The local Farm Sanctuary just west of Watkins Glen has much to celebrate during its 30th anniversary.

In addition, a celebrity couple is teaming up with the sanctuary to open a new location to help rescue even more farm animals.

“I don’t think people see them as individuals,” National Shelter Director Susie Coston said. “They see them as food, so we’re trying to have people recognize them for who they actually are.”



In an effort to end animal cruelty and promote vegan living, Farm Sanctuary’s mission is to educate, advocate, and rescue.

The organization has many accomplishments to toast to during its 30th anniversary.



Benedict the goat is one of over 200 animals that were rescued in a backyard butcher in Hudson Valley around this time last year. He lost feeling in one of his back legs due to a parasite and Coston explains the purpose of his wheelchair.

“Benedict couldn’t walk at all, and he had a condition caused by a parasite,” Coston said. “It’s called meningeal worm that attacks the spine. It’s actually a deer worm, but it goes into the spine in goats and causes hind limb paralysis, so we did a lot to try to get him up on his feet. It worked for a little while, but the nerve damage was too much, so he can’t use his back leg, but he runs around in his cart like a maniac.”

Comedian Jon Stewart and his wife Tracey have teamed up with the sanctuary to open a fourth location.

Tracey has also contributed to the local sanctuary’s bed and breakfast by designing tiny houses on the land.

The couple became interested when Tracey, who was already vegetarian, read President and Co-Founder Gene Baur’s book “Living the Farm Sanctuary Life” which inspired her vegan lifestyle.



“We’re the first sanctuary for farm animals, and we have a lot more knowledge on health care than most places, because we’ve been working with these animals for 30 years. She decided she wanted to work with us, and we thought that would be fantastic and so we are starting a sanctuary in New Jersey now,” Coston said.

The 30th anniversary gala will be taking place at the Beverly Wilshire hotel next month in Beverly Hills.