We’ve all had a favorite teacher – that special individual who inspires us to see the world around us in new ways. These leaders nurture our talents and potential and, along the way, encourage us to become the best versions of ourselves that we can be. Many teachers change lives in the classroom, but some of the most exceptional role models are unbound by traditional settings. Senior Shelter Manager Tara Hess is the latter
sort, as her work at Farm Sanctuary inspires more compassionate living among countless individuals – both the people she directly trains and interacts with each day and the immeasurable lives she touches through her work caring for our rescued residents at our New York Shelter.
Tara and Babs share a smile
Bottle-feeding Angelo lamb
Tyvek-suited up for time with Amigo calf
With Valentino
Louise reviews Tara’s text before she hits send.
Tara with Phoebe and Babs
Tara and Abbie Rogers with newborn kids Lola and Henry
Administering care to chickens in need
Tara with Elizabeth and Zuri
Tara and Zuri lamb
Caregivers working away the winter in super-heavy clothing.
Tara has been an invaluable teacher in many ways – from
sharing her experiences in animal care to guests at our annual Farm Animal Care
Conference, to training staff on new protocols to ensure that our residents
receive the quality care that they need to thrive. As with all good teachers,
Tara’s skills are transferable to various settings, and she inspires people to
make a difference wherever they are on their personal journeys.
Tara demonstrating the use of the chute system with
shelter manager Jill Tedeschi during Farm Sanctuary’s Animal Care Conference.
Tara actually got her start as a classroom teacher – she
received a master’s degree in Inclusive Education, with a dual certification in
English and Special Education for grades 7-12 – and got a job in a high-needs/low-income
school because she felt that would allow her to make the greatest impact.
Within a few years, however, Tara realized that her job was not the fit she had
hoped it would be. As she would come to realize, however, her experiences and
training would lend themselves well to working with others who needed her help:
farm animals, and the people working tirelessly to create a kinder world for
them.
Treating the very sickly baby goat Phillip with
antibiotics.
“I went into teaching because I wanted to have a positive
impact on someone’s life and make the world a better place,” Tara explains.
“Sadly, my master’s degree did not prepare me for the challenges I would face.
After a few years, I was completely burnt. Not everyone is cut out for teaching
– I have so much respect for the amazing teachers I know, and I know the
dedication it takes. Unfortunately for me, teaching wasn’t a good fit and I
really didn’t want to continue doing it if I couldn’t be one of those amazing
teachers.”
Jack goat when he was just a little guy and a very new
Tara in our old white house kitchen.
This realization inspired Tara to take a step back and
consider what truly motivated her – to determine what would drive her to put in
the energy she had tried to devote to teaching, in order to make a difference
in a way that was right for her. Around the same time, Tara and her
then-boyfriend (now husband) Luke visited Farm Sanctuary for the first time –
an experience that would change the course of both of their lives forever.
While Tara had been an on-again/off-again vegetarian, it was Luke, who was neither a vegetarian nor a vegan, who first made the move to apply for a job at Farm Sanctuary. He didn’t get it that first time (he’s now our Content Manager of Photo & Video), but he would still plan a couple’s visit for Tara’s
birthday. It turned out to be a celebration in more ways than one.
On a visit to the farm with Susie
“We went on a tour and I fell completely in love,” Tara
remembers. “I felt like I had been searching for my calling and finally found
it. I didn’t know how, but I just knew I had to work there. I was vegetarian at
the time and went vegan that same day – after meeting the cows and chickens and
learning more about the egg and dairy industry, I just couldn’t contribute to
all that suffering. We went to lunch afterwards and I said to Luke, ‘I guess
I’m vegan now.’”
As soon as she returned home, Tara checked the Farm
Sanctuary website and found a job listing for a caregiver position. “I immediately
applied. Not surprisingly, I did not get the job since I had absolutely no experience with farm animals. I am typically not much of a risk-taker in terms of big life decisions, but I decided to quit my teaching job (in my tenure year) in order to do a shelter internship. After my first few days, I knew this was it. I felt the way I always wanted to feel about teaching – like it was in my blood, like I couldn’t possibly do anything else and that I was willing to give everything I had to the job.”
Intern Tara with new piglets who arrived from Canada.
Then, as if the stars had aligned, a manager put in her notice and a caregiver positioned opened. And Tara would land a caregiver spot before her internship had even ended.
Tara as an intern her second month with the famous Chicky
turkey
“Much like teaching, this job requires that you put everything you’ve
got into it. There are long days, there is heartache, it’s physically
exhausting, it’s stressful – it’s not something you would put yourself through if
you weren’t 100% committed. I feel so grateful to have finally found what I
think I was searching for all along. I can’t ever imagine doing anything else.”
Tara’s first birthing experience with her namesake Tara
lamb and mother LuLu (named after Luke her then boyfriend now husband).
LuLu shares a sweet moment with Tara as soon-to-be husband Luke snaps a photo over her shoulder.
As Tara learned more and more about our rescued residents
and the care they needed to thrive, it was clear that she loved teaching more
than she realized – just in a different way. She became a shelter manager in
2010, and from 2012-2013 worked as the Shelter Director at our Northern
California Shelter.
