ONLINE PANEL: From Animal Farmers to Animal Advocates

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Via Zoom

People who make their living from animal agriculture are often the staunchest defenders of the industry—which is why it matters when a few of them change sides and start fighting for animals instead.

This Animal Justice panel brings together former animal farmers, a slaughterhouse inspector, and a ranch worker whose conscience and compassion led them from producing and killing animals to advocating for them.

Our panelists:

• Renée King-Sonnen: Former cattle rancher & Executive Director of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary
• Mike Lanigan: Former cattle rancher & co-founder of Farmhouse Garden Animal Home
• Jennifer Barrett: Former chicken farmer
• David Magna: Former slaughterhouse inspector turned animal rights advocate
• Edith Barabash: Former cattle ranch worker & Executive Director of Farmhouse Garden Animal Home

Hosted by: Animal Justice’s Kimberly Carroll

In this conversation, panelists will share:

• The animals and moments that changed them
• Farming and slaughter practices that would shock most people
• The beliefs that kept them in the industry—and what finally cracked their thinking open
•  How they transitioned out of animal agriculture and rebuilt their lives
• What advocates should understand about the industry and the mindset of people inside it
• What they’ve learned about effectively reaching non-vegans

This is an especially powerful panel to invite people who care about animals but haven’t connected the dots yet. And for advocates, it’s a rare chance to hear directly from industry insiders—gather meaningful stories and insights for your own outreach and reignite your hope.

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