Kate Powell is a healer at heart – she believes in second chances, and aims to bring out the best in everyone she encounters. She treats those who are cast aside with kindness, valuing each being as an individual with a unique story to a share and a voice to be heard. There are many similarities between Kate’s current role as Farm Sanctuary’s Northern California Shelter Manager and her previous aspiration – a job as a prison warden, where she could oversee animal-assisted interventions to help rehabilitate incarcerated individuals. In the former case, Kate recognized that connecting with animals can be an effective means of overcoming tragedy and stigma. As Kate learned more about the rich emotional lives of farm animals, however, she discovered how important it was for her to focus on this marginalized group instead. And now, instead of working amongst individuals and their animal partners behind bars, Kate spends her days with rescued farm animals who are finally free from a life behind bars themselves.
Kate visits some of her goat buddies at our New York Shelter.
Kate and Alida, the best of friends!
Animals like Alida bring so much joy to our lives, and we’re thankful for all Kate does to give these beings the quality of life they deserve!
Kate helps Emma feel comfortable as she adjusts to Farm Sanctuary life!
Kate goes nose to nose with Clarke goat; in her role as our Northern California Shelter Manager regularly shows how our lives are enriched by knowing and protecting animals just like him.
Before pursuing a master’s degree in social work and criminal justice, Kate decided that she wanted to go on some sort of adventure – and as fate would have it, this journey would change the course of her life
forever. Hoping to acquire some hands-on animal experience – to learn more about how her interest in animals could help support her career goals – Kate applied for a six-month internship at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Texas. If the position fell through, Kate figured she would hike the Appalachian
trail before continuing her education. Fortunately, she was offered the position – and the opportunity was more life-changing than Kate would ever imagine.
“From day one, I knew that my dreams of becoming a warden could not compare to what I was experiencing working with animals,” Kate remembers. So she decided to continue on this path, and along the way, learned more about her own relationship with animals – and the importance of turning the tables and assisting them – than she ever thought possible.
At the end of her internship, Kate was offered an apprenticeship for the following year, which then turned into a full-time staff job. “In that position as well as my later supervisor positions, I was fortunate to be able to work with many different animals. I worked with native wildlife, exotic wildlife, farm animals, as well as more typical companion animals.” Kate envisioned that her time spent with the exotic animals would
interest her the most. But her true favorite? Farm animals. “I never would have guessed that farm animals would have been the ones who stole my heart, but they did,” Kate says.
Kate bottle-feeds a rescued deer.
And so, Kate realized that her true calling was to support farm animals – and advocate for their needs – full-time. Interestingly, going vegan – and making farm animal care and protection her life’s work – was
not really something Kate had envisioned for herself, but as the pieces fell into place she knew that this cause was what inspired her to become her very best.
“I do not have an exact date that I know for sure I went vegan. I had been vegetarian since college, and had slowly – without even thinking about the ultimate goal of becoming vegan – started cutting out other
animal products as I learned how bad they were for the animals. It started with eggs and ended with giving up the last animal product I used – half-and-half in my coffee. Someone said something to me that I will never forget, and that was that for me, tasting the half-and-half was more important than the suffering of
the animal involved. From the second I heard that I gave it up because I knew that it was in no way – not even close! – more important than the suffering of another living being. Nothing is worth putting any animal through any type of suffering or cruelty. Absolutely nothing.”
When Kate realized she could no longer contribute to another being’s suffering, the decision to go vegan was a simple one. Some people are concerned about what they might lose by giving up animal products, but Kate shows us all that we can gain — including friendships with animals like Ryan goose.
After making the connection between the foods she ate and the suffering implicit in deriving these products, Kate realized how easy it was to help the beings she loved working with – and she felt compelled
to do all she could to make an even greater difference in how society views and treats farm animals. One day, she discovered that Farm Sanctuary had a manager’s position open in California – and she knew, without a doubt, that this was where she was meant to be.
Kate with Timi lamb, whose mother, Helen, was rescued after having escaped a backyard butcher operation.
“I knew that Farm Sanctuary had always been in gold medal winner in farm animal care, and even though I hadn’t been looking to leave the organization I was at, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass
up.” So she did a working interview in January 2013 at our New York Shelter, deciding that if offered a position, she would take it. “Everything about the work I did at the sanctuary during that week felt right,”
Kate reflects. “In the end, I was offered a position, and in April I made the move to work at the Northern
California Farm Sanctuary in Orland, California.”
