World Farm Animals Day

Farm animals are delightfully cute, especially baby farm animals with their squeaks and squeals, running and playing. Even more than that, farm animals also play an important role in modern society. Take some time to appreciate them this World Farm Animals Day!

History of National World Farm Animals Day

Established in memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who believed in treating all living beings with respect, World Farm Animals Day was founded to highlight the poor conditions suffered by some farm animals, and promote awareness in the hope something may be done to improve the lives of these innocent creatures. The first World Farm Animals Day was celebrated in 1983 as part of an international movement for the rights of farm animals.

Sometimes also called the World Day for Farmed Animals (WDFA), this day aims to raise awareness for and commemorate the 65 billion land animals who are raised for food every year. Since most people believe that animals should not be harmed unnecessarily, this day seeks to bring together those who are passionate about farm animal welfare and working to make changes!

How to Celebrate World Farm Animals Day

Show some love and attention to these often overlooked creatures by celebrating World Farm Animals Day. Get involved with the day in a variety of creative ways, including some of these ideas:

Celebrate World Farm Animals Day with Children

Although World Farm Animals Day has an important, and somewhat sad, origin in the sense that it was created to raise awareness of suffering, it can be celebrated in different ways, particularly with children.

Taking children for a visit to a farm is a great way to teach them about farm animals, and it may also be a good chance to instill in them the message of treating animals with respect. Teachers might want to take an opportunity on World Farm Animals Day to create lessons around the different farm animals, how they contribute and why they are important in the world today. From preschoolers to older children, this day offers a perfect opportunity to grow a generation of responsible humans who treat all creatures well!

Change Some Eating Habits

World Farm Animals Day is actually a great day for a person to make a commitment to try to incorporate fewer animal products in their diet. Perhaps it’s not realistic to immediately become a vegan and cut out all animal products. However, it might be a good time to commit to taking one day a week for the family to prepare meals without meat. Or perhaps this is a good time to make the switch from dairy milk (which many humans really don’t process well anyway!) to drinking plant-based milk such as oat, soy, almond or another alternative.

In addition, taking care about where animal products are sourced from can make a huge difference. For instance, commit to purchasing cage-free eggs, farm raised chickens or responsibly sourced seafood.

Support an Animal Charity

Another great way to celebrate is by donating to an animal protection charity that works to promote the welfare of animals, including those on farms. Take a look at some of these non-profit organizations that are dedicated to animals, and perhaps look into making a financial gift or even volunteering throughout the year:

• Farm Sanctuary. This charity offers many ways for folks to get involved, including becoming members of the Friends of Hilda Club, named after the first rescue animal to benefit from Farm Sanctuary.
• Faunalytics. Don’t let saying the name be intimidating, because this organization works to collect and share data, research and knowledge that is vital in understanding how to better care for farm animals and limit industrial animal farming.
• Human Farming Association. This campaign against factory farming aims to stand up to big business, speaking on behalf of the animals who cannot speak for themselves.