Just 30 minutes east of Cincinnati sits a quaint-but-jam-packed sanctuary aimed at helping at-risk animals. Since its creation in 2018, the nonprofit Foreverland Farm has taken in over 70 animals that were in danger of being slaughtered, abandoned, neglected or abused.
Foreverland Farm made headlines for itself back in 2018 when it hosted a baby shower for sheep Lala. Ironically, Lala’s original owner wanted to get rid of her because he believed she couldn’t have offspring.
Since then, the farm has basically run out of space. Currently, Foreverland Farm sits on just 5 acres of land in Clermont County, making it difficult to become the sanctuary that owner Brittney Kane and her partner, Leann, know it can be.
According to the Foreverland Farm website, the sanctuary’s purpose is to provide a safe haven and exceptional care for the farm and domesticated animals they take in. “If we say we’re going to care for (an) animal, we’re going to care for this animal for life,” Kane told CityBeat.
Because of Foreverland Farm’s current space, their six horses are boarded off-site, which doesn’t come cheap; about $10,000 per year, says the website.
Now, the farm has launched a campaign to try and raise the necessary funds to purchase a larger property. The goal is to have more roaming areas for the animals, and to add an intake building for quarantining new or sick animals, an outdoor space to host community events, as well as several buildings for storage and shelter. They want to find a property large enough — 40-50 acres — so that all Foreverland animals can live on-site.
Foreverland Farm hopes the new land will also give them enough space to build a Welcome Center that will greet visitors, feature a story wall that dives into the tale of the sanctuary and the caretakers, and also provide a spot for merchandise that will help fund day-to-day costs. The Welcome Center would also house a Donor Wall that recognizes individuals and companies who have helped Foreverland Farm grow.
Hoping to increase their community presence, the new space would provide an indoor area fit for community events, surrounding education and awareness about abused and neglected animals. “As we believe that animals deserve love and admiration, we also believe that their human counterparts deserve a safe space for healing and compassion and our animals and this building will do just that,” says the Foreverland Farm website.
As the sanctuary continues to grow, 24/7 animal attention by caretakers is needed. The new land would give Foreverland Farm the chance to build a home for the caretakers on the property.
Depending on donation amount, funders will receive a variety of thank-you items. At the lowest levels of “Friend” and “Advocate” ($50-$999 donation), gifts include a Certificate of Appreciation and a Foreverland Farm pin or hat. For bigger spenders at the “Champion” and “Founder’s Circle” levels ($10,000-$25,000), donors will get the chance to name a main building and also receive a Commemorative Brick at the Front Entrance.
You can also join Foreverland’s Patreon.
“As we build and look towards our future we still need to run the sanctuary as it is right now,” writes the farm on Instagram.
“Even $1 a month adds up and makes a huge difference in the lives of the animals here. With every dollar we can depend on every month the more animals we can help and the easier it is to plan for growth.”
Learn more about Foreverland Farm at foreverlandfarm.org.
This article appears in Best Of Cincinnati 2021.