And Kate does an exceptional job at that. As other caregivers have mentioned, life on the farm can change in an instant, depending on a variety of factors that are often beyond our staff’s control – from responding
to sudden changes in an animal’s behavior to environmental emergencies, like the recent Sand Fire near our Southern California Shelter. And Orland has its own share of weather maladies –with consistent hot and dry forecasts, our staff are on constant alert, looking out for wildfires and monitoring the animals – and one
another – to prevent overheating and to ensure that everyone stays safe. “You can go into work and have an idea of what that might look like, but that can change in less than a heartbeat. A day revolves around the needs of the animals – everything done revolves around their wellbeing and making sure they have
everything they need.”
Kate on job; patrolling the sanctuary grounds with coworker Hilary.
It’s definitely not all cuddles: Trimming hooves
But Kate is especially adept at rolling with the punches and determining solutions to any challenges that arise – all while overseeing a team of compassionate staff and working long, hard hours to ensure
that each being in her care receives the individualized attention and support they need to thrive in their new lives at sanctuary. And Kate goes above and beyond her formal roles by helping us bring the animals she cares for to the mainstream. Even after a hard day’s work, Kate still makes the time to share our Orland
residents’ stories on the Animals of Farm Sanctuary blog, and communicates with staff across the organization to help others connect with these incredible ambassadors for their species.
Kate introduces us to Marcia and Maurice, two special goats whose inspiring friendship will touch your heart.
While Kate’s day-to-day activities may vary, what remains consistent is her love and devotion to showing the world that these magnificent individuals are someone, not something – and how much we can learn about ourselves, and our place in this world, by acknowledging each animal’s value as the unique individual we
know him or her to be. Some of Kate’s most profound experiences come from special moments spent with these beautiful individuals, in which she could see firsthand how compassion can truly make a difference.
One such experience: “The day Nutmeg calf was born was amazing,” Kate remembers fondly. “After the initial hustle to make sure he was healthy and nursing subsided, I remember just sitting and watching this tiny little calf with a crinkly nose and huge ears with his mom, Betsy. Had Nutmeg not been brought to Farm Sanctuary, and been born in an industry setting, he never would have been able to stay with his mom
– he may never have known anything but hopelessness and despair. Never gotten kisses on his tiny head or felt the unbelievable amount of love his mother showered and continues to shower him with.”
Still, Betsy was anxious, remembers Kate. “Even though she had always been a very friendly lady, she was terrified her baby was going to be taken away – something she had experienced before. She wouldn’t let
Nutmeg get more than a few feet away from her at any time, and would block him from our sight if we came too close. To see Nutmeg and Betsy together in the hours after he was born was magical – to know that the two of them would never be separated was indescribable. You could feel the love between the two of
them, and just recounting it still makes me tear up.”
A tender moment between Betsy and Kate. Betsy is back to her sweet old self, since she now knows she will be able to keep Nutmeg forever! Cattle like Betsy and Nutmeg form strong emotional family bonds, and we are honored to watch them spend the rest of their lives together.
Watching the animals’ incredible transformations, and seeing them enjoy the care and love they are finally free to have, is one of the greatest perks of caregiving –our caregivers regularly witness the worst
of the worst, so sharing in these beings’ journeys (and healing alongside them) is incredibly fulfilling.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” Kate tells Alida, who was clinging to life when rescued from a“farm-to-table” lambing operation.
Of course, there are equal amounts of loss and heartbreak inherent in this line of work – but even so, the lessons we learn from these ambassadors for their species enrich our lives greatly, and teach us
valuable lessons about the beauty that life has to offer. Such was the case with Annie turkey, whose beautiful relationship with Kate continues to propel her forward – inspiring her to keep making a difference for farm animals just like her – to this day.
“I can’t describe what happened between [Annie] and I, but we just clicked,” Kate remembers. “It was like when you meet your best friend or your partner in crime. Every time I came into her barn or yard she
ran up to me, and would climb on my lap or rest her head on my shoulder. She would fall asleep while I stroked her neck or gave her a belly rub.
Kate and Annie, best friends forever.
“On my days off, I would go down and spend some extra time with her. We would listen to music – she usually fell asleep quickly, but every time an Alanis Morissette song came on she would perk up and
just look from my phone to my face, back and forth, for the whole song. She was perfect.
Kate emphasizes that turkeys like Annie are incredibly sweet individuals, who deserve to be loved and valued as all beings do.
“Then the day came that seemed like most other days. I got to Annie’s barn and handed out meds to the turkeys she was with who were on meds, gave Annie a quick snuggle, and then proceeded to the next barn. I was on my way to check on the cattle when a call came on the radio that Annie had collapsed. I remember my heart dropped, and I sprinted back to the shelter vehicle and rushed back to the barn. By the time I got there, Annie was gone. She had had a heart attack – something not uncommon for turkeys who come from
the industry. I remember just standing there in complete disbelief that she was gone. Later, I remember just being angry that Annie’s time had been cut so short, and that she had been so genetically manipulated and exploited that she didn’t stand a chance. I still feel her loss deeply, and even just writing about that day here has me in tears.”
