Empowering environmental stewardship: Barn sanctuary champions compassion and Conservation

['Donte Smith', 'Great Lakes Echo', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] Great Lakes Echo 2025-08-10 00:00:00

Goat resident, Winona, stands on top of an elevated platform in front of Barn Sanctuary in Chelsea, Michigan. Credit: Donté Smith/Great Lakes NowBy Donté SmithThe Great Lakes, a vital freshwater expanse for millions, face an ongoing environmental crisis. Amidst these challenges, Barn Sanctuary in Chelsea, Michigan, works to make a positive impact on the region. He emphasized that these interactions can lead to a change in outlook for some guests who can see the “personality” in the Barn Sanctuary animals. Donté Smith is a reporting intern at Great Lakes Now through the Great Lakes News Collaborative in a partnership between the Mott Foundation and Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.