Blue, a Yorkshire pig was raised as part of Future Farmers of America (FFA), an organization partly aimed at teaching children to raise farm animals for agriculture. However, Blue’s young guardian and her family could not bear the thought of harm coming to the pig they had come to know and cherish as an individual. They chose not to send him to auction or slaughter, but the student’s FFA-participating school was only temporarily housing Blue and had already lined up a buyer for this sweet piglet. Time was of the essence.

The family had to act quickly, and for help in offering Blue a new life, they turned to Farm Sanctuary.

After just a couple of days, our rescue team was able to bring Blue to our Acton, California sanctuary in August. Now around eight months old, Blue is happily adjusting to the sanctuary life. Our caregivers do a slow introduction of new residents into their herds to help set them up for success, and to ensure that newly welcomed animals do not have any medical conditions that could be spread to others — but Blue now shares a fence line with the pigs that he will eventually join and, while he’s still a bit timid, he has met everyone through their shared fence. Those who care for him describe Blue as incredibly smart, affectionate, and curious.

Each year, Farm Sanctuary hears from students who are participating in programs such as Future Farmers of America or 4-H when they decide that they simply cannot harm the animal they have been raising. It is inspiring for our team to hear from and work with this next generation of compassion — young individuals, one by one, making an impact as they choose sanctuary over slaughter. Actions like this do not just impact the lives of individual animals; they are among the building blocks of a better food system and a kinder future for animals, people, and the planet.

To help as many of these animals and students as we can, we put our Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN) into action. Some of the animals we place in permanent homes within our trusted FAAN. Others, like Blue, become permanent Farm Sanctuary residents. We are honored to offer sanctuary to animals loved and saved by these students, providing them daily care while also advocating for the billions of other farm animals suffering within our food system. 

We also take time to speak with these young individuals, encouraging them to keep up the compassion and no longer raise animals who may be slaughtered.

At Farm Sanctuary, pigs have the freedom to run, play, graze, and be themselves — but sadly, more than one billion pigs are slaughtered for human consumption globally each year, and for them, life is much different. In the U.S. alone, around two million pigs are killed in an average week.

The majority of pigs in the U.S. and many other nations are raised inside factory farms, in which sows (mother pigs used for breeding) spend much of their lives confined to tiny, metal gestation and farrowing crates. Their piglets then often endure cruel standard practices such as tail docking and castration with no anesthesia. These animals are denied peaceful moments enjoying sunlight and fresh air. They are denied the chance to engage in behaviors most natural to them, such as rooting or nesting. 

Farm Sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing animals and telling their stories, shining a light on these individuals who are inspiring ambassadors for other animals like them. Blue is now among those changing hearts and minds every day, and we are so thankful that because one young student took action, he will forever know peace and love.