After tough days on the farm, when losses like Annie’s cut deep, Kate draws strength from her furry friends at home – Lilly, Dash, Bella, and Casey dogs; Marmalade, Sophie, and Donna cats; and Eminem, Dr.
Dre, Dispatch, Ben Folds, and Death Cab rats. “After work I have what I call ‘snoogle’ time with my dogs (sometimes the cats join in too). I ask them where they want to snoogle and they will either jump on the couch, run to the bedroom, or just drop on the floor in front of me. Wherever they decide is where
we spend the next 20 to 30 minutes and it is just full of kisses, pets, snuggles, and love. There is lots of love beyond snoogle time, but snoogle time has become a really great part of the day for me and my pups, and is a great way to relax after work.”
Kate takes some time to recharge with one of her dogs.
Self-care is essential not only for our caregivers, but for all compassionate advocates for farm animals. It’s important to find ways to recharge when we feel most frustrated with how the movement is progressing, with our own limitations in enacting positive change, or with the heartache that naturally accompanies compassion when we lose beloved friends. But we can learn a lot from advocates like Kate, who adds that backpacking, reading, and watching ghost shows on TV also help her unwind after a hard week’s work.
It helps to have a sense of humor when the going gets tough.
Kate emphasizes the importance of finding a home base – of surrounding yourself with the beings and experiences that help you feel safe and valued. For Kate, like so many others, her home base is Farm Sanctuary – and it is through surrounding herself with like minded individuals and having a place to
re-center after the toughest days that she can continue to be an effective voice for farm animals everywhere.
Kate is helping the world see farm animals like Timi and Mason are friends, not food.
“I think the best way to describe how my life has changed since coming to Farm Sanctuary is that I feel I found my home. I have always heard people describe that they feel their home is their sanctuary –
they don’t have to pretend to be someone they aren’t, they feel safe, they are comfortable, etc. In my head I had always pictured this as an actual dwelling. My perception of that completely changed after coming to Farm Sanctuary. I’ve realized that no matter what shelter I am at – my home base in Orland, visiting
Watkins Glen, visiting Acton, and most recently New Jersey, I feel at home. I work with amazing animals and humanimals on a daily basis – these animals and humanimals have become my friends and family. I have had some of the happiest times of my life as well as some of the hardest while at Farm Sanctuary, but not for one second have I not felt like it wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be.
Kate always feels at home with pals like Kent goat by her side; together, they’re teaming up to show the world how incredible farm animals just like him truly are.
“It’s funny that Farm Sanctuary turned out to be my sanctuary as well. Even on the toughest days when I come home and all I can manage to do is collapse on the couch or in bed and think about how hard the day
was (usually more emotionally than physically, but sometimes a little bit of both) I know that there isn’t anything else I would rather be doing.
“I love the care we offer every individual animal every single day. From my first day on my working interview I saw the level of care every single animal on the shelter received on a daily basis and fell in love with not only the animals, but with the care they received. I love every single one of the animals here. It doesn’t
matter if they are friendly or not, outgoing or shy, have been here since birth or arrived in their golden years – every single one of the animals here is a survivor and I love them for every little detail that makes them them. It’s hard to have a favorite when every single one of them is so unique and perfect in their own amazing way. It kind of makes everyone your favorite at that given moment.”
At Farm Sanctuary, animals like Oakley receive the individualized care they need to thrive.
Here, the animal’s needs are always placed first. When we shear sheep like Ferdinand, we take great care to ensure that the process is as gentle as possible. We shear our sheep to prevent them from overheating and to keep them comfortable — not to profit off of their bodies, as per standard industry practice. A commercial farm would only value Ferdinand for his wool, but we value him as the loving, beautiful individual we know him to be.
We are incredibly inspired by humanimals like Kate, who do so much for our rescued residents and the humanimals who love them. From administering lifesaving care to sharing the animals’ incredible stories of
resilience after tragedy, we are continuously amazed and thankful for all that Kate does to share how beloved and valued these individuals are – and how we can do our part to expand the movement to help more individuals just like them. Thanks to Kate’s tireless love and support, more and more individuals are
coming to view and respect our Orland residents as the remarkable beings we know them to be – and words cannot express how grateful we are to have Kate by our side as we create a more compassionate world for all.
Kate helps roosters like March stand tall — here, they are honored as the magnificent individuals we know them to be.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.