Compassionate Alternatives: How One University Celebrates All We Can Accomplish When We Put Compassion First!
Following Winter Storm Stella, the animals and “humanimals” at Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter are eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring and the promise of warmer and brighter days ahead! While Watkins Glen, NY, is quite the winter wonderland these days, we’re definitely ready for a change of pace — a “spring break” from these dreary winter days, if you will.
For many, this is a time of year to take a break from our busy lives, soak up some sun, and recharge our batteries — helping us return to our day-to-day lives with some extra pep in our step.
So it might surprise you, then, to learn that decidedly wintery Watkins Glen just so happens to be a spring break destination in its own right.
Since 2010, students from Xavier University in Ohio have come to the sanctuary for an “alternative” spring break — an opportunity to give back to the community in a way that’s meaningful for them. And while Farm Sanctuary in March is not your typical warm spring break getaway, it nevertheless offers students a chance to learn, grow, and put their energies toward a good cause.
Last week, we welcomed this year’s group of compassionate Xavier students and their faculty team leader during their alternative break from university life.
Armed with curiosity, camaraderie, and compassion, the group members arrived with rakes in hand and smiles on their faces — excited to learn more about Farm Sanctuary’s rescue, education, and advocacy work and how they could make a difference.
As we shared last year, Xavier’s Alternative Break (AB) program is the most popular organization on campus — connecting hundreds of students with like-minded individuals each year, as they work together to support causes they believe in or want to learn more about.
This year’s group included representatives from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds — occupational therapy, psychology, biology, English, public relations, advertising, health services, and campus police.
At first glance, it might be difficult to determine how these very different concentrations relate to one another — or how mucking barns, building fences, and feeding farm animals might tie in with the group members’ long-term career goals.
But what they would learn, and take back with them, is that we all have a role to play in fostering compassion — and together, we can each contribute our unique assets to truly make a difference.
And it all starts with celebrating the small victories — honoring every step of our compassionate journeys. As Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur says, “We all start somewhere.” And every somewhere — every positive intention and effort — deserves to be recognized and valued for its potential to change even one life for the better.
“We’ve definitely brought this topic up a lot within our group during our reflections,” says student leader Allie Matuzak. “When we were talking to Gene [during a Q&A teleconference with the alternative break group and Farm Sanctuary interns], I asked him, ‘How do you cope with the frustration that you face with people who make [veganism] into a joke or disregard [your choices]?’ And he said something that really resonated with me: ‘Just focus on the small positives and building the bridges from there.’ That meant a lot to me because through the education through this entire trip, I’ve just been so frustrated with the ignorance of others. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but just that people are unaware. And it makes me so angry sometimes. So even making the small changes, and maybe just talking to one single person about it [can make a difference].”
For most of the group, veganism was brand-new territory. A few participants were vegan or vegetarian, and the majority were “veg-curious.” What they all had in common, though, was a desire to learn more about what an animal-friendly lifestyle entailed, and a commitment to making more conscious decisions that they could feel good about.
The group had agreed to follow a vegan diet while living and working onsite, out of respect for the animals who call Farm Sanctuary home.
For many, this was a unique opportunity to align their actions with their compassionate values in new ways, and to deepen their grasp on how interconnected we all truly are.
As with any change, there is strength in numbers; it’s often easier and more fulfilling to establish community — to support and challenge each other and grow together.
The alternative break group was no exception. From pre-trip meetings to discussions with past participants, the group took comfort in knowing that they were in this experience together — and that the journey could be something they'd continue to grow with even after the trip.
“Julia [from last year’s Xavier group] provided us with a meal plan for this trip, which was really beneficial,” Allie says. “It allowed us more time for education as opposed to meal planning. She definitely influenced me to go on this trip, especially. She was telling me about her experience last year and how influential it was, and how she’s still vegan today because of it. It really changed her life, and I’m a big animal lover so I was really interested. But I was also a very large meat eater prior to this whole experience. And so I think it has definitely changed my life. I’m interested to see where it goes afterwards.”
As the week progressed, many were impressed with how versatile a vegan lifestyle can be. For example, they learned how delicious and fulfilling compassionate alternatives to animal products can be, and felt more empowered about incorporating simple changes into their everyday lives. And even those who already identified as vegan or vegetarian realized that there is so much we may continue to learn about ourselves — and those around us — when we put compassion first.
The students expected work on the farm to be physically challenging at the very least. What many say they found surprising, however, was that the experience also stretched their comfort zones emotionally and intellectually, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the connections we all share. And while sanctuary work is rarely glamorous — especially during these dreary winter days — the group realized that the end result was greater than just preparing a clean barn.
On the surface, the students’ day-to-day activities helped them understand and appreciate everything that goes into Farm Sanctuary life — teaching them how a little kindness can go a long way.
“We primarily did a lot of barn work that the farm assistants and interns do,” says group member Tyler Penny. “It was nice because we were able to see in their faces that we were really helping them. I was [also] really surprised by the attention to detail — it’s incredible to see the dedication that [shelter staff] has to make each enclosure as perfect and clean as it can be. And it was challenging, but also really rewarding.”
“I expected to be educated…and do some work [on the sanctuary],” participant Danny Schwartz recalls of his thoughts going into the experience. “Not to get so connected to the animals even while working, not only just during sanctuary time. It was an awesome surprise to learn more about [the animals’] social behaviors … the cliques that animals have, the way the feel empathy and emotions. I didn’t expect for [the trip] to have that kind of effect.”
“I would say that a lot of times when you think of a mission trip, you always think of going and helping your own,” says group member Laura Forero. “But it’s been so rewarding to help these animals. Working with these farm aides and these interns — it’s not about them, it’s about the animals and all the focus is on them.”
Over the course of the week, the group learned about the cruelty and disregard that farm animals routinely experience on factory farms and other systems that benefit from their exploitation — but they also discovered that every animal is someone, not something, each with an innate desire to live. In this way, the group learned how fulfilling it can be to acknowledge the world through the eyes of another.
“As far as career goals go, I want to work in nonprofit when I graduate,” Danny says. “A big thing with nonprofit [work] is giving a voice to people who can’t speak for themselves. It was cool seeing it from this angle because they really are voiceless unless people are there to help them.”
“I was also definitely impacted,” Laura adds. “Being in PR, you can pick any industry you want, really. It’s exciting to know that it’s possible for me — and it makes me think that we can do a lot in terms of advocacy. I don’t see myself not, at one point, working for an organization like Farm Sanctuary. Ideally, we can grow to be the first generation that brings this topic to light, even if it’s not comfortable or easy to talk about.”
Going forward, the Xavier alternative break group members say they’re excited to apply what they learned during their Farm Sanctuary experience to their everyday lives — to make more conscious choices and spread compassion in ways that resonate with them.
“I don’t know a single person I’ve talked to that’s gone on this trip in past years that isn’t still experiencing the impact today,” says student leader Maddie Wallace. “All kept saying, at the very least, they’re still extremely conscientious about what they eat, and a lot of them are still vegan (or at least half-vegetarian).
“I would say don’t be afraid to talk about the issue too,” Maddie adds. “This issue’s got a fair amount of stigma attached to it because of how culturally ingrained eating meat is. But talking about it’s going to normalize the understanding that what we’re doing to the animals in our country is cruel and unacceptable. The more you talk about it, the more awareness there is and the more you can grow.”
We’re so thankful for the Xavier alternative break group’s invaluable help, and excited to see where their compassionate journeys take them! A compassionate world begins with each of us — and we can each make a difference, one person at a time.
