Horses at Amnesty Freedom Farm, an animal sanctuary located in Brethren, Michigan.
Story and photos by Ramona DeGeorgio-Venegas
MANISTEE COUNTY ‒ Outside Brethren, on Farnsworth Road, is a special place. The 40-acre farm has been there more than 100 years, but the animal sanctuary only since July 2020. This spring, a discovery was made on the farm: a date etched into the foundation of the barn that appears to read, “Raised May 25, ’04,” as in 1904.
I met Megan and Rob Scott, owners and caretakers of the animals at Amnesty Freedom Farm, between feedings on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Megan shared the farm’s new history and mission while giving me a tour of the property.
Megan grew up in southwestern Michigan, where she still has family. She and her husband Rob are animal advocates with a passion for animal welfare. Megan is also a lawyer with her firm My Scott Law. The couple felt they were better able to affect change in a small town. So, after working in downtown Chicago for 12 years, they purchased the farm.
Their mission is to rescue and rehabilitate animals while educating and raising public awareness. Volunteers, who help with some of the animal care, are crucial to the farm’s successs. For instance, in June, volunteers with the Manistee County Big Day of Serving helped them extend fencing for new horse pastures.
The farmhouse and the outbuildings are home to the rescued animals as well as the Scotts. A paid carpenter is improving or refurbishing as I write. In the future, the sanctuary may offer farm stays to the public or volunteer stay opportunities.
Meanwhile, donations to the nonprofit 501(c)(3) help pay for the animals’ food, lodging, medication and veterinary care. All donations go directly to the animals and enable the Scotts to rescue more. The farm’s recent request for donations, to help with veterinary care for sick animals, was met with enthusiasm on the farm’s Facebook page. (The farm uses Square and can accept payment via PayPal and Venmo.) Items on the farm’s Weekly Wish List are posted on Facebook, too.
You can meet the animals, such as “Snortin Norton” or “Roo-dini” and read their bios on the farm’s website. (See the URL below.) As I write, there are four indoor pigs, two outdoor pigs⸺dare I call them hogs?⸺ four indoor dogs, a house cat, three Tom turkeys, four roosters in their own bachelor pad, and three older horses, who just arrived in May. On our walk along the treed boundary, a female turkey lurked, perhaps sneaking in the shadows to hear the domestic Toms crowing.
I immediately felt embraced by the animals and was glad for their well-cared-for habitats. The indoor pigs have their own sleeping place in a large bathroom. These piggies have learned to use the kitty litter in an area previously used as a shower. I petted one dog and a cat before heading outside to meet the other critters.
The property offers views of fields of corn and wheat, as well as trees. There are even mud wallows for the pigs. Fruit trees were in blossom, and birds occupied the birdhouses during my visit. Those birds are the only wild critters. The Scotts do not accept wild animals but have contacts for places that do.
Megan told me about some of their mentors: Esther, the Wonder Pig; Priscilla, the Mini-Pig of Five Pigs and a Pug; and Gene Bauer’s Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York.
As I backed out of the farm’s driveway, I felt glad to have met all the living beings there and smiled to myself. We have such an interesting county!
I will be clicking on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) when I purchase a dog clipper. A percentage will go to Amnesty Freedom Farm if I choose and, of course, I shall. I will also consider other methods of support, such as purchasing gifts from their merchandise site or donating in memory of my beloved pets who are no longer with us.
To learn more about the farm, view a list of needed supplies or purchase items in support of the sanctuary, visit www.amnestyfreedomfarm.org. The farm’s Etsy site also offers items for sale. Follow Amnesty Freedom Farm on Facebook.
Ramona DeGeorgio-Venegas is a retiree of the Manistee Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest, where she worked in recreation and as an outdoor recreation planner.
