Yesterday, we went to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary for its “ThanksLiving” celebration. This was our first time at this annual event.  We had heard so many wonderful things about this event and were really looking forward to it.  Happily, the event did not disappoint and we enjoyed a spectacular day in a uniquely wonderful place.

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary is located in upstate New York just a few miles from Woodstock.  Started in 2004 by Jenny Brown and Doug Abel, the sanctuary takes in refugee farm animals from a wide variety of backgrounds of neglect, abandonment and abuse.  Located in a big open field nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, the sanctuary now has over 400 residents.

We arrived early at the sanctuary because we wanted to have some time to interact with the animals. We had visited for a day about four months ago and we were excited to see some old friends.  Take a look at our happy reunions:

After spending some quality time with the animals, we entered a big tent set in the middle of the goat’s field.  Windows in the tent offered picturesque views of the seasonal foliage in the surrounding hills. Sanctuary residents were grazing just a few feet from us, always visible, as we enjoyed the festivities.

During the cocktail hour, we perused the silent auction and many wonderful items that were up for raffle.  Frey Vineyards sponsored the wine selection for the afternoon.  A dazzling array of hors d’oeuvres were passed through the cocktail hour.  These hors d’oeuvres were amazing.  We enjoyed the spectacular new artisanal hard and soft nut cheeses by Treeline Treenut Cheeses.  These nut cheeses are a game changer! The Faux Gras on crostini with shaved apples by the Regal Vegan was divine.  The Basillicotta stuffed grape tomatoes, also by the Regal Vegan, were delectable.  Ethan’s favorite black eyed pea cakes by Blossom Restaurant in New York City were a happy surprise. The spicy Korean BBQ tofu with kim chee by Woodstock local New World Home Cooking was dynamite.  What a tremendous vegan cocktail hour!

Joshua Katcher, owner of Brave Gentleman and blogger at The Discerning Brute, was the dashing emcee of the event.  Towards the end of the cocktail hour, he called us to gather outside the tent by two hay circles.  The resident turkeys were gathered inside these circles and we all watched as they were fed a special celebratory meal.  Unlike other Thanksgiving celebrations, these turkeys were served before us, not to us.  There was something so wonderful about watching these intelligent, social and loving creatures delight in their meal of acorn squash, seeds and assorted vegetables. They particularly enjoyed their pumpkin pie!

After the turkeys had their dinner, we went back to the tent for our first course, a delicious butternut squash roasted corn chowder.

After making his introductory comments, Joshua introduced Gretchen Primak who read a moving and somewhat haunting poem about turkeys.  Following Gretchen’s poem, Joshua introduced Jenny Brown.  Jenny started out talking about the sanctuary, it’s mission and it’s operating expenses.  She then introduced and individually thanked all of the amazing staff who work at the sanctuary.

Jenny also thanked the more than 50 volunteers who helped make this event the success it was.  She and Doug then presented the annual “good egg awards” to Jenny’s sister who works for the sanctuary, and to  David Silver, the amazing chef who tirelessly works for months to plan and execute this sensational celebratory meal.

The main course was served after the awards presentation: cider glazed tofu with sourdough spinach stuffing, chickpea polenta and cranberry chutney served with creamed kale and a roasted beet salad with a orange-coriander vinaigrette.

As mouthwatering and appetizing as this photograph is, it doesn’t do justice to the delectable autumnal foods and the spectacular interplay between the various  flavors and textures.  Chef Silver completely outdid himself.

When we finished our entrees, we took short stroll to the pig barn and saw a beautiful resident pig napping in the hay taking a nap.  We watched him dreaming and saw his eyelids fluttering, just Ike our dogs do when they dream.  We walked a bit further towards the new chicken enclosure.  The sanctuary recently rescued 200 chickens who were flown across the country to find a forever home here, where they will be able to live out their lives in peace.  It was heartwarming to see them all walking freely in the enclosure, pecking away at the grass without a care in the world. This is something they never got to do before in their lives when they were crammed into battery cages, stacked up on top of one another, never able to stand or even stretch their wings.

We returned to the tent for decadent dessert selection provided by Vegan Treats.  This was a truly outstanding way to finish a spectacular meal at such a wonderful event.

When we left, we were given a “VIP Swag Bag”.  Oh my goodness!  There was so much amazing goodness in this lovely reusable tote bag, it’s hard to even try and describe it.  Take a look at it, unpacked on our dining room table:

This is some SERIOUS vegan swag!

Thanksgiving is a time when we pause to express and feel our gratitude for the abundance in our lives. Sadly, the traditional American Thanksgiving meal has become centered around the consumption of a turkey; a sentient being who was senselessly tortured and murdered purely for our palate pleasure.  ThanksLiving, however, is a true celebration of life and gratitude.  How extraordinary it was to be a part of this tradition that seeks to reinvigorate this holiday with ethical meaning.  Truly, you have not lived until you have enjoyed a delectable vegan ThanksLiving meal alongside living Turkeys, who playfully beg for scraps at our table of plenty.