Volunteer at Heartland Farm Sanctuary

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Heartland Farm Sanctuary. We’re currently on a pause for accepting new volunteers, but we encourage you to check back soon!

Important note: If you’ve filled out Heartland’s volunteer application and haven’t heard back, please check your spam/junk folders, as we’ve had reports of our replies being redirected there. Also, be sure to add heartlandfarmsanctuary.org to your “safe senders” list.

Volunteer Opportunities

Barn Chores & Animal Care

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Humane Education

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Groundskeeping

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Gardening

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Construction/Repair Work

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Administrative

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Looking for a volunteer opportunity for a small group?

Email our Volunteer Coordinator!

Change Lives With Your Gift

Your tax-deductible donation to Heartland Farm Sanctuary provides rescue, compassion and care to farm animals in need and allows us to operate our people programs that inspire compassion for all. 

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GET INVOLVED

Barn Chores & Animal Care

Animal care shifts take care of the resident animals, which are comprised of 13 species. Animal care can be hard work, but it is also incredibly rewarding work. Heartland provides all the training, tools and equipment, volunteers provide the smiles and elbow grease! There are two (2) animal care shifts per day:

  • AM shift (9:00 am – 12:00 pm)
  • PM shift (5:30 pm – 8:00 pm)
Animal Care volunteers are responsible for helping to:
  • Help feed and water 13 species of rescued farm animals.
  • Help move animals to/from their various pastures, lanais, pens, coops and shelters.
  • Muck (clean) barn stalls, pens and pastures. (Yes, we are talking about picking up poop —. lots of poop. :))
  • Prepare fresh produce meals for various animals.
  • Haul, move, stack and re-supply barn supplies like straw and hay bales, limestone, sand, mineral blocks, etc.
  • Handle light groundskeeping such as raking, weeding, clearing brush, etc.
  • Clean out water troughs and other items throughout the property.
  • Prepare the barn for different seasons (i.e. winterize).
  • Clear snow during winter.
  • Wash dishes.
  • Clean and sweep the barn.
  • Help socialize, enrich, groom, and interact with the animals at end of shifts.

*Have questions? Contact us for more info!

CONTACT

Humane Education

We have a few different volunteer opportunities available for individuals 16 years and older who are interested in helping with our humane education programs that inspire compassion for all beings. Check out the options below:

Volunteer Camp Counselor
  • Supporting campers as they participate in age-appropriate activities (animal care and barn chores, arts and crafts projects, games, gardening & more)
  • Monitoring campers to ensure compliance with camp rules and prevent accidents
  • Cleaning, maintaining and ensuring proper use of camp facilities and equipment
  • Spending time with Heartland’s rescued farm animals
Volunteer Club Teacher
  • Supporting kids as they participate in age-appropriate activities (animal care and barn chores, arts and crafts projects, games, gardening & more)
  • Monitoring participants to ensure compliance with club rules and prevent accidents
  • Cleaning, maintaining and ensuring proper use of club facilities and equipment
  • Spending time with Heartland’s rescued farm animals
Humane Education Volunteer

Unlike the two positions above, Humane Education Volunteers help our humane educators prepare and set up for programs. This position does not involve working directly with kids.

  • Cleaning and organizing program areas
  • Organizing and taking inventory of program supplies
  • Running errands as needed
  • Assisting with the sanctuary gardens
  • Spending time with Heartland’s rescued farm animals

*Have questions? Contact Heartland's Humane Education Manager, Katie, for more info!

CONTACT

Groundskeeping

If you love working outside and have experience with outdoor work, we need YOU! While working on our unique Driftless Area property, you will meet many of our rescued animals and help keep their home beautiful and safe!

Duties include:
  • Mowing
  • Weed-whacking
  • Removal of invasive species
  • Tree trimming
  • Raking and animal pasture maintenance
  • Shoveling snow, salting and snow-blowing

*Have questions? Contact us for more info!

CONTACT

Gardening

If you enjoy spending time in vegetable and flower gardens, Heartland has many amazing gardens that could use your help! We need hands every step of the way to keep them fruitful and beautiful. Your volunteer time could be one time, weekly, or anything in between! 

Duties include:
  • Planting
  • Amending Soil
  • Watering
  • Mulching
  • Weeding
  • Regular Maintenance
  • Harvesting

*Have questions? Contact our Administrative Coordinator, Kes, for more info!

CONTACT

Construction & Repair Work

Smaller jobs:

Join our biweekly Sunday maintenance crew to help with small repairs, barn cleaning, and fence repair. You will see many of Heartland’s animals during your shift, and know that you are helping make their home safe and happy! Some experience with tools is helpful.

Larger jobs:

If you have strong construction skills, inquire about working directly with our project coordinator on large projects such as building animal structures, putting up fencing, maintaining equipment and restoring our historic barn.

*Have questions? Contact us for more info!

CONTACT

Administrative

Office work:
Administrative Tasks:
– Organize and box old files
– Shred sensitive documents
– Sort historical vendor files & re-label if needed
– Maintain stock of empty folders, tabs, labels & office supplies
– File new items into appropriate folders
– Create & maintain log of all boxed files, their contents & where they are stored. 
 

People Space Cleaning:
– Sweeping/vacuuming the 3 levels of the Staff Center
– Restocking TP/Paper towels/Tissues from supply closet
– Keeping supply inventory & reporting to me when we’re low on necessities
– Emptying office-space trash and recycle and taking out standard-size trash/recycling to dumpsters on property
– Watering indoor plants

Fundraising Opportunities:
You can also fundraise for Heartland: Grab a bunch of friends and plan your own fundraising event (birthday donations, walk for the animals, bake sale, party, you get the idea).

*Have questions? Contact Admin Coordinator, Kes, for more info!

CONTACT