Sanctuary for the Herd

John Carroll and Chad Wegener are caretakers of the largest herd of San Clemente Island goats in the world, but it almost didn’t happen. The goats weren’t native to the island and threatened the wildlife that was. The U.S. Navy planned to eliminate the population by shooting them from a helicopter, but an animal rights group stepped in at the last minute. Today, nearly one third of the world’s population of the goats reside in Gretna, Nebraska at Willow Valley Farms. The farm is owned and operated by Carroll and Wegener who are dedicated to conserving what is left of the species.

You can watch the video here.

Chad Wegener looks up as a goat steps on him to reach a branch at Willow Valley Farms on August 9, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

John Carroll, left, and Chad Wegener, right, walk their goats at Willow Valley Farms on July 19, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Chad Wegener takes a break while feeding goats at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Chad Wegener loads bales of alfalfa for the goats into his truck and at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Goats graze at Willow Valley Farms on August 9, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Chad Wegener, left, and John Carroll, right, unload feed at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

John Carroll feeds chickens at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

A goat nibbles on Chad Wegener's hat at Willow Valley Farms on July 19, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Goats graze at Willow Valley Farms on July 19, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Goat skulls lay in the grass at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Chad Wegener, left, and John Carroll, right, make blackberry jam in their home at Willow Valley Farms on August 10, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Chad Wegener, left, finishes chores at Willow Valley Farms on August 9, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Sanctuary for the Herd

Leo: Owning his world

Leo Pluhacek suffers from epilepsy and has overcome many roadblocks in order to become independent. Leo has dealt with unpredictable seizures that have made it difficult to drive, go to school and find work with his service dog, Tony. He is working to move out of his parents home and have a place of his own. You can read more about Leo here.

Leo Pluhacek helps his father Mark Pluhacek in the garden at his restaurant Marks Bistro on May 12, 2015 in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek attends a Domesti-PUPS training event shortly after he gets his new service dog Tony on October 18, 2014 at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.

Leo Pluhacek hangs out in his bedroom on November 14, 2014 at his home in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek and his father Mark Pluhacek work on renovations for their upstairs attic on January 7, 2015 at their home in Omaha. They hope to transform the attic into an apartment for Leo until he moves out of the house and gets a place to call his own.

Leo Pluhacek, right, attends his second day of class on December 4, 2014 at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. He missed his first day of the class because he had a seizure the morning before school.

Hours after losing his job, Leo Pluhacek looks online for job openings on May 12, 2015 at his home in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek, right, and his father Mark Pluhacek, left,work on renovations for their upstairs attic on January 7, 2015 at their home in Omaha. They hope to transform the attic into an apartment for Leo until he moves out of the house to find a place he can call his own

Leo Pluhacek goes on a hayride as he attends an outing with Young Adults with Epilepsy, a group he founded, on August 15, 2015 at  Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch in Omaha. 

Leo Pluhacek and coworker Shelby Burton work security at the ConAgra ice rink on December 22, 2014 in Omaha.

 Leo Pluhacek, right, is congratulated by his mother Kristin Pluhacek, second from right, and father Mark Pluhacek, left, at his college graduation from Metropolitan Community College on May 19, 2015 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek has his Vagus nerve stimulation assessed on November 19, 2014 at UNMC in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek, left, and his father Mark Pluhacek, right, leave the house to buy Christmas presents for Kristin Pluhacek on December 22, 2014 in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek, right, goes bowling with his friend Andrew Fish, left, on August 11, 2015 at Maplewood Lanes in Omaha.

Leo Pluhacek, left, and Brooke Lawlor, right, attend an outing with Young Adults with Epilepsy, a group he founded, on August 15, 2015 at Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch in Omaha.

Mark Pluhacek, left, Leo Pluhacek, center, and Kristin Pluhacek, right, hang artwork in Leo's new attic apartment on November 17, 2015 their home in Omaha

Leo Pluhacek goes to his first day of work as a Park Maintenance Worker with the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation department on March 07, 2016 at Hansom Park in Omaha.