In episode 2 of the Agri-Tourist Podcast, we sat down with John and Emma Hoel, the founders of Peacefield, a farm animal sanctuary tucked into the rolling landscape of North Central Florida. What unfolds is a deeply human story about purpose, health, loss, resilience—and how agri-tourism can change both animal lives and human hearts.
A Spring Morning at Peacefield
At Peacefield, spring means fresh grass for cows, freshly shorn sheep racing across the pasture, and a calm that feels almost intentional. John describes it as a fleeting perfection—before Florida’s intense summer arrives. That sense of awareness, of being present, mirrors the entire Peacefield story.
Located just minutes from University of Florida, yet surrounded by open land, Peacefield feels worlds away from city life—by design.
From Minneapolis to Gainesville: A Leap of Faith
John and Emma spent years in Minneapolis, deeply rooted in urban life. John worked as a videographer; Emma was a nurse. Neither came from farming backgrounds. Yet after decades of shoveling snow, they began searching for land in warmer climates—initially even considering Hawaii.
After extensive research, Zillow searches, and a few false starts, they landed near Gainesville—drawn by affordability, access to volunteers, and a surprising sense of community.
What they didn’t expect was how much the town itself would shape their mission.
The Health Journey That Changed Everything
Peacefield’s origin story is inseparable from food and health. Like many Americans, John and Emma initially adopted a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle for wellness—not ethics.
Reading How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger changed everything.
The benefits were immediate: faster recovery after long-distance runs, improved energy, and eventually, dramatic transformations within their own family. John’s mother, after caring for her own mother through dementia, embraced plant-based eating—coming off medications, losing weight, and reclaiming her health. Today, she lives at Peacefield, baking treats for volunteers and helping care for animals.
This wasn’t just lifestyle change. It was a gift—one the Hoels felt compelled to pass forward.
A Tragedy That Clarified Purpose
Shortly after these health breakthroughs, a devastating accident during a road trip claimed the life of a close friend. Witnessing loss so suddenly reframed everything.
The question became unavoidable: If not now, when?
That moment crystallized their long-held dream—creating a place to help animals and people heal together.
Inspiration from a Farm Animal Sanctuary in Hawaii
Years earlier, before going vegan, John and Emma visited Leilani Farm Sanctuary. Sitting quietly with pigs and turkeys who were safe for life planted a seed that would take years to grow.
That seed became Peacefield.
Learning Before Leaping: Volunteering First
Before committing fully, the Hoels volunteered for over a year at Spring Farm Sanctuary, just outside Minneapolis. There, they learned the daily realities of sanctuary life: feeding, cleaning, leading tours, and building systems that keep animals safe.
Only after that hands-on education did they sell their dream home, pack up their lives, and move south.
Why the Name “Peacefield”?
The name Peacefield traces back to John Adams’ retirement home—symbolizing rest after conflict. For John and Emma, it captured exactly what they hoped to create: a place of peace after suffering.
And five years in, with nearly 50 rescued animals, the name fits.
The First Year: Reality Hits Hard
The first year nearly sent them back to Minnesota.
Animals escaped. Meals happened at midnight. Florida heat replaced Minnesota winters. Their very first rescue pig, Toby, escaped on his first night.
But community saved them.
Nearby sanctuaries like Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary became mentors—teaching fencing, medical care, and sustainable growth.
Agri-Tourism with a Purpose: The Peacefield Airbnb
One of Peacefield’s most innovative sustainability tools is its on-site Airbnb.
Guests stay in a private dwelling overlooking pastures—but with one unique requirement: while at Peacefield, the stay is 100% vegan.
What surprised the Hoels most?
The Airbnb is often booked by non-vegans.
Families come for University of Florida graduations, nearby natural springs, or simply peace and quiet. They leave with something deeper: relationships with cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep—each with distinct personalities.
Children cry when it’s time to leave.
Some guests go fully vegan. Others take small steps. All leave changed.
More Than a Sanctuary: A Place for Humans Too
Peacefield hosts:
- Weekly yoga on the farm
- Plant-based cooking classes
- Volunteer days with University of Florida students
- Educational talks and tours
The goal isn’t guilt—it’s connection.
As John puts it, once animals feel safe, their personalities emerge. Chickens have friends. Pigs have preferences. Cows form deep bonds.
That realization changes people.
Sustainability Without Burnout
Peacefield is intentionally capacity-conscious. While they receive near-daily requests to take in animals, John and Emma understand a hard truth: sanctuaries can’t outpace demand.
Their deeper mission is education.
By helping people move toward plant-based living, thousands of animals are spared—far beyond what any single sanctuary could house.
The Animals That Change Us
Every sanctuary has its soul animals.
For John, it’s Felix, a bottle-fed calf rescued as a newborn who now believes John is his mother. Felix’s rescue inspired the very couple who saved him to go vegan—transforming their health and lives in the process.
For Emma, it’s the daily quiet acts of care—feeding, watching, noticing subtle changes that only come from deep presence.
Even the loss of animals, like Jan the chicken who spent her final days inside the home, reinforces Peacefield’s core value: dignity, always.
Why Peacefield Matters in the Agri-Tourism Movement
Peacefield is not just a destination—it’s a model.
It shows how:
- Agri-tourism can fund ethical operations
- Education works best through experience
- Sustainability means knowing when to say no
- Healing is mutual—animals and humans together
Peacefield proves that farms don’t just feed bodies. They shape values, empathy, and future choices.
Visit, Support, or Learn More
If you’re seeking an agri-tourism experience that goes beyond sightseeing—one rooted in compassion, sustainability, and genuine connection—Peacefield offers something rare.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about doing better, once we know better.
Interested in this episode or more agri-tourism stories like this? Follow the Agri-Tourist Podcast and explore farms, sanctuaries, and food systems shaping a more thoughtful future.
