Supporters Like You

Barb Preis doesn’t remember exactly how she first learned about Heifer — her best guess is through direct mail. But she clearly remembers what captured her attention: the opportunity to purchase shares of farm animals to help families build their futures.

“I practically grew up on a horse farm,” Barb said. “I started riding lessons and had my first pony by age 8. After that, I was hooked on farm life.”

Her love of agriculture shaped her life. As an adult single parent, Barb began a nontraditional college journey and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Delaware in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture and a minor in entomology. She served as treasurer of the Alpha Zeta agricultural fraternity and was active in her college Future Farmers of America program.

“That’s an enormous amount of agricultural inundation,” she jokes.

After graduation, Barb worked in pet supply retail and later as a medical and pet supplies purchaser for a large urban veterinary hospital. 

But her most rewarding chapter began more than 20 years ago when she became a business owner. As sole proprietor of Good HorseKeeping, she provides farm sitting and equine services — a career that reflects her lifelong passion for horses and agriculture.

Why Heifer Resonates

Barb’s life experiences give her a deep appreciation for Heifer’s emphasis on gender equity. As a female business owner, she’s experienced what it’s like to struggle to be taken seriously. 

“Heifer’s [focus on] women and inclusion speaks to me,” she said.

Barb earned her agricultural education through Pell Grants, dairy work-study scholarships and limited support from her aging parents. She knows firsthand how transformative access to opportunity can be.

As a world traveler who has visited 41 countries — and counting — she has also seen the realities of poverty and food insecurity beyond tourist destinations. 

“I often return from vacation wishing I could do more,” she said. “Philanthropy is my way to put the Golden Rule into action.”

Coming from a Christian background, Barb was inspired to learn that many of the world’s major religions share some version of that same principle. 

A Quarter Century of Commitment

Barb has been a Heifer monthly donor since 2000. Over time, her commitment deepened to include a charitable gift annuity and, most recently, inclusion in her estate plan.

“I’ve been supporting Heifer’s work for more than a quarter of a century while I’m alive, there’s no reason I shouldn’t continue to support them after I’m gone. The need for training programs and resources will continue to be a worldwide issue.”

For Barb, supporting Heifer isn’t just charitable giving — it’s a reflection of who she is. With deep roots in agriculture and decades of entrepreneurial experience, she understands firsthand what it takes to build a livelihood from the ground up. 

That perspective has guided her giving for more than 25 years — and is why she has chosen to ensure her support continues for generations to come. Simply put: “I get them.”

“On a cross-country vacation years later, we decided to take all three of our children to visit the Ranch first-hand,” Velma remembers. During that visit, she and Rich were so impressed by Heifer’s animal husbandry and training, they decided to set up a charitable remainder trust through Heifer Foundation.

The Perrys were grateful for the significant time and attention the Heifer staff offered them in navigating the steps of establishing their estate plan. Rich adds that, “We appreciate the fact that Heifer even administers the other charities our estate will support. That’s a weight lifted off of us and our family as well … I cannot say enough about how they’ve worked with us and treated us with such kindness and help at every corner.”

The Perrys cherish their wonderful memories of visiting Heifer Ranch, and encourage other friends to consider assisting with the Foundation’s mission to end poverty and hunger.

From the very first hours she devoted as a volunteer in 2002, Barb has seen Heifer’s amazing work all over the world. “I’ve seen our projects in action in quite a few countries. I decided to become a donor and set up an endowment through the Foundation.” Most impacted by Heifer’s practice of Passing on the Gift®, she established the Barbara Oakes Endowment to ensure that even more families will continue to improve their lives for decades to come. “What we give may not seem like a whole lot of money to us, but it’s so much more to even the first person who receives, and then that person is going to give and it goes on and on.”

Barb attended a Seagoing Cowboys celebration in Medford, Indiana, during Heifer’s 70th anniversary in 2014. She hopes her love for Heifer and her example might inspire another friend to step forward to help.

The couple decided to make a legacy gift to Heifer Foundation “because we’ve faced some difficult times over the years that helped us to understand the needs of all God’s children. We are blessed to have the resources to give back to an organization that assists others in helping themselves.”

Mark and Hazel have raised five daughters and have eight grandchildren.

Asked what they hoped others might say about them in the future, they replied: “They were compassionate and cared for others.”

They encourage others who are concerned about ending hunger and poverty to consider the merits of Heifer Foundation when making the importance choice of which charities to support today, and tomorrow.