Sanctuary for all

“It’s been a dream come true for me here.”

That is what Cora Packard said about being an owner of Wild Spirit Farm Sanctuary, a ten-acre farm about three miles west of Waseca.

In four short years, the farm has come to house a few different goat breeds including pygmies and Nigerians, as well as sheep, chickens, and a sunflower field. And the hope, Packard says, is to keep expanding.

Originally living an hour north of Waseca, Packard and her family moved into the city in 2006. “We lived right next to the county fairgrounds,” she explained. “I was used to it being very busy in the summer.”

She loved being part of the Waseca community. However, the thought lingered of owning a farm full of goats. It was something she always dreamed of doing.

“I don’t know why goats became my favorite animal, to be honest,” Packard admitted. “I just remember going to fairs as a kid and thinking they were so cute.”

The sunflowers were something she liked, too. “I always thought they were cool,” she said. “They follow the sun, they’re colorful…what more do you need?”

In 2018, Packard moved out of Waseca and to the west of town in a more secluded area where she could realize her farming dreams. The farm is on ten acres of land which includes a few acres of woods.

Many of her goats are adopted from other farmers. Her newest acquisition, Bumblebee, is a baby goat that was less than ten days old by the end of June. She was born with her front legs pinned behind her back, leading to major walking issues.

“The farmer I picked her up from wasn’t sure what to do with her,” Packard said. “So, I decided to take her home with me and have her out on the farm.”

Bumblebee has improved greatly since Packard picked her up. She can stand on her own for small periods of time and walk with some assistance. Her left front leg is healing much better than the right front, so Packard and her family are hopeful she can use at least three legs when she grows to adulthood.

In addition to providing a sanctuary for animals, Packard started holding events out at the farm in 2021. Some of the more recent ones include Restoration 101, a class for refurbishing furniture, on June 29; wool needle felting classes June 22, and “Sunflowers, Crafts, and Farm Animals” this past Saturday, July 1.

The July 1 event featured local crafter Lynn Hirschey, who showed her woolen sculptures and dreamcatchers at the event. Hirschey is a friend of the Packard family.

“I started doing crafts about 30 years ago, when my son was six months old,” she explains. “I didn’t really get into it and make it a serious hobby until two years ago.”

She typically spins her own wool for the dreamcatchers. “I usually buy colored wool, though,” she admits. “I’ve tried dying my own wool, even with natural dyes, and it never comes out the way I want.”

While providing entertainment is enjoyable, Packard also likes holding events promoting health and wellness. “I have a medical degree, so I am naturally interested in that stuff,” she said.

The Restoration 101 class, for example, was run by a licensed therapist who uses furniture restoration as a way to relieve stress.

Although the farm is mostly for animals, Packard is hoping to be a sanctuary for humans as well. She also wants to plant a garden and teach more people about farm life.

“I think sustainability is very important,” she said. “Learning to plant your own food is a good skill to have.”

For now, though, she is happy to host classes about crafting and help people pick bouquets of sunflowers. “Everyone is welcome,” Packard said. “We want people to feel that way when they come here.”