A Minnesota couple who were once newlyweds in high school reconnected later in life – establishing a 10-acre sanctuary farm in the process.
(FOX 9) – Off US Highway 12, just outside of Baldwin, Wisconsin, there’s a little piece of land that looks like paradise. Its owners call it a little piece of paradise, but it is also a haven of peace on earth.
“There’s just something here that’s just magical,” owner Gina Mizell told FOX 9. “As soon as I hit the driveway, as soon as I hit the hills, I can feel my whole body. relax. no other explanation for that than this must be God’s country here.”
On this 10-acre farm there is everything from cats and dogs to more typical barnyard beasts.
More than 140 of them call this plot perfect, but it’s also hopefully the last stop for everyone involved.
“We welcome homeless or unwanted farm animals in need of a soft landing and provide them with a safe, forever home,” Mizell said.
Gina and her husband Chris are a far cry from their suburban roots, where they were high school sweethearts in Eden Prairie, who separated after graduation.
22 Farms Animal Sanctuary
They reconnected six years ago and eventually married, bonding over their shared love of animal husbandry and their desire to get something more out of life.
“I had visited a farm in second grade. I can tell you all about that farm by now. I could exhibit in the farm. What were the names of the animals. I was maybe a city girl who was supposed to be a farm girl,” Gina said.
Although neither grew up on a farm or had any farming experience, the couple sold everything they owned, including their home in Eagan, and bought a farm, which they named after Chris’ jersey number when he played high school hockey.
One by one they started taking in farm animals that had nowhere to go.
“When we started, we thought 50 animals would be good. In six months we had 50. One year, 100,” Chris said. “It’s pretty mind-blowing how quickly it happened.”
Now 22 Farms is a full-fledged, non-profit farm animal sanctuary with a dozen different breeds.
“If we had tried this 50 years ago, without Google or YouTube, that would be a different story,” Chris said.
“We’ve had some really bad situations with it,” Gina said. “We’ll get a call and they’ll say ‘can you help?’ and these are some of the animals that have stolen our hearts.”
After all, what’s not to love about a 500-pound pig named Sally, who has a birth defect that caused one of her legs to be shorter than the others.
“She loves to rub her belly. She’s a bit feisty with the boys, so she hangs out in a different pasture with the cows. Don’t let her disability fool you. She can run and she’s pretty funny,” Gina said.
Or a turkey named Henry, who didn’t get along with his former owner’s flock and now stands guard over the yard, not afraid to ruffle a few feathers.
“He puffs up when people come in but if he’s puffed up sometimes he just stays really still which makes him look like a statue. Pretty impressive,” Gina said. “When they close the car door, Henry responds to loud noise by loud noise, so we often sit down and kind of do the 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, ‘there goes,’ to watch people’s reactions.”
Then there’s the baby goat, whose previous owners left her outside in the middle of winter and lost her hind hooves to frostbite.
The Mizells weren’t sure if she would make it, but not only does she survive on their farm, she thrives.
Her name is “Hope”.
“She’s running around now. She’s a typical goat. She’s gained so much weight. Her coat is great. She likes to headbutt cats. She’s just a doll. Hope is only an example of why we do what we do.” said Gina.
Hope is a funny thing.
A little goes a long way and now the Mizells’ dream is to make their project self-sufficient.
Life on the farm may be different from what they were used to, but they wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I really encourage people if they have something they want to do, go for it. You don’t have to know what you’re doing. We had no idea what we were doing. A few kids from the city have moved here and take on a great farm like this and we’re learning every day. It’s been worth it,” said Gina.
In addition to renting a room on AirBnB, 22 Farms is also now available to host group tours, birthday parties, and concerts.
For more information click HERE.
Comments are closed.