Farm Sanctuary's lifesaving work officially began on April 17, 1986. From the beginning, President and Co-founder Gene Baur has worked tirelessly to shift the dynamic of our relationships with farm animals and has encouraged countless individuals to make more compassionate choices. Please join us in revisiting this classic interview from Farm Sanctuary's 30th anniversary. Here, Gene reflects on what the past 30 years have meant to him, and how Farm Sanctuary has evolved into the effective proponent of change it is today.

April 17th marks 36 years since Farm Sanctuary's incorporation! To celebrate, we asked some of our long-time members and volunteers to share their favorite memories and reflect on what Sanctuary means to them.

On a late winter’s day, two young steers trekked through mud and melting snow towards a sunny patch of earth to warm their backs. They paused—one in front of the other—and closed their eyes to drink in the rare light. Then, the taller one leaned over his friend to plant slow, cleansing kisses along his neck and back. Grooming is a way that cows show trust and affection—and for these two, a sense of belonging at long last.

Consider this: Farm animals do not have to be farmed. Many of us grow up believing that cows give us milk, chickens give us eggs, sheep give us wool, and meat gives us protein that we need to sustain life. But the biggest misconception is that they “give” us anything: Humans take them, often at the animals’ expense.

Norman’s ears twitched at the distant mooing. Standing up to his full height of 5’5” from ground to shoulder, the dark brown steer craned his head towards the horizon. They were coming: his new herd. It had been nine years—nearly his entire life—since Norman had last lived among other cows. He threw back his head and gave a joyful bellowing moo. “I’m here,” he seemed to say, “and I can’t wait to meet you!”

Have you ever sat down and just watched chickens? Many people are so used to the word “chicken” only being applied to a “processed food” that seeing them alive is surprising. But it doesn’t take long to make the connection: Each is an individual with their own personality. National Poultry Day, March 19th, was originally set aside as yet another opportunity to exploit these sentient, sensitive animals. But today—like every day at Farm Sanctuary—we celebrate chickens and their right to lives of their own.

Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Awards spotlight changemakers who are creating more sustainable and responsible travel products, practices, and experiences.

It was a Saturday in New York City and two separate but urgent situations were each unfolding: In one part of the city, rescuers were caring for chickens freed from a common religious ritual sacrifice. Farm Sanctuary, in collaboration with local activists, had already planned to take in a few birds rescued from this first case. That same day, though, other people discovered birds who’d fallen from a truck bound for a Brooklyn slaughterhouse. By the end of the day, we’d be arranging to help 41 chickens in need.

The backyard chicken industry is not an alternative to factory farming: it’s part of it. When you buy chicks online, from catalogs, or at feed stores, you’re supporting the very same types of facilities that supply large egg producers.