Public Awareness

Extending Our Reach

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary has been on the frontlines, educating the public about our unjust food system and the animals who suffer within it. From shooting and distributing legislation-inspiring investigative videos in the 1990s, to sitting down with huge media personalities—including Oprah, Larry King, Tucker Carlson, and Martha Stewart—to condemn factory farming, Farm Sanctuary has opened countless hearts and minds over the years with our message of compassion for farm animals.

Now, Farm Sanctuary reaches millions of people each week through op-eds, articles, social media posts, and public awareness campaigns. By meeting people where they are, we provide a safe, open space for people to make meaningful connections between the animals at our Sanctuaries and the food on their plates in favor of deeper and broader-reaching systemic change. By sharing our residents’ tales of survival and sentience, we’re able to tell the hard stories of our broken food system and shine a light on the inherent cruelties of animal agriculture and its collateral damage to the environment, workers, and communities.

Social Media

Farm Sanctuary reaches over a million people each week across our social platforms. Become an advocate for animals, the environment, social justice and public health by following us and sharing our message of compassion.

Video Highlights

These fan-favorite videos have each received over one million views to date on social media.

Curly's Final Moments & His Herd's Incredible Response

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[SOOTHING MUSIC]

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When Curly’s time came, he would leave the earth surrounded by his devoted herd. Time and time again, contrary to the assumptions of certain scientists, we learn that animals can anticipate the future, delay gratification, dream, play, use language and tools, and do everything else that some thought they couldn’t do.

Cow Born Unable to Walk Gets Back on Her Feet

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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Peggy was born unable to walk, but after a series of surgeries and physical therapy at Cornell, this fighter returned home to Farm Sanctuary stronger than ever. We are amazed and inspired by how far she’s come, and so grateful to see her happy and walking around on all four hooves.

Calf on His Way to Veal Farm Finds Sanctuary Instead

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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Leigh calf was one of the lucky ones. On the ride from a dairy farm to a veal processing plant, his life took an unexpected turn.

Joaquin Phoenix Rescues Mother Cow and Newborn Calf Day after Academy Awards Win

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[MUSIC PLAYING] We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. And then we take her milk that's intended for a calf, and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.

I don't need really any science to see with my own eyes and hear how an animal responds to pain, right? That's undeniable.

What if I tell you, here, an animal will perish in less than 60 seconds. It has to-- less than 60 seconds. That is the most humane, humane harvest process in the country.

You were the only one that you know of that has a process that you have. So that means a majority of them don't have that. And it's not only just the death-- the process leading up to that death.

Of raising it.

Raising it, the transportation, the separation from the family.

Yes, 100%.

Any time a calf is born on my property, I refuse to take the mother away from its baby because I won't do it.

Weren't those Holsteins that we saw in the other pen next to the mother?

Those were bought out of an auction, and they were healthy. And I'm glad you got to visualize it. And you're seeing that there were no downers, no three-leggers, no-- I don't believe in that. I will not use that protocol to buy them cheaper to profit monetarily. I don't need it. That's not my thing.

Because they no longer were being used as dairy.

Any animal that's here is being used for consumption.

Uh-huh. I see.

That's the slaughterhouse business. Those were used for milking. They did not produce enough milk anymore, for whatever reason.

So then they were here to be--

Harvested.

--murdered.

Harvested.

Murdered.

Harvested.

Murdered.

Harvested.

Murdered.

You have to understand my side how I understand your side.

I understand, but your language is powerful.

So harvested, please.

Murdered, OK.

All right.

You say tomato, I say tomato.

You want to go get her?

Yeah.

Let's go get her.

Yeah.

Mama and baby-- and the baby's a girl. I talked to the vet here. He said the baby is a girl. And I think that she was born probably about a week ago.

Oh my goodness.

And the slaughterhouse owner here, as we heard, does not kill mothers and babies.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

[MOOING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

That's part of our protocol here at Farm Sanctuary. We do a thing where first they come in. We make sure that they don't have anything contagious, and they go in with everybody else. Then they can run in the hills and do what cows like to do.

Oh, my love.

Right? Oh, isn't she beautiful?

Oh my goodness. My love. My love. My love.

There we go. All right.

And then if you're-- you good with that?

Can you get her under the stomach, or no?

I think that's OK.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Please understand how that animal's been raised up until now. And it's going to take a transformation at the sanctuary to accomplish what you want.

Mm-hmm.

It's all good,man.

Yeah.

All right?

Thank you so much. I'm going to send you some photos of this cow and the calf as they go out to the fields, all right?

See you later.

All right.

All right.

Thank you.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

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Mirroring his Oscars acceptance speech in which he spoke to the plight of mother cows and their babies, Phoenix helps to liberate a cow and her newborn calf from a Los Angeles slaughterhouse and bring them to Farm Sanctuary.

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Cow jumps through green grass at Farm Sanctuary

“I wanted to tell Farm Sanctuary that you have inspired me to recommit to a vegan lifestyle ... Thank you for all you do, you make change in the world. #someonenotsomething”

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Sanctuary Magazine

Sanctuary magazine is your guide to a compassionate vegan lifestyle. This publication for Farm Sanctuary members contains news and how-to’s around plant-based living—including recipes and ideas from renowned chefs, cruelty-free design tips, and fashion and beauty inspiration. We’ll also update you on the issues surrounding our food system and the legislative and advocacy work being done to address them. Each issue also offers a stunning photo essay of Farm Sanctuary residents, plus recent rescue stories full of hope, resilience, forgiveness, and love.

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Media Highlights

See some of Farm Sanctuary’s most popular media hits across print, television, and digital platforms.

The Washington Post

The best way to help dairy farmers is to get them out of dairy farming

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Tucker Carlson Tonight

“I don’t like the way factory farms treat animals,” says Tucker Carlson

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BuzzFeed

35 Stories Of Animals Being Rescued To Help Brighten Your Day

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Harper's BAZAAR

Rooney Mara Opens Up About the “Special Meaning” of Mother’s Day as a New Mom [Photo Credit: Getty Images]

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PEOPLE

Songwriter Diane Warren Finds Home for Cow That Escaped Slaughterhouse: ‘I Had to Do Something’ [Photo credit: Getty Images]

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USA TODAY

If you’re an animal lover, you’ll want to know about these 10 amazing places to stay

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NowThis

Cows Who Escaped CA Slaughterhouse Arrive At Sanctuary

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The List TV

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Cows

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Rolling Stone

Bob Weir, Billie Eilish to Take Part in Farm Sanctuary’s 35th Anniversary Livestream

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The Hill

Billie Eilish, Ricky Gervais join call for Biden to release ‘pardoned’ turkeys to Farm Sanctuary [Photo credit: Associated Press / Left: Phil McCarten / Right: Jordan Strauss]

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PEOPLE

Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara Urge People to Adopt, Not Eat, Turkeys this Thanksgiving

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Teen Vogue

Thanksgiving: How to Adopt a Turkey From Farm Sanctuary

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Travel + Leisure

3 Travel Experiences Centered Around Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue: Global Vision Awards 2022

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The Washington Post

Opinion | Why are we accepting the mass slaughter of animals through heatstroke?

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MotorTrend

Farm Life with the Rivian R1T | MotorTrend

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The Sacramento Observer

Something To Chew On: Farm Sanctuary Director Miko Brown Imparts Lessons For Careful Consideration On Food Justice And Veganism

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