THE LANDS AT HILLSIDE FARMS REACHES COW SPONSOR GOAL!
With the help of community support, we are very pleased to announce the completion of their Sponsor-A-Cow campaign. They are grateful to have exceeded their original goal of $150,000 goal by raising a total of $155,750 to put toward our herd. This means that The Lands at Hillside Farms is once again a comprehensive dairy farm and the ONLY farm-based dairy processing facility currently operating in Luzerne County!

“The cow sponsorship program was our first major fundraising effort at the Lands at Hillside Farms. We are elated with the sponsor support. The return of a dairy herd and farming to The Lands at Hillside Farms brings a heartbeat to our mission and restoration work! Starting a dairy farm in Luzerne County, even Pennsylvania for that matter, is certainly big and welcome news—it bucks the unfortunate trend in farming these days!” says Andy Check, Executive Director.

The money raised through the campaign has been used to offset the costs associated with acquiring, feeding, and caring for the animals. Since the campaign kicked-off, some sponsors have already become buddies with their adopted cow. Luzerne County Head Start (through third- party sponsorship) eagerly sponsored a cow early this fall and has been taking classroom trips regularly to visit their calf, Buttercup. The Lands at Hillside Farms is excited that Head Start was able to use the Sponsor-A-Cow campaign to get students involved in the hands-on educational opportunities at the farm!

We plan on keeping the community involved with the herd through future efforts in cow sponsorship and other events. Participating in the Cow Sponsorship Program will continue to be an annual way for interested people or organizations to support the feed and care of the cows. Plans are also in place for future opportunities to adopt newborn calves as they arrive.

For more information on the Sponsor-A-Cow program or future plans at The Lands at Hillside Farms, contact Chris Tweedy, Director of Development, at 570-696-4500, or visit our website at www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org.