Current Press Releases

College Students Spend Spring Break at Farm Sanctuary

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – March 12, 2010 – For most college students, the phrase “Spring Break” conjures images of wild partying and fun in the sun. But this month, two groups of students turned down the promise of beaches and booze and opted to spend their week-long vacation doing manual labor at Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, instead.

Twelve students from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, made the treacherous drive across three states last week through blizzard-like conditions. Rather than spending their days soaking in the sun, they got their exercise at the New York Shelter, spreading hay and shoveling snow to create paths for the animals and professional caregivers. Shadowing shelter staff, they caught a glimpse of the work and care that goes into keeping the more than 500 animals residing at the shelter healthy and safe.

Next week, Farm Sanctuary will host eight students from Florida International University. They will be making the 24-hour drive from balmy Miami, a destination countless college students are dreaming of escaping to this time of year. After a brief orientation and a tour around the farm, they will pull on work boots and muck barns like the students before them. Both groups were able to make the trek to Farm Sanctuary as part of their respective universities’ Alternative Spring Break program, established to encourage students to engage in community service during their vacation.

“These students join the ranks of millions of Americans who have opened their eyes to the cruel reality suffered by farm animals every single day,“ said Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur. “By choosing to spend a week working to make a difference in the lives of animals rescued from abuse, these students have taken a step toward making the world a more compassionate place.”

If you would like to speak with Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur, please contact Meredith Turner at 646-369-6212 or mturner@farmsanctuary.org.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.