Our Story
…during the first weeks of their last year at Dickinson College. They were introduced by a group of mutual friends at a party and, after exhausting their social batteries, decided to head across the street to The White Elephant for Thai food and to spend some time together. Anne and John owe a lot to this group – which has only grown closer and larger over the years – for supporting them through life’s major milestones and being a constant source of friendship.
Anne and John’s story began in September of 2016…
As Anne and John’s bond grew stronger in the years after college, they also learned what in life was most important to them. For Anne, the New York City lifestyle was never for her. Instead, she became determined to turn her dream of running a farm animal sanctuary into a reality. John’s decision to head to Michigan for graduate school presented them with an opportunity to learn for themselves just how rewarding this lifestyle could be. Anne juggled a demanding job with an internship at a well renowned animal sanctuary while volunteering at a second sanctuary on the weekends and, after his classes in urban planning, John put on his boots to muck out stalls and feed the goats right alongside her. For both of them, it was clear that this was the future they wanted together.
The Hudson Valley came calling and with it a year and a half search for the perfect farmhouse. Despite the challenges – frequent moves between short term rentals and living out of suitcases – Anne and John made this part of New York with its rolling hills, orchards, and quaint villages their home. On a snowy Sunday morning in February, John asked Anne to marry him and shortly after, in a quiet rural town, an old farmhouse got two new owners. Inspired by each other’s commitment to following their dreams and a belief in what they could create together, Anne and John got started on building the foundation of a sanctuary and home of their own.
