Guest blog by Robin Johnson, Co-Founder of Spring Farm Sanctuary
July 7, 2025
After 8 years of sanctuary work, Buck and I are going to retire. Finding good homes for the animals has proven to be as challenging as anything we have ever done.
Our two handicapped sheep, Asher and Hope, have found a fabulous home at Foreverland Sanctuary in Mt. Orab, Ohio. They have round-the-clock staff caring for them, lots of animal friends, a big, beautiful flat indoor and outdoor area, and many people giving them constant love. They are doing great!
Our two goats, Olive and Penelope, found a wonderful home at SoL Criations in Wisconsin. Brenda and her husband, John, fell in love with them immediately, and they now have other goat and alpaca friends. Two of our wonderful ducks, Esther and another Olive, also found a home at SoL Criations and are doing well.
Marmaduke and Tinker, our two pigs, will be going to Little Woods Sanctuary in Michigan next week! They will have a lot of other new pig friends to enjoy their life with.
We are still searching for a suitable home for Norman and Walter, our two 9-year-old Holstein steers. If you have any suggestions for us, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our primary requirements are a minimum of 3-4 rotational acres, fans in the barn, effective fly control, and high-quality hay. We are offering a rehoming donation to the right home.
We are also in search of an excellent home for Timmy, our rooster, his three hens, Snowball, Taylor, and Rosie, as well as our three remaining ducks, Dewey, Pickles, and Poppy. Any help would be appreciated.
It has been a fantastic journey with a lot of ups and downs along the way. Buck and I are proud of the quality of care we have provided to many animals over the years, as well as the tours that have opened people’s minds and, consequently, saved the lives of even more animals.
We are grateful to CAA for their support and partnership. Although our sanctuary will eventually be gone, our advocacy will continue through other channels.
Thank you for supporting Spring Farm Sanctuary and all the animals who have called it home.
XO, Robin and Buck
P.S. Since writing this, we got word that Soul Space has stepped up and will be taking Timmy and the three hens along with our ducks, Poppy, Pickles, and Dewey. She is building an outdoor enclosure for them, and they will be moving there by the end of this month
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Thank you to Robin and Buck for this parting blog post and for all you have done for the animals in their care over the past 8 years! Below is some general information about the important work Spring Farm has done and a link to some past posts about their residents.
Honoring the Legacy of Spring Farm Sanctuary
After eight years of dedicated rescue and advocacy work, Spring Farm Sanctuary is closing its doors. As one of the first farm animal sanctuaries in Minnesota, Spring Farm made an incredible impact in the lives of animals and the hearts of all who visited.
Founded in 2016 by Robin Johnson, a lifelong vegetarian-turned-vegan, Spring Farm was a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to ending farm animal cruelty and promoting vegan living. Through its rescue, rehabilitation, and education efforts, the sanctuary provided a safe, loving home to animals who had escaped the cruelty of factory farming.
Spring Farm didn’t just provide care — they created connections. By hosting tours, events, and visiting days, they invited the public to meet rescued animals and learn about the suffering inherent in animal agriculture. These interactions opened minds and hearts, helping more people see farmed animals as the emotional, intelligent beings they truly are.
Over the years, Spring Farm also worked with local and state agencies to advocate for policies that reduce animal suffering. Their efforts extended beyond their barnyard, aiming to influence systems and laws for broader, lasting change.
Although the sanctuary is closing, its mission lives on in the many animals they saved — like Hope and Asher, Marmaduke and Tinker, and Timmy the rooster — many of whom have been featured in CAA’s newsletters and blog. Spring Farm’s impact continues through the compassionate choices their visitors now make and the broader awareness their work helped create.
Past Blogs About Their Residents
Some of the sanctuary’s beloved residents which CAA has featured include:
These animals have found safety and care at Spring Farm, where they lived free from the fear and suffering of factory farming.
Our Partner Farm Sanctuaries
Spring Farm was part of a wider community of sanctuaries in Minnesota and beyond that continue to rescue animals and advocate for change. CAA regularly highlights the work of sanctuaries including Chicken Run Rescue, Farmaste, Herbivorous Acres, and SoulSpace which are also dedicated to providing safe, loving homes for animals in need. Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) regularly highlights these sanctuaries and their residents, celebrating the lives they’ve saved and the impact they’re making. Every month, CAA features a sanctuary resident in their blog and newsletter, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of these amazing animals.
Check our blog page regularly and sign up for our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss any of the endearing stories of residents of local sanctuaries.
Connect With Compassionate Action for Animals
Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) hosts many events throughout the year, including Twin Cities Veg Fest, Vegan Recipe Club, cooking classes, potlucks, outreach events, and so much more! CAA’s work includes outreach events, educational initiatives, and activities that help build community around plant-based living and animal advocacy.
To stay informed about upcoming events and new sanctuary residents, follow CAA on social media or online.
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