Press Kit

Welcome to

Helpers Of Our Farm

(or HOOF for short)!

We are a nonprofit that strives to dig into the roots of our community by providing hands on learning experiences that connect people to learning through farm animals and our environment. The animals of HOOF play a very special role in our education of kindness, science, and animal welfare where they are used in our educational and therapeutic programs. Greenlands Farm, the farmland that houses HOOF’s Educational & Therapeutic Farm Programs is unique in that it is a sustainable homestead farm where we extend our education to sustainable practices that can be taken home with our guests to apply to their life and others to influence choices for the future of our environment.

We aim to make an impact that will change the lives of those we teach and change the lives of animals and the course of the health of our environment. Our hearts beat strong at HOOF for our goals!

Mission Statement

Helpers Of Our Farm (HOOF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization centered around farm programs that enrich the lives of the community with hands on learning and therapeutic experiences. HOOF’s mission is to provide intriguing educational programs and therapeutic programs through farm animals. With the help of these animals and Greenlands Farm, where HOOF is located, HOOF teaches homesteading skills, environmental science, animal science, and animal welfare. HOOF’s hope is to create a better world for animals and the environment through knowledge. HOOF is a platform for the community to learn, grow, and volunteer.

History

Greenlands Farm started a petting farm in 2011 with a vision to provide a an educational platform for the community. Greenlands Farm friends established Helpers of Our Farm (HOOF) in 2016, a not for profit organization that focuses the educational and therapeutic programs they provide. We are “Helpers of Our Farm” not only because these animals depend on humans to help them, but also because these animals help us by teaching us how to love, care, and learn from them. They perform an important task of educating visitors during our tours, petting farm, and farm classes. The goal has always been to integrate education into the lives of our community through the lives of these animals.

Contact

Maud Kelley, President Helpers Of Our Farm

Office: 910.253.7934
Email: helper@hoofnc.org

Address:
668 Midway Road SE
Bolivia, NC 28422

Maud’s Bio

If anyone knows Maud, they know one thing about her…she loves animals. Maud grew up on a small sustainable farm taking care of and raising rabbits, chickens, geese, and goats. These weren’t just farm animals to Maud; they were her friends who often accompanied her on walks, a game of hide and seek, and a swim in the pond. She was also the kid that begged for a pony every gifting occasion. A childhood pony didn’t happen for Maud because the family didn’t have the space for one or the financial resources. Her family’s circumstances actually taught Maud about ownership responsibility and would be applied to her life and help her make good decisions when considering animal ownership. Over the next number of years, Maud volunteered to ride horses and gave her time to any place that had animals with a program that provided a connection to people with these animals. Animals did something special in her and she wanted to be a part of something that did that for other people. This actually opened the door to her finally getting that pony she dreamed about when she was 29 and she has been an avid equestrian since. Little did she know all this would lead up to her starting a farm teaching and sharing animals!

Maud’s vision for the farm was to create a place that taught and connected people to animals. Humans are more likely to learn something when you are able to reach the senses: sight, hearing, touch, and smell. Her hope is to create a serious impact on people’s lives with interactive educational and therapeutic experiences.

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Snapshots of HOOF

Our Programs

Explore the wonderful world of our programs! From calming farm yoga sessions that help you relax to fun educational tours where you can learn about animal science, there’s something for everyone. You can also share cuddly moments with our friendly animals, making this a perfect outing for families and animal lovers alike. View images of these amazing experiences and see how much fun and joy HOOF guests have while connecting with nature and animals.

HOOF Animals

There are so many sweet animals at HOOF that bring joy and happiness to our community! When we look at their adorable faces, we can't help but smile. These furry friends, like goats, cows, bunnies and more, have positively impacted countless people, offering comfort and love. Whether they are visiting schools, hospitals, or just greeting people on the farm, their gentle nature helps brighten our guests days and teaches us the importance of kindness.

The Farm

Take a moment to view images of the beautiful and peaceful place we call home! With lush green pastures and bright blue skies above, it truly is a happy place for the animals of HOOF. Here, they roam freely, enjoying the gentle breeze and warm sunshine. Each corner is filled with life and joy, making it a wonderful place for our furry friends and guests. It's a delightful scene that brings smiles to all who visit!

All images are property of Helpers Of Our Farm. Credit should be given as “Helpers Of Our Farm”.

Areas of Focus

HOOF offers various education programs that are implemented during their farm tours and mobile farm programs. Some topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Farm Animals

    • Science

    • Animal welfare (care)

    • Kindness

    • Ownership responsibility

  • Habitats

    • Pasture rotation

    • Safety

    • Best practices

  • Sustainable living

    • Recycling

    • Composting

    • Vermiculture

  • Low Impact Development (LID)

  • Organic Farming

  • Predator/prey relationships

Programs

Helpers Of Our Farm offers programs to our community that support the success of the farm animal sanctuary.

  • ANIMAL CUDDLING
    HOOF offers  the well establish therapeutic practice of the Dutch: “koe knuffelen” (translation: cow hugging)

  • HOOF FARM YOGA
    Therapeutic HOOF Farm Yoga with a miniature cow and mini goats

  • HOMESTEAD FARM TOURS
    A unique outdoor classroom experience on at the farm

  • HOOF FARM PARTY
    Parties hosted at the farm include up-close encounters with the HOOF animals

  • VOLUNTEER
    Our community is invited to be a part of our farm through many different volunteer positions

In the Media

WWAY – Interview with Maud Kelley (Cow Cuddling) WATCH

WHQR – Communique Interview with Maud Kelley LISTEN

WECT – Interview with Maud Kelley WATCH

SOUTHPORT MAGAZINE – Featured article READ

STAR NEWS ONLINE – Featured article READ