Adopt a Farm Animal
Adopting a farm animal is a meaningful way to support the daily life of the farm while staying connected to the animals who make this work possible. Each animal plays a real role here—from cultivating fields to supporting mental health and education programs—and your adoption helps care for them while sustaining the programs they power.
Included with Your Adoption
Email updates on your adopted animal
Printed photo
Adoption certificate
All Gold-Level Adopters (annual adoption totaling $500: this can be a one time donation of $500+ or $50+ a month for 10 months ) will be invited to an exclusive “Friends of the Farm” VIP gathering—an opportunity to visit their adopted animal and experience the impact of their support firsthand.
**Note: Our “Adopt a Farm Animal” program is a symbolic adoption program designed to support the care of our animals and the work of the farm. Adopting one the animals does not mean ownership or exclusive access to them. Instead, your adoption helps provide care and food for the animal in addition to supporting the farm’s educational and mental health programs. Because these adoptions are symbolic, multiple supporters may adopt the same animal.
Meet the Animals
Meet Beauty
Age: 16 years
Breed: Belgian Draft Horse
Beauty is a seasoned farm partner with years of experience doing real agricultural work—from mowing hay to plowing fields. This season, she’s our go-to for cultivating and shaping vegetable beds thanks to her steady pace and dependable nature.
Beauty is a cornerstone of our draft animal power system, offering real horsepower for cultivating and maintaining our fields. Working alongside people instead of machines, she helps us farm in a way that is intentional, low-impact, and rooted in traditional agricultural practices that prioritize soil health and stewardship.
She stands patiently, works hard, and is especially safe around children, making her a farm favorite.
Beauty does have a bit of sass—she might make you work to catch her in the pasture—but once she’s with you, she’s all business and happy to do the job.
Meet Sticks
Age: 2 ½ years (Young Heifer)
Breed: Jersey Cow
Sticks is a gentle, people-loving Jersey heifer with a special beginning. She was born on a cold winter night to a first-time mama, who unfortunately didn't have strong maternal instincts, so the farmers brought her indoors to warm her up and take care of her for the first week of her life!
Thanks to that early care, Sticks has grown into a strong, healthy cow with a calm and friendly nature. She’s now preparing to become a mother herself, with her first calf expected in mid-May—a full-circle moment on the farm
Sticks is halter-trained and comfortable being led, allowing her to work closely with both children and adults in our therapeutic and educational programs. Her calm, responsive nature makes her a wonderful partner for building confidence and connection. After she has her first calf and begins producing milk, her role will expand as an educational milk cow in our teaching dairy.
Meet Nutmeg
Age: 5 years
Breed: Kune Kune
Nutmeg was born right here at Light Root Farm and has been a beloved part of the farm ever since. As a Kune Kune—a heritage breed from New Zealand—she’s known for her gentle temperament and natural grazing habits.
For the past three years, Nutmeg has welcomed litters of adorable piglets each spring, and she’s expecting another group at the end of May. She loves grazing on grass and alfalfa (and even tackling stubborn weeds like bindweed!), and she’s always happy to soak up belly rubs and snuggles.
Nutmeg’s friendly and trusting nature plays an important role in many of the farm's programs. As a gentle sow, she allows visitors to safely and meaningfully interact with her and her piglets, helping create memorable and educational experiences for all who visit.
Meet Vera
Age: 9 years
Breed: Large Standard Donkey
Vera is a hardworking and gentle presence on the farm, just shy of mammoth size. She plays an important role in daily work—from wagon rides to cultivating and preparing garden beds, as well as assisting with farm tasks like winter cow feeding, hauling supplies, and pulling equipment such as our Kassine tool.
Beyond her strength and reliability, Vera is also a cornerstone of our mental health and youth education programs. Her calm, honest nature helps people feel grounded and connected, while offering a safe and approachable way for children and teens to build confidence, learn animal care, and engage with sustainable farming practices.
Often mistaken as stubborn, donkeys like Vera are actually incredibly intelligent. They simply need trust before trying something new—and once they learn, they never forget. Working with her is a powerful reminder that patience, calmness, and clear leadership matter.
