Life & Work with Kate Barker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Barker. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Zen Donkey story begins circa 2016 when my partner Andy and I encountered a group of friendly donkeys while traveling in France. With 20 years of equine-assisted therapy volunteer work under my belt at the time, I was immediately drawn to the healing qualities of the donkeys. We were fascinated by their unique personalities and mesmerized by their presence and needed to learn more. This serendipitous encounter became a grand vision and was ultimately the catalyst for the Zen Donkey journey! 

After returning to the US, we began to research donkeys and the troubles they face globally with the growing demand for donkey skin, which is used to make luxury skincare and other “wellness” products that are popular in China. Meanwhile, we were in the process of pursuing another passion by starting a local plant-based health food business in Kansas City, simultaneously deepening our involvement with donkey rescue, and ultimately combining the two passions by donating profits from Zen Donkey Farms to our donkey mission. 

As two passions collided, mission-driven Zen Donkey Farms was born, and has become the premier trusted local source for fresh organic juices, vegan mylk, and superfoods! ZDF has easy online ordering, with delivery and pickup options, nationwide shipping for some products, and serves customers at the Brookside and Lee’s Summit farmer’s markets every Saturday (in season)! Our products have a special purpose, as each purchase supports donkey rescue and donkey-facilitated wellness through ZDF’s sister Nonprofit Zen Donkey Experience (ZDx), a 501c3 Nonprofit! 

Since launching ZDF in 2018, we’ve grown every year and now have an amazing team of 12 full and part-time team members, have expanded our product line beyond cold-pressed juice to include vegan mylk and superfoods, and will launch clean skincare soon! We’re in the process of expanding our headquarters and are excited to move into our new facility in the fall of 2021 for another BIG chapter! Our sister Nonprofit (ZDx) continues to gain traction with our community and we’re excited to host our annual Dining for Donkeys fundraiser this fall to raise funds for the donkeys and our wellness program. The best part is that we’re just getting started! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and we have certainly had our fair share of challenges, which have ultimately helped us stretch our boundaries and grow! We’ve learned from each challenge and continue to strive for excellence and improvement each time we reach a roadblock. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do? 

1. One unique piece of the story that not many know of goes back to my “former life” as an athlete circa 2008-2011 when I was part of the women’s USA Pentathlon Olympic training team. Just two months before Olympic trials for the London 2012 games, I suffered a career-ending injury in a freak accident during training, which resulted in a cervical spine fracture and a severe concussion. I’m “one of the lucky ones” who got to walk away and for that, I’ve always been grateful. The accident sparked my own wellness journey as I picked up the pieces of my shattered Olympic dreams and turned to nutrition, mind/body wellness, holistic practices, and animal-assisted therapy to heal. When I dig deep and think about the true origins of Zen Donkey Farms, my Pentathlon chapter was instrumental in the original inspiration for what is now my biggest passion and life’s work. I often look inward to my own wellness journey as I strive to inspire others to heal and grow along their own respective paths, and work to serve healing products, ideas, and energy through Zen Donkey Farms. 
2. Zen Donkey Farms has an intense focus on quality, and we’re meticulous about our ingredients, processes, packaging, and the overall customer experience. We only use 100% organic (and local whenever possible) ingredients and grow to produce in our own gardens using regenerative and synthetic-free approaches that go beyond “organic” so we always put the cleanest, freshest, and most nutrient-dense produce in our juices! We use professional hydraulic cold-pressing technology and equipment to ensure each juice and vegan mylk is as nutritious as possible and stays fresh longer than conventional juice products. Our juices and vegan mylk are truly raw, and we never pasteurize or HPP to ensure our juice retains its healing live enzymes, minerals, and amazing antioxidants. As part of our commitment to the planet and unmatched product quality, we always serve our juices and vegan mylk in reusable glass bottles (with an easy bottle return program)! 
3. We are proud to have launched products that can serve KC and BEYOND, with our clean, plant-based protein superfood products available for purchase online, with local KC-area delivery or nationwide shipping! If you live outside KC, in addition to ordering superfoods, you can also order our “Merch with a Mission” that also supports our important donkey rescue and donkey-facilitated work through our sister Nonprofit Zen Donkey Experience! We’re excited to launch into the clean skincare and beauty space in the fall of 2021 for more purpose-driven products that can serve customers anywhere. 
4. We are so proud of our amazing (and quickly growing) team of superstars who pour their souls into creating and delivering fresh, amazing, plant-based products (with a special purpose!) to our community! Our people are the heartbeat of the ZDF story, and we are so grateful for their amazing contributions to the Zen Donkey journey. We truly have a DREAM TEAM!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
While there are many great organizations and structured networking groups out there, I’ve found that simply showing up (wherever you are) with good energy, a positive outlook, and an openness to whatever opportunities the universe provides has always served me well. Sometimes we just need to stop searching externally for answers and look inward to find that trusted North Star. Simply knowing who you are and owning your vibe, being kind, humble, and having a positive outlook can attract the right energy and people who will ultimately love you and elevate your life. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@zendonkeyfarms.com
• Website: www.zendonkeyfarms.com
• Instagram: @zendonkeyfarms
• Facebook: @zendonkeyfarms
• Other: www.zendonkeyexperience.org

Image Credits:
Anna Petrow
Chase Culver
Kylie Crane