Linda Kaye Hollingsworth-Jones and Levi and Robin Stroing from Emmett, Idaho, have received Microgrant awards from The Livestock Conservancy to support their work with endangered agricultural livestock breeds. Hollingsworth-Jones will use her grant to preserve and promote the critically endangered Hackney horse, while the Stroings will use their grant to improve their work with Mulefoot hogs, another critically endangered breed.
The Hackney horse is one of the rarest horse breeds worldwide, with only around 3,000 purebreds in existence. The breed is classified as “Critical” on the Conservation Priority List, making preservation efforts crucial. The Stroings will be installing underground water pipes, buried power lines, and frost-free waterers in their Mulefoot hog pastures to improve survivability for the young piglets and address challenges faced in winter.
The Livestock Conservancy awarded 15 Microgrants up to $2,000 each in three categories to support conservation efforts for endangered livestock and poultry breeds. The Microgrants program has awarded nearly $135,000 since its launch in 2018, with applications for the next round opening in May 2025. The Livestock Conservancy is a membership-based organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving rare-breed livestock and poultry across America.
