Founded in 1986 as the nation’s first refuge for farm animals, Farm Sanctuary invites you to wander rolling pastures and meet cows, pigs, goats, and chickens now flourishing after rescue. With peaceful locations in New York’s Fing...
This animal sanctuary offers a genuinely moving experience for visitors who want to meet rescued farm animals up close. The grounds are beautifully maintained and peaceful, with opportunities for personalized tours, special events like the Turkey Celebration, and even overnight stays in tiny houses that guests return to year after year. The staff consistently earns praise for being warm, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to the animals in their care. Many visitors describe the experience as life-changing, particularly when hearing the rescue stories and seeing how well the animals are thriving. A few things to know before visiting: the tours focus heavily on the realities of factory farming and animal welfare, which can be emotionally intense. Several parents noted that the opening video and detailed rescue stories may be too graphic for young children, particularly those sensitive to topics about animal suffering. The experience has a strong educational component about veganism and ethical farming practices, which most visitors appreciate, though a couple felt it overshadowed time with the animals themselves. The vegan café gets rave reviews for delicious food. Overall, this is a meaningful destination for animal lovers ready to engage with both the joyful present and difficult past of these rescued creatures.
I recently attended Farm Sanctuary’s Celebration for the Turkeys for the third time, and it was as special and meaningful as ever. The sanctuary itself is absolutely beautiful—peaceful, welcoming, and full of love. Spending time with the rescued animals, and knowing they’re safe and cared for for the rest of their lives, is both humbling and healing. The event was perfectly organized, from the delicious vegan mocktails, charcuterie, and feast to the heartfelt feeding of the turkeys ceremony. Watching the turkeys enjoy their own holiday meal was such a joyful moment. Hearing co-founder Gene Baur speak was inspiring, and every staff member I met was warm, kind, and clearly dedicated to the animals. Farm Sanctuary truly embodies compassion in action. It’s a place that changes hearts and minds—and one I’ll continue to visit and support for years to come.
Amie Freed
November 9, 2025
I recently attended Farm Sanctuary’s Celebration for the Turkeys for the third time, and it was as special and meaningful as ever. The sanctuary itself is absolutely beautiful—peaceful, welcoming, and full of love. Spending time with the rescued animals, and knowing they’re safe and cared for for the rest of their lives, is both humbling and healing. The event was perfectly organized, from the delicious vegan mocktails, charcuterie, and feast to the heartfelt feeding of the turkeys ceremony. Watching the turkeys enjoy their own holiday meal was such a joyful moment. Hearing co-founder Gene Baur speak was inspiring, and every staff member I met was warm, kind, and clearly dedicated to the animals. Farm Sanctuary truly embodies compassion in action. It’s a place that changes hearts and minds—and one I’ll continue to visit and support for years to come.
Amie Freed
November 9, 2025