The Meaning Behind the Mural

The Jude Mural by Shauna Yorty, located in the heart of downtown Lancaster, stands as a beacon of compassion and a celebration of love.

In the mural, Jude rests peacefully in a field of marigolds, the birth flower of October. There are twenty blooms in total, representing his birth month and year: October 20, 2020. Above him, a crescent moon shines softly over the sanctuary, honoring Luna the sheep and symbolizing remembrance for all the animals whose lives have been touched by Lancaster Farm Sanctuary.

Jude with best friends Claire and Maya, 2022

Look closely, and you’ll notice symbols woven throughout the design:

• A bright star glows in the sky, watching over Jude — a tribute to Claire, one of Jude’s dearest friends who has passed on, yet remains forever with us all.
• A black-and-white butterfly rests nearby, representing Maya, Jude’s friend who is always by his side.
• The mural captures Jude resting in the quiet of a sunset with Maya (as a butterfly), his favorite time of day. This simple act is revolutionary, a moment of peace that most farmed animals never experience because they are denied the freedom to wander, the space to feel the sun fade, the chance to form deep bonds or simply to rest. Jude’s gentle stillness reminds us what it means to live freely, to feel the world around us, and to belong within it.
• Encircling the mural is a green band, the same color as Jude’s favorite coat, which once kept him warm as a fragile baby. Within this border, a poem tells his story:

Lancaster Farm Sanctuary co-founder Jonina Turzi and Jude, 2023

Lancaster Farm Sanctuary co-founder Sarah Salluzzo and Luna, 2021

My name is Jude. I was born on a farm with a cleft lip—unwanted.
Now I live at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary.
I am safe, loved, & free to be me.
Look up and see. The light in you is the light in me.

This poem speaks to friendship, resilience, and transformation. It reminds us that kindness can turn even the most painful beginnings into something radiant. Jude’s story invites reflection on how our lives, human and animal alike, are woven from the same light. How we all belong, no matter what others try to make us believe.

Though we often imagine ourselves separate from the natural world, in truth we are part of it; interdependent, divine, and deeply connected. The mural invites all who pass by to pause, to see Jude not as “other,” but as a fellow traveler sharing this earth and to remember that we are made from the same cloth. That we breathe the same air. That the light in him is the light in us all.

A Legacy of Love

We invite you to please take a photo of the Jude Mural and share it! Maybe a selfie or a photo with friends! Maybe your dog would like to pose in the photo! Please share the photo and tag us at @LancasterFarmSanctuary on IG and FB (and give us a follow while you’re at it). Tag us and use #JudeMural and we will share it on our stories! Let’s spread Jude’s love!

Jude’s mural stands as a permanent testament to the power of compassion. Every brushstroke honors not only Jude’s survival but also the mission of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary to create a world where all beings are free to live and be loved.

When you pass by Jude’s mural, may you be reminded of his journey from suffering to sanctuary, and may his story inspire a deeper connection to all living beings.

Jude’s Story: A Journey from Despair to Joy!

Jude was born on a local dairy farm on October 20, 2020. Like most calves in the dairy industry, he was taken from his mother shortly after birth and placed alone in a small pen.

When the calf broker arrived to purchase that week’s newborn male calves (male calves are unnecessary on a dairy farm as they can’t get pregnant and therefore can’t produce milk) he took one look at Jude, who was born with a cleft lip, and refused to buy him. He told the farmer he would “throw him on the compost pile” just to get the calf off the farmer’s hands.

Thankfully, compassion intervened. The farm’s accountant couldn’t bear to see Jude tossed away like trash and she reached out to Lancaster Farm Sanctuary for help.

When we received the plea, we rushed to get him immediately. What we found broke our hearts. Jude, a frail, four-day-old calf shivering in a dirty pen, struggling to survive. We gently lifted him into our van and took him straight to the hospital, where it was discovered that Jude was battling four serious infections: mycoplasma, bovine coronavirus, cryptosporidium, and salmonella.

For many long months, Jude received intensive hospitalization and round-the-clock care. It was a true community effort made possible by the generosity, love, and support of people who refused to give up on him. Together, we watched a miracle unfold. Jude survived.

Today, more than five years later, Jude is thriving at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary! He spends his days basking in the sun, getting brushed by his caregivers, and sharing deep friendships with his fellow rescued residents. He is playful, expressive, and adored by everyone who meets him. He is a living symbol of hope, compassion, and the beautiful life every animal deserves!

Jude’s recovery and his joyful life today were only possible because of a community that believed in love. Your support continues to make miracles like his happen.

The Story of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary

Co-founders Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi with Jude and Ruthie-a goat Lancaster Farm Sanctuary rescued after she suffered terrible frostbite and lost both back feet, 2025

Nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary is a place where rescued farm animals find peace, safety, and love. Founded by compassionate advocates for animals, Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi, the sanctuary began with a simple but profound vision — to build a world free from animal exploitation, where justice and compassion guide human choices.

Today, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary is home to cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, chickens, turkeys, and other animals who were once neglected, abandoned, or destined for slaughter. Here, they live freely on rolling pastures, forming friendships and bonds that remind us of the deep emotional lives shared by all beings.

Each resident, like Jude the cow, has a unique story. These are stories of heartbreak, resilience, forgiveness, and joy. Just like our own. Through their lives, the sanctuary invites our community to see farm animals not as commodities, but as individuals deserving of care and compassion.

Lancaster Farm Sanctuary also works to educate, inspire, and advocate by hosting community events, tours, and programs that foster empathy and awareness.

As the only organization of its kind in Lancaster County, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary is a true grassroots effort, run largely by volunteers and funded entirely by community support. The sanctuary has saved the lives of hundreds of animals and profoundly impacted thousands of people. Through its education, advocacy, and direct rescue work, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary has created the greatest positive impact for farm animals in the history of this region.

To support our work of love and liberation, visit our donation page.

About the Mural Artist

Artist SLYorty working on the Jude mural, 2025

Shauna L. Yorty ( Slyorty – Lancaster Photo Collective and @slyorty on FB and IG) is a Lancaster-based artist working from her heart and serving with joy, creating bright, bold works of art that tell powerful stories of hope and provide healing to those who work with and beside her.  As a systems-thinker, they draw connections from a lifetime of awe-inspiring experiences, multi-faceted passions, and deeply felt joys to provide opportunities for others to find connection to themselves and each other, to the larger world community, and to their own stories through the process of making and experiencing art together. Shauna’s work invites people to own, tell, and participate in their own stories.

Shauna was assisted by:
Chomingos Rivas (@chomingorivas on FB and IG)
Jandi Lea Goshert (@Jandi Lea Goshert Enterprises on FB)
Renea Ltece (@ltece.art on FB and IG)
Alix Walburn (@awallabies on IG)

The History of the WOW Building

In 2013, Henrietta Heisler bought a building to expand her interior design scope of business. The building (c. 1910) on West Walnut Street in Lancaster was once the home of Wacker & Brother’s Eagle Brewery. After the brewery closed in 1956, the building has supported several businesses. One of the first businesses Henrietta welcomed to the building and helped design beautifully and functionally was Root, a vegan restaurant. Other small businesses, including hers—Henrietta Heisler Interiors— as well as Dr. Jonina Turzi CFMT, West End Yoga, Amanita Cafe, Levengoods of Lancaster Cider Brewery, and Susquehanna Botanicals now fill the space. She named the building Wacker on Walnut (WOW). For her efforts, Henrietta was awarded the Historic Preservation Trust’s C. Emlen Urban Award for Adaptive Reuse in 2021.