Sprout Creek Farm closes; animals will be 'relocated' and given 'best care'
Sprout Creek Farm, an independent non-profit organization in the Dutchess County, is now closed, as of April 17, 2020. In addition to ceasing farm activities, the site will no longer be providing educational or agricultural programming.
“The challenges associated with the COVID-19 outbreak have only exacerbated the financial challenges of Sprout Creek Farm operations and made its business model unsustainable,” the group posted on its website: LINK
The farm was supported recently by Marist College, who “determined it no longer wished to support the operational costs.” The college had provided funds totaling more than $2.5 million to improve the infrastructure of the farm through personnel; capital improvements, including a state-of-the-art creamery; and enhancements to the educational programming.
The farm says a new owner or entity could help revive the farm’s functions.
And, despite a widely-circulated post on social media about the slaughtering of the animals at the farm, “the animals at Sprout Creek Farm will all be appropriately and humanely managed during the process of suspension of farm operations, as directed by the capable hands of our farmer and his staff. We have always operated this way at Sprout Creek Farm.
“It is a priority to Sprout Creek Farmers that all animals are relocated to new homes and given the best care that local farmers can give them,” Sprout Creek Farm Director, Sean O'Sullivan said in a statement. “All efforts are being made to ensure that the transitions are accomplished with the emphasis on animal safety, health and welfare. We have taken great pride ensuring that the animals have been very well looked after and that the care and attention we have given them will continue."
SOURCES:
https://sproutcreekfarm.org
https://www.marist.edu/-/sprout-creek-statement-4-17-2020
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