Experience Healing Through Nature & Animals
Animal Assisted Therapy and Humane Education
Experience Healing Through Nature & Animals
Animal Assisted Therapy and Humane Education
About Healing Herd Therapy Farm
Our History
Our farm, Gretta's Goats was started in 2011. We started as first generation farmers as a part of farm incubator program on over 100 acres of conservation land. What started with a few acres of land, a dream, and a handful of goats grew into much more. We moved our farm to Pecatonica, Illinois in 2013 to provide farm education to kids and adults and build a small sustainable animal welfare approved goat dairy on 25 acres. Our farm now includes honey bees, livestock guardian dogs, a fluffy corgi, miniature donkeys, chickens, farm kitties, and a herd of 50 very loved goats.
Our Story
How Healing Herd Therapy Farm Can Help
How Healing Herd Therapy Farm Can Help
For 13 years, Gretta’s Goats, an animal welfare approved farm certified by a Greener World has educated the community and beyond about sustainable and regenerative farming practices through on farm experiences and classes. This working dairy farm remains a labor of love and connection for many to animals and nature. Now we are taking the next step with Healing Herd Therapy Farm.
Founder Gretta Winkelbauer has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education/Teacher for the Visually Impaired and a master’s degree in human service and blind rehabilitation. She is experienced in working with children and adults of all ages with sensory impairments, trauma, and other special needs. She spent 15 years working as a developmental therapist for children from birth to age 3. In addition, she worked as a blind rehabilitation specialist and teacher in hospitals, the homes of clients, and schools. In August 2024 she obtained her certification in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) from Concordia University Wisconsin.
Starting from her years working in human services, she experienced the healing power of nature and animals. Her students thrived during visits to Chicago's nature preserves while honing their orientation and mobility skills sometimes accompanied by a therapy dog. Gretta's grandfather, a WWII prisoner of war survivor, raised pigeons in his backyard to help heal his trauma. And her dad - also a survivor of WWII, moving from refugee camp to refugee camp - spent 55 years raising sled dogs.
Spending her days on her farm surrounded by nature and animals has been a catalyst for Gretta to find peace, meaning, and purpose. The combination of nature and animals is powerful medicine for all.
How Healing Herd Therapy Farm Can Help
How Healing Herd Therapy Farm Can Help
How Healing Herd Therapy Farm Can Help
Healing Herd Therapy Farm is a non-profit organization offering animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and humane education to young people and families in our community. Animal Assisted Therapy is goal oriented, planned, structured, and documented therapeutic intervention directed by health and human service providers. We believe that land, animals and humans all are interconnected. Experiencing this first-hand, young people develop understanding and empathy for animals, other people, and in turn themselves. Our farm is much more than just animals, soil, grass, and plants. It is a living classroom and a wise teacher.
Filling a Community Need
How Healing Herd Therapy Farm Can Help
Filling a Community Need
A growing body of research points to the beneficial effects that exposure to the natural world has on health for us all. Through interacting with animals humans experience positive mental and physical effects. Similar results can occur in children during emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral development. The wellness of humans, animals, and the environment are permanently tied together. Teens and children may face anxiety, depression, bullying, substance abuse and technology addiction.
When adolescents develop the skills and resilience to overcome obstacles, they can become confident, capable adults that help build stronger communities.
Research shows that teens living in rural areas are more likely to experience mental health crises than those living in suburban and urban areas. Rural teens also have limited access to healthcare compared to counterparts in more populated areas.
Many children living in larger nearby cities experience challenges of their own, including poverty and violence. This can lead to difficulty in regulating their emotions, lack of perseverance and poor self-esteem.
What We Offer
Our Four-legged Co-therapists
Filling a Community Need
Healing Herd Therapy Farm offers classes and individual sessions for public schools, homeschool groups, individual families and social service agencies. Our hands-on care farming experiences include beekeeping, cheesemaking, soapmaking, goat hikes, baby goat snuggle sessions, care of the animals, and animal husbandry. These experiences help to inspire awe for the natural world and to shift our perspective. Awe helps us to build reverence for nature , ourselves, and animals Animal Assisted Therapy sessions can be tailored to help a student experience growth toward meeting individualized education plan goals and benchmarks. Animal Assisted Therapy can also assist with reducing stress, anxiety, and depression for everyone. In addition to care farming experiences we also host meditation, yoga, and forest walks. The animal "co"-therapists provide unconditional positive regard for all. We provide a welcoming place where human-animal interactions help individuals heal, grow , and thrive. Our nature based setting provides participants with a sense of peace and purpose which helps to facilitate learning and self-efficacy. Students learn respect and empathy, taking time and care while building a lasting reciprocal relationship with the animal co-therapists, which enriches the animals’ lives too.
Our Four-legged Co-therapists
Our Four-legged Co-therapists
Our Four-legged Co-therapists
The therapy animals at Healing Herd were chosen for their temperament and natural affinity to humans. They are excited to meet you! Today, people participating in Healing Herd programs may interact with a variety of animal co-therapists. Participants are always given a choice of the level of interaction they would like have with the animals, from simply observing from more hands-on interactions. Animal Welfare is our priority. We monitor the co-therapists body language for any potential stressors and to make sure they are comfortable with the tasks given. The animals are also given a choice as to whether or not they would like to participate in a therapy session. In addition, we try to provide enrichment for the animal during each session. Whether it be a goat hike where the goats get to walk at their own pace and eat a variety of plants, or a baby goat that is held and falls asleep in a cozy embrace.