Another, critical side of the job: Budgeting and management
There, she oversaw much of the administrative work needed
to run a shelter successfully – such as working with contractors and planning a
budget. However, this meant that she could not devote as much time to hands-on
animal care, which was her favorite part of the job. And so, in 2015, Tara and
Luke – who, as you’ll see in next week’s feature, completed a shelter
internship, became a caregiver, and now has the job he originally applied for –
moved back to New York so Tara could focus on the things that mattered most to
her: working directly with our rescued residents and a team of dedicated people
who are working to create a more compassionate world for farm animals just like
them.
Tara with pal Turpentine after treating his chest mass.
These days, Tara divides her time between the farm and
the shelter office, allowing her to apply her talents in multiple avenues.
Mornings start at 6:30 a.m., and she spends the first two hours of her shift
checking in on everyone and administering medications to our residents (more
than 100 animals at our New York Shelter receive daily treatments – though this
does not include all of the health checks and other treatments that we
routinely perform on everyone). Afterward, she works on less time-sensitive
treatments, such as helping Benedict goat into his cart, doing foot wraps for
our Cornish cross birds, draining bellies for our egg-laying hens with cancer,
putting sunscreen on our pig residents, tube-feeding birds, and working with a
visiting veterinarian if needed.
Tara with Dr. De Matos, Cornell’s resident chicken expert
during one of his many on site visits.
And of course, she continues to be a source of
inspiration to all of the humanimals at the sanctuary, as she trains new staff
members and advises current staffers about new treatment plans. The last part
of her day deals with catching up on office tasks, such as responding to emails
about animal care, keeping our animal database up to date, working on the
schedule, following up with our vets and making vet appointments, and going
through caregiver applications. Tara’s duties can change in an instant –
particularly during rescues or other emergencies – but through it all, her love
and devotion for our rescued residents shines through.
Tara with pig boy Eric getting a much-needed belly rub.
Life on the shelter can be particularly stressful when
the animals we rescue come from heartbreaking circumstances and their
conditions are touch-and-go. But we are always delighted when the animals pull
through and can finally have the chance at life that they deserve. It’s moments
like these that keep our caregivers going, inspiring them to help more and more
individuals attain the care and recognition they need to thrive!
Tara admiring the jumping skills of lamb Elizabeth just
weeks after her birth, which Tara assisted with at our Orland Sanctuary.
Such was the case with Lizzie, one of six goats – most of
them pregnant – who were rescued from a terrible neglect case, in which their
“owner” had left them to fend for themselves. The goats were emaciated, and
their pregnancies were high-risk – especially that of Lizzie, the eldest of the
group. Had Lizzie given birth on the Locke, NY, property from which she was
rescued, she likely would not have survived. At Farm Sanctuary, however, she
received the care and love she so desperately needed, allowing her to spend the
rest of her life with her beloved twins, Otto and Zuzu, by her side.
Getting thrown into the job; a group of dairy goats from Locke, NY arrived pregnant and Tara happily learned all there was to know about birthing goat babies.
Tara was on hand to assist with the goats’ deliveries,
and Lizzie’s in particular remains especially meaningful to this day. “Lizzie
was the last [to give birth] and was taking her sweet time,” Tara remembers.
“At first we had people sleeping in the barn, but because the births had been
spread out and people were getting tired, Luke and I ended up sleeping with a
baby monitor in our bedroom so we could hear if she was in labor and
distressed.” More often than not, however, these calls for attention were a
false alarm. “I got up more than once early in the morning and ran over to
check on her, only to find that one of the goats was screaming for grain.” But
Lizzie’s big moment would come soon enough – and as it turns out, an important
milestone for Tara was also just around the corner.
Thankfully husband Luke is a photographer and captured
the saving of newborn ZuZu, who is now a very happy 220-pound boy.
“One of my days off, Luke and I were out in our garden
when one of the caregivers came running over, shouting “Lizzie’s in labor!” She
had also radioed the rest of the staff, but our house was right next door to
the barn, so we were the closest. We ran over to Lizzie’s pen and found two
kids – one was breathing on his own, but the other was laying still and had the
birth bubble intact around his head, preventing him from breathing. It was
quite the adrenaline rush – I grabbed him, popped the bubble, and held him
upside down and gave him a good shake to clear his mouth and windpipe
(something I had read about but had never done). Luckily it worked, and Zuzu
started crying and grew up to be a healthy strong boy. I think of that every
time I see him and am so grateful I was able to help him and have been able to
watch him grow and enjoy life with his family.”
Lizzie, ZuZu and Otto on Day 3
The family, years later at our NY sanctuary.
Over the course of her career, Tara has interacted with
thousands of farm animals – and each one has an incredible story of survival,
resilience, and healing. While countless animals pass through the food system
and go virtually unnoticed each year, we are honored to recognize the animals
in our care as ambassadors for their species.
Here, Tara shares her experiences
with just a few of her beloved friends – and we hope that her memories serve as
valuable teaching moments, so we can continue to change hearts and minds about
our relationships with farm animals everywhere.
