Visit Iowa Farm Sanctuary in Oxford, Iowa & meet the animals who call it home. About 25 minutes from the University of Iowa, IFS is a refuge for rescued farm animals.
IFS opens its doors to visitors on Sundays in warm weather months. They also have larger special events throughout the year.
Shawn & Jered Camp with their rescued family
Iowa Farm Sanctuary is a safe haven for rescued pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, ducks, and cows. Opened by Shawn & Jered Camp, IFS is a place where rescues peacefully live out their natural lives in a forever home.
With wide open spaces, plenty of grass, shady trees, and mud puddles for pig bathing, it’s a paradise for animals whose beginnings were much bleaker.
The seed for the sanctuary was planted when Shawn read My Gentle Barn by Ellie Laks. The memoir is about an animal sanctuary outside of Los Angeles and the rescued animals who live there.
That dream set them on the path of creating a sanctuary of their own.
After getting a farm, they rescued their first animals one month later – Monkey and Marley, who came from Iowa’s largest breeding facility for pigs. The facility is the 4th largest in the U.S.
An anonymous worker contacted Shawn & Jered about the piglets, who were runts, and therefore deemed as unprofitable. At that facility, they kill about 2,000 runts a week.
On the 4th of July in 2016, Monkey and Marley became Iowa Farm Sanctuary’s first official residents. “It was their independence Day,” said Shawn Camp.
Since that time, Iowa Farm Sanctuary has moved from its original location in Marengo to a much larger plot of land in Oxford, Iowa & adopted many more animals. Read about all of the residents here.
“I love seeing them play. It’s so peaceful knowing that they’re happy, and that they’ll be happy for their entire lives. That’s definitely the best part for me,” said Jered Camp.
How to visit
You can visit IFS on Sundays during warm weather months (from May 16 to October 10, 2021). They are open from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Keep an eye on their Facebook and Instagram pages, as visits are sometimes canceled because of weather.
The sprawling farm includes a mile long walking path, where visitors can stroll the grounds and meet the rescued residents. Volunteers are on hand to share the animals’ stories.
You can get advanced tickets on the IFS website. Tickets are a $12 donation per person for adults and kids over 10. Kids 10 and under are $6/per person. Private tours are also available.
Bring a vegan picnic lunch, and enjoy it on the grounds. Or plan to have dinner afterwards in Iowa City, which is only about 25 minutes away. Check out this round-up of Iowa City vegan options.
Throughout the year they also have special events like outdoor yoga, an overnight camping experience, and celebrations with food & speakers.
Content and photos updated August 10, 2021. Originally posted December 3, 2016. The attached video is from Iowa Farm Sanctuary’s first big event in 2016.
Don
Great post and video. Thanks for sharing this important story. I’ll be sending a donation to the Sanctuary.
Cadry
I’m so glad to hear it, Don. Iowa Farm Sanctuary is a very worthy cause. They’re doing such good work!
Mandy
Cadry, I’m crying happy tears! Loved this post so much!! ❤️ What a beautiful sanctuary. Always warms my heart to hear more rescue stories and reading that those tickets sold fast is wonderful! It’s comforting to know that so many people DO care about the animals and are making a difference. I’ll definitely be checking out their website!
Cadry
Aw, I’m so glad to hear that this post moved you! Iowa Farm Sanctuary is such a magical place. I totally agree that it was really refreshing to see that people here are craving opportunities to come out and support a sanctuary, meet the animals who live there, and connect with other like-minded individuals. I couldn’t believe how quickly they sold out!
Becky Striepe
I am so glad to hear that Iowa has its first Farm Sanctuary! It looks like a beautiful place.
Cadry
Yes, there is such a need here in Iowa! It’s very exciting to see what Jered & Shawn have created, and I can’t wait to watch it grow.
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen
This looks like such a wonderful place! Hearing about the pigs brought Dennis and to tears, but it’s good to know that some of them are safe.
Cadry
I agree, Dianne. Hearing their stories chokes me up too. The sheer numbers of animals killed day to day and week to week is sobering. All the more reason I’m glad that Iowa Farm Sanctuary is there to save some lives.
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition
Your video has me in tears! It’s amazing what these people have done to help farm animals. That little calf was gorgeous! I love your interviews and I know so many more people will see this new sanctuary and support it becasue of your interest in it. 🙂
I know exactly how you feel – I saw a chicken truck in NJ and I could barely drive anymore. I just starting crying. I know there wasn’t anything to do about it but it makes me more dedicated to helping other animals any way I can.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Cadry
Isn’t Carl sweet? I love seeing him galloping in his new forever home. He’s going to be so happy there.
I can totally understand why you started crying when you saw the truck full of chickens in New Jersey. On the highway near our house, there are regularly trucks going by full of turkeys. Even as you and I choose not to support that industry, it’s a very real reminder that it’s still happening in staggering numbers.
Thank you for your kind words, Mary Ellen, and thank you for being so dedicated to help animals in any way you can!
Susan
What a beautiful place! So glad that places and people like this exist. <3
Cadry
Yes, you and me both!
Jenn
This is beautiful! Such happy animals now. Love that Carl!!
Cadry
Isn’t he a sweetheart? I can’t wait to watch him grow up, and I’m so thankful that he can.
Mel | avirtualvegan.com
What a wonderful, wonderful place and what an awesome job you did on that video. I love everything about it. Such beautiful people and animals. I wish I was closer as I would love to visit!
Cadry
Thank you, Mel. That’s so nice of you to say. I wish you were close enough to visit too!
Shell
Cad, this is amazing. What neat people. Thank you for sharing this with all of your readers.
Cadry
It was truly my pleasure! 😀
Sarah
Baby Carl! Such a happy ending for him! Loved all of the amazing footage of these beautiful animals!
Cadry
Isn’t he too cute? Since I wrote this post, Iowa Farm Sanctuary has rescued another calf. So now Carl has a friend! 🙂
Melissa
This is such a wonderful story! Makes me sad, but happy at the same time. I wish all animals can live like Carl & Kayla. I hate those trucks, too – my heart always sinks, and puts me in an awful mood. I feel so helpless when they pass by, and I wish I could just stop the truck and save them all.
Cadry
I feel the same way, Melissa. It makes my heart hurt knowing that there’s no way I can save those specific animals. I’m glad that sanctuaries like Iowa Farm Sanctuary exist, and I’m glad to eat compassionately so that others may be saved from that fate.
Cadry
Thanks for letting me know, Denise.
VeganLinda
Great video and so glad to see an animal sanctuary in Iowa! My favorite place in the world is Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Maryland. I miss being close to a sanctuary, but we will definitely check this place out when we travel that way.
Cadry
It’s so good for the heart and soul to visit animal sanctuaries and see happy animals who are able to live out their lives in peace. I hope your travels will take you through Iowa sometime, and if they do, let me know! 🙂
Kelli
What a wonderful story! I have been living a whole food plant based lifestyle for about 2 yrs now. My dream life is to be a part of a farm animal sanctuary so this was such an inspiring story. You and I feel the same about seeing those horrible, cruelty filled semi’s on the roads!!! I was born, raised and currently live in Iowa which offers its challenges for someone who cares about mother earth and animal welfare as it is such an ag based state. Thank you for his wonderful article. I do hope to be able to visit Iowa Farm Sanctuary someday soon:)
Cadry
Thank you, Kelli! I hope you’re able to visit Iowa Farm Sanctuary someday too. Once it’s warm again, you should head out for one of their open barn days or special events.