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A Little About the Preserve

 Managers are retired Grade A dairymen and  owners of a registered dairy herd. Members of Oregon-California Trails  Association (OCTA), Tillers International and American Livestock  Breeders Conservancy (ALBC)  

 Our no-kill Livestock Preserve began as a simple collection of the 6 major dairy breeds in the U.S.,  but we kept getting questions from friends as to why cows were in the  pasture when they knew we didn't milk them anymore, nor sell them for  beef. Being interested in the Oregon, California, Pony Express, Mormon  Pioneer and other National Historic Trails in St. Joseph, we began  learning about their history. Americans may have learned about the  pilgrims and immigrant settlers coming to America in elementary or high  school, but few, if any, have had the opportunity to learn about the  animals that came with them. Yet it was these wonderful farm animals who provided the power to build America!

 So  we set out to amend that injustice by obtaining a not-for-profit status  from the IRS to give unwanted, neglected and physically-challenged farm  animals a home. During this process, people started giving us and/or  directing us to other farm animals that needed someone to care for them -  a beautiful, registered, but foundered, 5 year-old Missouri Fox  Trotter, 4 stray pot-bellied pigs, a sweet team of two starving mules  whose owner had died, an orphaned calf, etc.  While collecting many  different breeds and gathering eye-opening information (in spite of  having/showing/milking registered Holsteins for over 50 years, along  with growing up with dogs, horses, pigs, beef cattle, cats, chickens,  etc.), we realized that most Americans don’t really know much about  livestock, especially cattle, even though the majority of us depend upon  them everyday of our lives! That fact alone makes them extremely important to humans!

 Now,  7 years after acquiring the “charity” status from the IRS, our mission  has morphed into not only being a farm animal sanctuary, but also being  an educational, outdoor “Living Livestock Museum.”  Through interpretive  tour discussions, “Pioneer Wagon Camp” experiences and programs,  art/music/film/folk art classes, farm produce growing/processing/“farm  to table” classes, and more, we enrich people's lives about the monumental dependence of humans’ lives on livestock and all types of agriculture

 At  Whistle Creek, people learn such things as the following:  the animals’  nationalities and match them up with their own ancestors, St. Joseph’s  extraordinary international role in American history, largely due to  “The Great Westward Migration,” the importance of our National Historic  Trails, the impact of the Westward Migration on area farmers, the  animals’ willing and inspiring service to humanity in all kinds of  situations throughout eons of time.

Animals and agriculture are blended here with on-site educational classes in history, fine arts, food and fun in an effort to  “Connect and Reconnect Americans with Agriculture.”  Intended results include encouraging and awakening the need for  Americans to take an interest in, understand, learn about and appreciate  agriculture. We also hope the farm experience here may spark ag-related  career interests, improve consumers’ knowledge for their family’s  healthier eating, inspire people to participate more often in outdoor  activities for a healthier and happier lifestyle, or simply, to  encourage people to respect and to be kind to animals. We highly regard and celebrate the loyalty of farm animals and the human/animal bond. 

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 “Every  person in America, in one way or another, comes in contact with  agriculture every day of their lives …. whether or not they choose to  think about it.”