Celebrating the 2025 Youth Pro-Animal Awards Winners

The 2025 Youth Pro‑Animal Awards (YPAA) brought together an extraordinary group of young creators from around the world who are using their voices to advance farm animal advocacy. Their work is bold, compassionate, and deeply needed.

Since launching in 2024, YPAA has partnered with the nonprofit The Pollination Project to award more than $50,000 in youth content‑creator grants. In 2025, we expanded significantly, adding mentorships, influencer and NGO partnerships, and a digital training program designed to help young advocates build the skills and confidence to speak out for farm animals. Our winners are using their grants to create powerful videos, inspire their peers, and build communities of compassion—online and off.

Celebrating the 2025 Grand Prize Winners

This year’s winners are all teenagers who exemplify the potential of youth‑led advocacy when given support, visibility, and encouragement.

Scout (@farm_animal_alpas_network, United States)  

At 13, Scout used her birthday money to help rescue a calf—an act of compassion that resonated widely and inspired thousands.

Porter (@porterfortheanimals, United States)  

Growing up on a pig sanctuary, Porter uses humor and daily‑life storytelling to shift public perception of pigs from commodities to individuals.

Jay (@vegantipsjay22, Netherlands)  

Jay’s educational videos blend accuracy, accessibility, and charisma, making complex issues understandable for broad audiences.

Gracie (@graciehohn, United States)  

A youth organizer and sanctuary volunteer, Gracie speaks candidly about factory farming and the systemic reforms needed to protect animals.

Fan Favorite: Ariya (@blackflagrefuge, United States)  

Founder of a microsanctuary, Ariya documents the lives of rescued chickens and cats, many with special needs, offering a deeply humanizing lens on farm animal care.

Our Theory of Change

YPAA operates on a simple but powerful premise:

If we identify promising young advocates early, support their development, and amplify their voices, then we can build a global pipeline of leaders who will shape the future of farm animal protection.

This theory of change is built on four pillars:

1. Discovery

Actively search for young people using social media to advocate for farm animals—and incentivize new voices to step forward through prizes and recognition.

2. Support

Provide microgrants, mentorship, training, and institutional backing to help youth develop storytelling skills, digital strategy, and movement‑aligned messaging.

3. Amplification

Connect youth creators with influencers, NGOs, sanctuaries, and peer networks that expand their reach and visibility.

4. Leadership Development

Create pathways for long‑term engagement—volunteering, youth advisory boards, nonprofit collaborations, and future leadership roles.

This approach transforms individual posts into durable movement infrastructure.

Our Impact So Far

In just two years, YPAA has grown into one of the largest global pipelines of young farm animal advocates.

Program Metrics (2024–2025)

• 50 award winners
• Representing 20 countries
• 600+ videos submitted across Instagram and TikTok
• Participants from six continents
• Dozens of first‑time advocates posting about farm animals

These numbers reflect more than participation—they reflect the emergence of a youth‑driven movement that is beginning to reshape how farm animal welfare is communicated to the next generation.

A Call to Support the Next Generation

The Youth Pro‑Animal Awards represent a strategic investment in the future of farm animal advocacy. The next generation is ready to lead. Our role is to ensure they have the resources, mentorship, and community they need to succeed.