Sunset Sky Farm Awarded 2025 FACT Grant to Support Sustainable, Humane Farming

By Sunset Sky Farm | April 12, 2025

We’re excited to share some incredible news: Sunset Sky Farm has been awarded a 2025 Fund-a-Farmer Grant from Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT)! This grant is a major step forward in our mission to raise animals humanely and manage our land using regenerative, sustainable practices.

What Is FACT and Why This Grant Matters

FACT is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the safe and humane production of meat, milk, and eggs. Since 2012, FACT has awarded 764 grants totaling over $1.5 million to support farmers like us who are working to improve animal welfare and sustainability on their farms. This year, we are honored to be one of 72 farms across 27 states and Puerto Rico selected to receive funding.

What This Grant Will Help Us Accomplish

At Sunset Sky Farm, we raise grass-fed beef and dairy cows, pasture-raised pigs, and poultry as part of our regenerative organic vineyard system. Our animals are not just part of the farm—they are vital to how we care for the soil, reduce weeds, and create a thriving ecosystem.

Thanks to the FACT grant, we will be purchasing a specialized under-the-row mower designed to tackle one of our biggest challenges: managing weeds beneath the grapevines. These weeds interfere with fencing systems, limit pasture access, and create safety issues for our livestock. Traditionally, chemical herbicides are used to control them, but we’re committed to maintaining organic, chemical-free practices.

The new mower will allow us to:

  • Safely mow under grapevine rows, clearing areas that are otherwise unreachable

  • Improve forage quality for grazing animals by encouraging healthy regrowth

  • Increase pasture access for pigs and poultry by reducing predator risk and fencing malfunctions

  • Strengthen our rotational grazing system, which is a cornerstone of our soil regeneration and animal welfare efforts

Why This Matters for the Future

This equipment upgrade will have a lasting impact—not just for this season, but for many years to come. It helps us keep our animals on pasture longer, stay true to our organic values, and demonstrate how livestock and vineyards can work in harmony.

We are so grateful to FACT for believing in our farm and our vision. This support helps us take the next step toward a more sustainable and humane future—not just for Sunset Sky Farm, but for the community we serve and the land we love.

Stay Connected

We’ll be sharing updates on this project throughout the season, so be sure to follow us on Instagram and You Tube for behind-the-scenes looks at the new mower in action, as well as stories from the pasture and vineyard.

Thank you for being part of our journey. And thank you to FACT for helping us bring this dream to life. For more information about FACT and their initiatives, please visit their official website.

 

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