Meet the Board of Healing Herd
Gretta Winkelbauer
Gretta Winkelbauer
Gretta Winkelbauer
Gretta is passionate about farm animal welfare, regenerative farming, education, animal assisted therapy, rights for people with disabilities and children's mental health. She has a graduate degree in Human Service/Blind Rehabilitation and a undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Special Education/Teacher of the Visually Impaire
Gretta is passionate about farm animal welfare, regenerative farming, education, animal assisted therapy, rights for people with disabilities and children's mental health. She has a graduate degree in Human Service/Blind Rehabilitation and a undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Special Education/Teacher of the Visually Impaired From Western Michigan University. She spent over 15 years working in hospitals, schools, and peoples' homes as a blind rehabilitation specialist, developmental therapist for infants and toddlers, and as a teacher. Gretta has worked with both guide dogs and therapy dogs throughout her career. She volunteered in Romania to help start a Guide Dog Program. Gretta received her certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy from Concordia University in Wisconsin in 2024. Currently, she owns and operates a small sustainable farm in Pecatonica, Illinois called Gretta's Goats.
Sarah Strargardt
Gretta Winkelbauer
Gretta Winkelbauer
Sarah completed her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired and went on to complete a graduate degree in Orientation and Mobility for the Blind from Western Michigan University. She has worked for over 20 years in the blindness and low vision field serving students in urban, suburban, and
Sarah completed her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired and went on to complete a graduate degree in Orientation and Mobility for the Blind from Western Michigan University. She has worked for over 20 years in the blindness and low vision field serving students in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
This vast experience has provided a unique understanding of the challenges often faced by children with disabilities. Working with guide dogs, growing up on a farm, and adopting many rescue pets has built. a deep love , respect, and appreciation for the animal-human connection.
Tera Miller
Gretta Winkelbauer
Rachel Hamblock
Tera's thirty years of working with diverse corporate, agency and nonprofit organizations have honed her "people-first" philosophy: Treat others with respect and compassion; embrace differences and individuality; value humanity over gain; and success will follow.
Professionally, Tera is a veteran marketing agency leader specializing in st
Tera's thirty years of working with diverse corporate, agency and nonprofit organizations have honed her "people-first" philosophy: Treat others with respect and compassion; embrace differences and individuality; value humanity over gain; and success will follow.
Professionally, Tera is a veteran marketing agency leader specializing in strategy and creativity, message development, meeting facilitation and mentoring, having worked with some of the largest companies in the world.
Personally, she fuels her passions for cooking, entertaining, crafting, and caring for her two cats, two dogs, and a tiny flock of chickens.
She joins Healing Herd Therapy Farm's board as a marketing expert, animal lover, and cheerleader for people reaching their full potential.
Rachel Hamblock
Gretta Winkelbauer
Rachel Hamblock
Rachel is an elementary art teacher and lifelong resident of Pecatonica. She received her certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy from Concordia University in Wisconsin. Rachel developed a strong devotion to animals growing up on her family's farm raising a variety of livestock and pets. As a child, she learned the importance of caring for
Rachel is an elementary art teacher and lifelong resident of Pecatonica. She received her certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy from Concordia University in Wisconsin. Rachel developed a strong devotion to animals growing up on her family's farm raising a variety of livestock and pets. As a child, she learned the importance of caring for animals and the love, support, and comfort they could bring to people. Her passion for teaching art to children and caring for animals has led her to offer a uniquely therapeutic, creative learning experience.
Stephanie Coelho
Stephanie Coelho
Stephanie Coelho
Stephanie Coelho has worked at the Cook County State's Attorney's office as a Victim Witness Specialist for approximately 14 years. She graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology and Counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Stephanie currently serves as a
Stephanie Coelho has worked at the Cook County State's Attorney's office as a Victim Witness Specialist for approximately 14 years. She graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology and Counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Stephanie currently serves as a team leader for the Victim Witness Unit's new Mental Health Team. She has testified as an expert witness in Child Trauma and Recantation and has presented on these subjects and their surrounding topics. She has been a Handler for the Office's Service Dog Hatty. Hatty is a black labrador retriever who helps comfort victims during the course of criminal prosecutions. Stephanie works to serve traumatized individuals through a victim-centered approach, involving multiple methods of care and treatment.
Jason Coelho
Stephanie Coelho
Stephanie Coelho
A lifelong Chicagoan, Jason Coelho graduated from Loyola Law School in 2009 and began his career in public service. Jason served as an Assistant State's Attorney and prosecuted violent crimes for over 13 years. Jason currently works for the Sheriff's Department at Cook County Department of Corrections. Akin to helping victims of violent c
A lifelong Chicagoan, Jason Coelho graduated from Loyola Law School in 2009 and began his career in public service. Jason served as an Assistant State's Attorney and prosecuted violent crimes for over 13 years. Jason currently works for the Sheriff's Department at Cook County Department of Corrections. Akin to helping victims of violent crimes find justice, Jason is passionate about working with animals to help those in need.
Discover the Beauty of Healing Herd Therapy Farm
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goal of providing animal assisted therapy for our community. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
Contact Us
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Healing Herd Therapy Farm
498 N Farwell Bridge Rd Pecatonica IL 61063
Hours
Today | Closed |
We are open by appointment only.
