my work as a sanctuary volunteer, consultant, and humane educator. I especially love engaging adults in conversations about farmed animals, sharing stories about sanctuary residents, and witnessing perspectives start to shift in real time. However, my most meaningful experiences have been those where I’ve connected with and learned from the residents. So much of my dissertation work on farmed animals and sanctuary education was inspired by the quiet moments I spent just being with the residents, observing their body language, and coming to understand their relationships and their likes and dislikes. For example, Pearl the sheep was an essential contributor to my dissertation and my thinking around consent-informed interactions with farmed animals. Below is a video I took of one of our impactful interactions:

[Video here]

I’ve shared this video in various settings, explaining how I let Pearl take the lead in how our interaction unfolds and how this is vital to her well-being and to our relationship. While facilitating interactions with farmed animals can be incredibly profound, it’s also been amazing to hear how influential a video like this can be. There are many ways that sanctuaries can inspire the public. Another thing I love about this work is its immense potential. I’m excited to explore the different possibilities for increasing the broader impact that sanctuaries can have while also centering the agency and well-being of sanctuary residents.

MM: We’ve recently been participating in a farm summer camp. The camp kids help me make rooting boxes for some of our potbelly pigs. It’s been very rewarding to see the kids get so excited to put together treats for the pigs and then watch them eat what they put together. It’s also been a great opportunity to teach the kids about agency and consent. They learn to be quiet, kneel down, and only pet the pig if it comes to them and shows them that it’s okay. At the end of the week, the kids were still talking about meeting the pigs, and in one week, they made me the sweetest thank you card with pigs that they drew. That was my favorite moment!