A Holiday Message From FACT
By Harry Rhodes, Executive Director
Livestock Guardian Dog, Ori at PearlJack Farm
As the year nears to an end we are excited that our impact and interest in our work continues to expand. It makes me optimistic to know that farmers throughout the country want to raise their animals humanely and that consumers are searching for healthy, pasture-raised meat, poultry, and dairy products.
We are incredibly grateful to all our supporters. We are partners in making healthy and safe food available for all and we are looking forward to seeing more farmers and eaters join in working to transform the food system.
This holiday season, I am writing to ask for your support so that we can continue to strive towards our vision that all food-producing animals will be raised humanely and healthily, and everyone will have access to safe and humanely-produced food.
Since 2012, our Humane Farming Program has helped to improve the lives of more than 2,000,000 food animals. One great example of humane farming in action is PearlJack Farm in West Richland, Washington. They were awarded a FACT Fund-a-Farmer grant this year to improve and expand their rotational, pastured poultry operation by purchasing a livestock guardian dog, additional fencing, and the materials to build two mobile chicken coops and a mobile turkey shelter.
Aubrey and Ori
Owner Aubrey Gallegos was on the verge of giving up her poultry operation. She told us that the grant completely changed her farm and her farm business:
“Last year I raised 27 Freedom Ranger chickens. With this grant, I’ve scaled up nearly 10 times with 204 Freedom Rangers raised on the farm already. With the mobile chicken coops, I’ve been able to free-range my chickens during the day while still protecting them from the elements and predators. Thanks to my wonderful new livestock guardian dog, Ori, I’ve also been able to run the broilers on pastures that I hadn’t been able to use for chickens previously because of predator pressure.”
“The FACT grant provided exactly what I needed to scale up my humane poultry operation, and it kick-started my business. I am so grateful for this grant, and for all the work FACT does to support small, humane farming.”
Your dollar goes a long way towards helping farmers like Aubrey thrive, and we need your support to help this fund grow, so we can support more humane farms every year.
Half of our funds come from supporters like you. Please consider supporting FACT by making a gift of $48, $115, $285, $570, or another amount that is meaningful to you, and help us reach our goal this Holiday Season.
Thank you for your support of FACT. All of us send you and your loved ones our best wishes for a joyous, healthy, and wonderful holiday season.