Jon Stewart and his animal activist wife Tracey paid $4 million for the historic Hockhockson Farm in Colts Neck, which they plan to turn into an animal sanctuary and farm education center, the Two River Times reports and Monmouth County property records confirm.

The couple, who moved from New York City to a Middletown Township farm in advance of his departure from his Emmy-winning "The Daily Show" last year, plan to house rescued cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and chickens on the working farm, where visitors would learn about sustainable agriculture and animal care, according to the plans they submitted to (and were later approved by) the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board.

They purchased the farm, on Route 537 east of Normandy Road, through their JTS Land Trust. The couple initially planned to turn the Middletown farm into the sanctuary but shifted plans to the Colts Neck property.

Tracey Stewart is the author of the bestselling "Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better."

The couple, who also own homes along the Navesink River in Red Bank, still need to win the approval of the Colts Neck Township Planning Board, which may take up the matter at its Nov. 10 or Dec. 13 meeting, according to the Two River Times. It could open by next year.

According to its Zillow.com listing, the 45-acre property features a circa 1777 manor home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus two 2-bedroom cottages, a pool, pond, equine facility and arena, six barns, five pastures, five paddocks, and a farmstand area. The same family has owned the home more than 200 years. The property was first listed in 2012 for $6 million, but by the time the Stewarts expressed interest, the price at dropped to $4.75 million.

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out Remote Possibilities, the TV podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or listen here.

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