By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
As part of Sherborn's First Day celebration, Unity Farm Sanctuary provided several complimentary tours for residents. This offered an exceptional opportunity for individuals to explore a facet of the town they might not typically encounter and gain insights into the farm's operations, including its expansive 4.5 miles of walking paths.
Unity Farm Sanctuary organized two family-friendly tours, providing attendees with the chance to meet the animals, participate in feeding activities, and learn about the farm's mission. All the animals residing at Unity Farm are rescued and enjoy their remaining days in Sherborn with an array of luxuries. Many of these friendly animals approach the fences to greet visitors warmly.
Founded seven years ago by John and Kathy Halamka, Unity Farm is home to 66 mammals and 250 birds. The tours, led by Kathy, allowed guests to pose questions about the animals and receive informative answers. Among the notable animals is Dudley, a beloved large white Scottish Highland cow, whose birthday is celebrated annually with Dudleyfest.
As guests learned the stories of how the animals found their way to Unity Farm, favorites emerged within the tour group, particularly as guests had the opportunity to feed the animals lettuce. The sanctuary emphasizes animal safety during tours, especially given the presence of many young children. Guests volunteered to assist in providing snacks to the animals, with careful attention to details like teeth.
The town actively contributes to animal safety and care, with individuals donating Christmas trees for animals to eat and play with, and Sherborn providing street sweeping brushes for the animals to use for scratching. While Unity Farm Sanctuary offers tours during the warmer months, those interested can keep tabs on the animals through around-the-clock live streams available on their website: unityfarmsanctuary.org.
