A Letter from Founder, Dan McKernan -Exciting News About Barn Sanctuary's Next Chapter

Hey Barn Sanctuary Family,

Life has a way of coming full circle. Eight years ago, my dad and I stood in these weathered barns - the same ones he played in as a kid and same ones I played in as a kid - ready to transform our 150-year-old family farm into something new. Today, I'm writing to share the next chapter in our journey.

I'm stepping into a new role as Board Chair of Barn Sanctuary, shifting from my day-to-day in the weeds position as President. This sanctuary, which has seen generations of my family, has grown from those first days of cleaning out old barns for Cora and Henry into something bigger than we ever imagined: over 140 rescued residents currently call Barn their forever home, a rock-solid team of 15 staff members, a dedicated volunteer team, and an animal care intern program. Through "Saved by the Barn" on Animal Planet, our children's book, and thousands of followers online, we've been able to share these animals' stories with the world. 

We've seen incredible triumphs and heart-wrenching losses. We've fought alongside residents like Andy, the Holstein calf who broke through a barn wall to save his own life, and mourned those we couldn't save despite giving everything we had. Each animal's story has left its mark on me, teaching us all about resilience and never giving up.

While continuing to guide Barn Sanctuary's mission and grow our impact, I'm also taking on a role as Head of Philanthropy for an initiative helping kids with rare genetic diseases. Like our rescued residents, these kids face challenges they didn't choose but fight with incredible spirit.

My dad, Tom, who left his own career to help launch this dream, will be leading our administrative team while doing what he does best - sharing our residents' stories through tours and connecting with people from all over. Alicia continues leading our shelter team, ensuring our residents get the best care possible.

I know my grandmother is watching over this sanctuary, protecting our animals, staff, volunteers, and everyone who comes through our gates. As I look forward to spending more time with my growing family while leading the charge to bring awareness to animals and people in need, I know this isn't an ending - it's just the start of our next chapter.

Our mission stays the same: rescuing farmed animals and inspiring people to embrace a plant-based lifestyle. Every rescue, every story shared, every mind changed brings us closer to our vision of a world where these animals are seen as the individuals they truly are.

This journey has shaped me, strengthened me, and shown me what's possible when we fight for what we believe in. Thank you for being part of this family.

Let's keep changing the world together,