Our Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
Heartland Farm Sanctuary’s mission is to inspire compassion for animals, the earth* and each other by offering a safe, welcoming space where people and farm animals come together to experience growth, healing and connection.
At Heartland, we provide high-quality, specialized care to rescued farm animals, offer inclusive humane education programs for learners of all ages and provide experiential therapy to ensure the Heartland community is accessible for everyone.
*In the Spring of 2023, a group of Heartland staff and Board of Director members revisited our organizational mission and vision as part of our ongoing strategic planning. We noted that there was a component of Heartland’s work that was not formally named: Our relationship with the natural world around us. Therefore, we updated our mission statement and vision elements to highlight Heartland’s commitment – both locally and globally – to respect and heal the land that we are on and conserve the world that we all share.
Our DEI Statement
Heartland’s mission of inspiring compassion for animals and each other means embodying inclusivity is in who we are. We celebrate people of every race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and ability.
Our compassionate campus aims to serve a diverse population of people and farm animals while providing growth, healing and connection for all. Together, we strive to be a community of beings that is more different than alike.
As such, we welcome volunteers, visitors, campers, therapy participants and staff from all corners of the community. Our doors are open. Come on in!
Our Vision
Be a restorative space where people, animals, and the earth connect to heal and nurture one another and energize others to move the world toward greater compassion for all.
Our Vision Elements:
Provide exceptional, individualized animal care to ensure our residents live a life filled with companionship, love, health and enrichment.
Excel in compassionate programming by continuously developing innovative humane education initiatives, person-centered therapeutic services and responsive community engagement opportunities.
Respect and restore our natural environment by honoring ancestral Ho Chunk land, conserving biodiversity, demonstrating compassion for the earth, and engaging in regenerative and sustainable land practices for the benefit of all.
Support our team by investing in staff and volunteers through compensation, recognition, education and acceptance.
Create rippling influence and impact by embodying the compassion we seek, sharing our knowledge through accessible resources, and building local partnerships that nurture our community as a whole.
Ensure financial stability and growth through creative development initiatives and strategic succession planning to maximize long-term sustainability.
Our Core Values
UNWAVERING COMPASSION: When we say compassion, we mean it. We approach people and animals with gentleness, respect, and an understanding that each of us brings intrinsic value and our own unique story. We seek to become even more aware of that value when circumstances are challenging or unclear. Soak up compassion for yourself and you’ll be surprised how it radiates onto others. Shine on, friends.
COURAGEOUS AUTHENTICITY: We are unapologetically imperfect and celebrate people and animals as they are. We embrace vulnerability and courageously show up as we are in the hopes that you will show up exactly as you are. That’s the world we want to live in and the community we want to create.
ENDURING CONNECTIONS: We’re not here for flash in the pan friendships. We build lasting relationships and create meaningful connections between people, animals, and each other. So take off your muddy boots and stay for a while.
SANCTUARY: We are profoundly committed to providing a safe place in the world where animals and people have their physical and emotional needs met. We ask that you approach all beings with kindness and an open mind. In return, we are dedicated to upholding a space that allows for hope, healing and growth.
HUMANE EDUCATION: Throw out your textbooks; we’re here to get to the heart of what it means to be human and in relationship with animals and our world. We are a community of learners and pledge to share our knowledge with everyone to affect compassionate change. Both how we teach and the outcomes we seek are rooted in kindness.
STEADFAST INCLUSION: Whoever you are, there is a seat for you at our table. Together, we strive to be a community of beings that is more different than alike. We believe that you can’t serve a diverse world if you don’t embody that diversity. Our doors are open, come on in. (Unless you’re shame. Shame, you’re not on our guest list.)
The Story Behind Our Logo
In 2018, we reflected on how Heartland has grown, yet stayed true to its compassionate mission of people helping animals and animals helping people. After nine years with our original logo, we realized it was time to give Heartland a fresh new face that was a true reflection of our safe space that our sanctuary remains for all.
At first, we were totally heart-averse because of the fact that they tend to represent a commercial ideal that didn’t feel relatable or genuine. But what if it was a “wonky” heart that was a little off-kilter? That symbolizes our sanctuary of perfectly imperfect beings, and all the parts that make up our diverse mission?
We see the sides and bottom of the barn as embracing the people and animals within our sanctuary and providing a safe, welcoming space for all.
The green dots represent the compassion that not only exists within our sanctuary but emanates out into the community and beyond.
We can’t thank the designers at Tingalls Graphic Design enough for listening to us (hour after hour) and completely capturing what Heartland means to us, and hopefully to all of you.
Change Lives With Your Gift
Your tax-deductible donation to Heartland Farm Sanctuary helps further our mission of inspiring compassion for all beings.