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Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), a national nonprofit organization that works to ensure that all food-producing animals are raised in a humane and healthy manner, awarded a Fund-a-Farmer Grant to Holly Hill Ranch. The ranch is located in Almond and is owned by Eleanor Mocker.
This grant from FACT is designed to expand humane farming by supporting farmers who are seeking specific animal welfare certifications. Holly Hill Ranch is working toward becoming Certified Humane. The ranch will use its grant from FACT to build a perimeter fence and convert 7.6 acres of hay fields and forest into pasture in order to increase rotational grazing for their animals. This grant was underwritten by the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®).
“This grant means a great deal to me. Without this grant, I could not expand pastures for my turkeys, geese, ducks, and sheep. More room to rotate the livestock will boost the health and happiness of my grazing animals. By co-pasturing these different species together, they all benefit extraordinarily. Turkeys and geese greatly reduce the parasite burden for sheep which improves their gains, and sheep manure attracts insects for the poultry, who are omnivores. Livestock benefit from the increased quality of life and food, and we, as consumers, also benefit from the increase in meat quality,” stated rancher Eleanor Mocker.
This year FACT awarded 87 grants totaling more than $253,000 to farmers and ranchers across 34 states and the District of Columbia. Since 2012, FACT has cumulatively awarded 608 grants totaling over $1,110,000 to farmers across 44 states, directly benefiting an estimated 978,600 animals.
A recent 2023 survey of past grant recipients found that the grants have produced a wide range of long-term benefits. Overall, 99 percent of farmers reported that their FACT-funded projects improved animal welfare, 91 percent experienced a positive environmental impact, and 90 percent found that the grant improved their farm’s financial viability by decreasing expenses, increasing customers and visibility, and ultimately improving net profits.
As a result of this grant to Holly Hill Ranch, residents of central Wisconsin and the surrounding communities will have greater access to healthy, humanely-raised food options for their families. For more information on humane products, visit FACT’s website and Holly Hill Ranch’s Facebook page.
In addition to awarding grants, FACT also offers mentorship, webinars, scholarships and other training opportunities as part of our suite of services to support livestock and poultry producers. If you have questions about Holly Hill Ranch’s Fund-a-Farmer Grant award, please contact Larissa McKenna at (773) 525-4952 or lmckenna@foodanimalconcerns.org.
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