Tara and sweet boy Jasper (aka Stubby). Jasper and a
group of calves arrived very sick and weak and once again thrown into a
learning situation Tara rose to the occasion.
GLORIA
Gloria was terrified of other goats when she arrived, and
seemed to think she was a person. We nicknamed her “Humanga” because she was
part human, part goat. It took a long time before we got her to be comfortable
living with goats. During this time, we took her for walks around the farm,
which was one of my favorite things. She was pretty sassy with humans, so some
people didn’t like taking her for walks as much as I did – I tend to be drawn
to the crotchety, sassy animals, though. She loved to play and would paw the
dirt to let me know know that it was time to play. She’d rear up and head butt
my fist. We’d go back and forth until she decided she was done playing. She
would abruptly hook me in the knee and walk away when she was done. I found
this endearing – others didn’t appreciate her trying to take out their knees.
Tara and the famous Gloria goat-aka Humanga.
After spending two years in Orland, I was so happy when I
saw Gloria and she pawed the dirt again. She was an older goat at that point,
so didn’t rear up quite as high, but we continued to play often until her
death. She was one of the most amazing animals I have ever met. She had been through
so much in the years before her rescue and to see her come in all mangy and
scared and then blossom into a confident, sassy old lady was pretty remarkable.
GRACE SHEEP
Grace has been one of my favorites since I first met her
during my internship. I guess there was something about that cute wrinkly nose
that drew me in. She loves to have her chest scratched and will paw at you if
you stop. The sheep barn is my favorite spot on the farm, and I spent so much
time with the sheep when I lived in the sheep barn. [Tara and Luke used to live
in an apartment in the barn.] I have many fond memories there, surrounded by
the sheep – trying to scratch them all but not having enough hands and getting
pawed at by anyone I was neglecting.
Grace demonstrating the paw for attention to Luke Hess
While I was in Orland, Grace went blind. When I came back to Watkins Glen after
being gone for over two years, I wasn’t sure how any of the animals would
react. I went to the sheep barn on my first day back and just sat down and
waited to see what happened. I saw Grace and said my usual, “Hi Gracie!” Slowly
she and some of my other old friends came over and surrounded me. They sniffed
my face and nuzzled me while I pet them (and cried tears of joy). When Grace
approached and gave me her paw, just like no time had passed at all, I almost
died of happiness.
Annabelle [Tara and Luke’s eight-month-old daughter]
recently met Grace, which was very exciting. They were both so gentle with each
other – Annabelle tends to be more of a grabber than a petter, but she gently
touched Grace’s face and then rested her face on Grace’s. It was amazing.
Meeting the baby; Annabelle human baby meets Tara’s
beloved Grace.
ELLIOT STEER
I fell in love with Elliot the second I met him. He was a
beautiful young Charolais steer – all white. He was also the biggest
sweetheart. Though he was young, he was still very big, and if you sat with
him, he would gently rest his chin in your lap if you scratched his chin.
BEAN ROOSTER
Bean came to us as a tiny chick. He needed
round-the-clock care, so Luke and I took him home and he lived in our spare
room. He had a vitamin E deficiency and was too weak to eat or drink on his own
so I spent the next few weeks getting up, often overnight, to give him his
vitamin E and give him water and food. He would come to work with me and the
caregivers would take turns caring for him if I was out on the farm.
We had a friend visit while Bean lived with us – it was
early on when things were still very touch-and-go. Our friend mentioned his
concern that I was so attached to him and worried about what would happen if
Bean didn’t make it. I was adamant that he was going to make it, and I think
our friend realized that he had upset me by suggesting otherwise. He and Luke
are both musicians, and that night they wrote an impromptu song about Bean and
how strong he was and what a great life he was going to have at the sanctuary.
The little Bean in a sling under a chair at Tara and
Luke’s home in Orland; getting his legs to work through physical therapy and
love.
I’ll never forget listening to the lyrics and knowing
Bean was safe and loved and getting the care he needed. Bean grew stronger and
healthier and was finally able to move to the farm permanently. It was
bittersweet going home without him on that first day, but I was so happy he
would be able to be with hens and scratch in the dirt and be an independent
rooster.
To say that Tara’s life has changed since her time in the
classroom would be an obvious understatement, but one thing has remained constant: her
devotion to serving those who most need our help, while inspiring others to do
the same.
Tender moment between Tara and Jasper calf.
“I always wanted to have a job I loved and I finally do,”
Tara explains. “The most amazing part has been working with Susie. She is such
a wealth of knowledge and also such a good friend. There will never be another
Susie, but if I can be half as amazing as her, I’ll feel pretty accomplished.”
Well, there may be no one like Susie, but there is also no one like Tara – and
we are grateful to have such a compassionate, talented, dedicated, and
hardworking proponent of change on our side. Tara may no longer teach in the
traditional sense of the word, but at Farm Sanctuary, she lovingly opens hearts
and minds about our relationships with farm animals, inspiring everyone she
meets to live life on kinder and more caring terms.
Tara races Zuri lamb
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