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MEET THE TEAM!

Sanctuary Founders & Board of Directors

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JOHN D. HALAMKA MD, MS

Co-Founder & Board President

John D. Halamka is the President of the Mayo Clinic Platform, leading a portfolio of new digital platform businesses focused on transforming health by leveraging artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and an ecosystem of partners for Mayo Clinic. He is a practicing emergency physician and has a certificate in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts. He enjoys the hands-on side of being Facilities Manager. You can often find him out on a walk with one of the Sanctuary dogs. John has his Mayo ClinicPlatform Blog

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KATHY HALAMKA

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Kathy Halamka, BA, MFA, brings business, visual arts and arts educator training to her many roles here at the sanctuary, including Volunteer Director, Events Manager, Social Media, Fundraiser and Public Relations. You will often find her spending time with Handsome Paul the Turkey and her other Feathered Friends, taking new photos for the "Updates from Unity", or checking on her beloved ponies. She is lead blogwriter at UFS as well

David Wirbal is now retired from Fidelity Investments and founded Dudley Brewing. He is often known here affectionately as "Dud's Dad"after being instrumental in rescuing Dudley.

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Ann Harrison Wehr is a professional skating educator, with a long track record of volunteering in many leadership roles here at the Sanctuary.

New Board Member in 2025

Wendy Weitzner is a talented executive in healthcare consulting, and she brings prior board experience, leadership and planning skills to her role on the Board

Donna Schultz has been involved with the Sanctuary for a long time and was a special volunteer for Goldy. She has years of experience in hospitality planning and event services!

Our 100% donating and vegan board insures our non-profit fiscal responsibility and guides Unity Farm Sanctuary toward a meaningful future.

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Animal Caregiver Team
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MICHAEL TUBERDYKE

Incoming Pig Specialist Manager

Mike joined the Sanctuary in 2022, with a particular affinity for our big farm pigs, and has built a solid friendship with Danny Boy (in the photo) and Penny Blossom.  He has been the Shelter Manager at the Sanctuary, and we are very excited to have him specialize in the needs of our pig residents

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He has a genuine love for learning and has enjoyed researching more about best care practices for all the rescues here at the Sanctuary! Mike began his coursework in 2024 to be a Veterinary Technician.

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He is an amazing photographer and enjoys playing the piano too.

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TYLER WEHR

Incoming Shelter Manager

We welcome Tye to the team! He has been an active volunteer, chef educator, and a part of our Board of Directors and is excited to become Shelter Manager in 2025

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Animals have always been a part of Tye's life, and bovines are one of his favorites (that is baby Bob Crockett in the photo!).

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Together with his wife Ann (on our Board of Directors), Tye is looking forward to advancing the mission, vision and values of the Sanctuary.

 

He is a talented plant-based chef, so look for his cooking classes here too!

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WALLACE THE RED

Sanctuary Greeter

Wallace the Red is a shaggy fellow who enjoys hanging out with his Bovine buddies. He is half Highland and half red Angus, to our best guess. Yep, his horns grew downward!

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Say hello to him on a tour!

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TYLER CLAXTON

Animal Caregiver

Tyler joined the Sanctuary in 2022, and did you know he is technically one "day" younger than his twin sister?

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He loves his cats, and when not at the Sanctuary you can find him spending time with his friends, hiking, and working out at the gym.

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EMMA FLOOD

Animal Caregiver

Emma loves traveling and hiking and recently traveled across the US. Her hands are always kept busy because her hobbies are knitting/crochet, sewing, and music (guitar, piano, singing). 

 

She is passionate about veganism and loves to spend her free time with Roger (in photo) and the broad breasted turkeys. She is going to school for animal science. Emma enjoys spending time with her cat Buddy, and her rabbit Mitzy (adopted from UFS).

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LANE ATKINSON

Animal Caregiver

Lane Atkinson has been a member of the Caregiving team since 2024. They have sanctuary experience from working at Full Circle Farm Sanctuary as well.

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They balance work here with attending college, so definitely living a busy life! 

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You can find often Lane hanging out with Kai the Rooster and other beloved feathered friends.

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A photo update will arrive soon!

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SULLY THE SHEEP

Resident Greeter

Sully the Sheep is exceptionally friendly! He came from a place raising him to be a therapeutic animal, and he loves to interact with folks.

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His fleece is very curly and very thick, so by springtime, he is more than ready to greet the shearer!

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Stop and say hello to Sully when you are on a tour.

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Liz Sykes

Animal Caregiver

You look at the photo and say, "wait, that is Hamish!"

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You would be right! Photo update to come.

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Liz joined the team in 2024, and is very much in love with our Kune Kune pigs, and she can be found snuggling with hem on her lunch break. Welcome Liz!

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JENNIFER D'ANGELO, CHES

Humane Education Director

Jenn has a lifelong love of animals instilled by her grandmother, who started the family on a mission of rescuing as many companion animals as they could. She loves spending time with all of the animals at the Sanctuary, especially the goats, sheep and of course, Maxine the llama.  In her spare time, Jenn enjoys talking sports and spending time with her husband Brian and their beloved cats, Zoe, Griffin and Dewey.

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Sunny

Resident Greeter

Sunny is a Halflinger and Morgan cross, with a background as a workhorse and a lesson pony. He is the lead in his group of buddies, with Micky and Dunny.

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He lives near our Sanctuary House and keeps an eye on all "going's on"!

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