A bit of history about Wagner Farm,

its animals,

and the Rescue Fund

1998 March  Glenview taxpayer referendum passes enabling Glenview Park District to purchase Wagner Farm.

2000 Summer  Steering committees formed to create plans for Wagner Farm, many of which are ultimately revised or discarded by Park District.  The steering committees for the Master Plan were comprised of 60+ participants and approximately $80,000 of taxpayer funds was paid to consultants.

2001 December  Park District slated Bart the Bull for slaughter as well as four herd mates, leading to the need for the founding of an independent organization to address animal welfare issues at Wagner Farm.

2002 March  Park District animal management policy was established, which was so broadly worded that it did not comprehensively protect the welfare interests of all animals associated with Wagner Farm.

2002 May  After much public debate, Bart was independently purchased and sent to a rescue sanctuary.

2002 June  Three of the four herd mates were also independently purchased and sent to a rescue sanctuary. 
(NOTE:  The fifth herd mate wasn't released from Wagner Farm until a year later.)

2002 June  Wagner Farm Rescue Fund was created with the intention of becoming a 501(c)(3).

2002  Wagner Farm Glenview 4-H Clovers is founded.

2003 January  After Bubbles the cow was diagnosed with a blocked bladder, she was sent in pain to slaughter rather than being sent for treatment or being sold to the Rescue Fund which would have provided treatment.  They sold her for well below market price when the Rescue Fund would have paid at or above market price.

2002 March  Wagner Farm Rescue Fund becomes an official 501(c)(3).

2003 March  Legal counsel for the Rescue Fund met with representatives of the Park District in regards to selling the ailing Bubbles the cow to slaughter.

2003 May Rescue Fund purchased 21 chickens at market price and also received 15 "free" foundling chicks from Wagner Farm and found humane placement for all of them.

2003 June  Rescue Fund purchased three cattle at market price from Wagner Farm and found humane placement for them.

2004 September  Rescue Fund purchased 13 chickens at market price from Wagner Farm and found humane placement for all of them.

2005 August  Rescue Fund purchased two cattle at market price from Wagner Farm and found humane placement for them.

2006 March  Rescue Fund purchased two cattle at market price from Wagner Farm and found humane placement for them.

2007 April  Rescue Fund purchased two cattle at market price from Wagner Farm and found humane placement for them.

2007 August  Wagner Farm no longer wanted Doc and Betsy, the two draft horses that had been together for ten years.  So the farm cruelly split them up by selling them to separate locations.  Wagner Farm Rescue Fund was not offered the opportunity to purchase them and keep them together.

2010 April   The Glenview Clovers purchased 17 lambs and 10 pigs for their 4-H project.

2010 April  Moe, one of  the unspayed barn cat's kittens, was found dead on the the side of Wagner Road.

2010 April  A rooster was separated from the rest of the birds and isolated in the coop's indoor storage room and found dead shortly thereafter despite the Rescue Fund's offering to purchase the bird and find humane placement.

2010 May  Some youths were arrested after having trespassed onto Wagner Warm in the middle of the night and for attempting to tip the cows.

2010 June  The Eye on Wagner Farm support group was created to help raise awareness of the animal welfare issues on Wagner Farm.

2010 July  Two separate visitors to Wagner Farm reported to the Rescue Fund and the Park District - both verbally and in writing - that they, along with their children, witnessed some 4-H children under the supervision of adults who were beating the pigs with stick-like objects.  Both witnesses called the Illinois Department of Agriculture to file a complaint.  It was publicized that an investigator came to Wagner Farm and determined that the allegations were unfounded.  The pigs, however, had already been removed from Wagner Farm and sent to the Lake County Fair before the investigator came to Wagner Farm.  Thus, the pigs were never examined; nor were the complainants ever contacted by the IL Department of AG.

2010 July  The 17 lambs and 10 pigs living on Wagner Farm were auctioned off at the Lake County Fair and sent to slaughter despite the humane placement and higher payment offered by the Rescue Fund. There are no National, State or County 4-H rules that require 4-H animals be sold for slaughter.

2010 August  Boo gave birth to Sprint and less than two weeks later they were separated by a solid wood panel fence.  It was learned that Boo is currently being privately leased by the 4-H leader to another senior 4-H member and that Sprint will be sold to a Wisconsin farm to be used as a foundation bull for sperm.