The Herd
Seven very special cows now call Mission Peak home. Each arrived here with a story of their own, and together they’ve become a close-knit herd. They spend their days roaming our hillsides, grazing the ranch and helping us naturally manage the land surrounding our vineyard. We’re incredibly grateful to One Living Sanctuary for bringing each of them to safety and giving us the opportunity to be part of the next chapter of their lives.
Honey
The Curious One
Honey is friendly, inquisitive and always interested in what’s going on around her. After being separated from her mother at birth and spending her first months living in a barn, she was rescued at ten months old when her former caretaker couldn’t bear to send her to auction.
The first time Honey saw an open pasture, she took off running through the field like an excited puppy. She’s grown into a sweet, confident cow who knows her name, loves scratches and isn’t afraid to investigate just about anything.
These days, Honey gets to do what she loves most: spend her days outside grazing alongside her herd.
Born: July 2019
Luke
The Social Butterfly
Luke and his twin sister, Leia, have been together from the very beginning.
Rescued as calves from the dairy industry, the twins were eventually introduced to Honey, who had been living without other cows. The three quickly became inseparable.
Luke is outgoing, affectionate and loves meeting people. He’s also developed close friendships throughout the herd — especially with Sparky.
If Luke comes over to say hello, don’t be surprised if his version of a handshake involves one very large, very scratchy tongue.
Born: August 2019
Leia
The Sweetheart
Leia is Luke’s twin sister and every bit as social as her brother.
After being rescued from the dairy industry as a calf, she and Luke joined Honey and formed the beginning of the herd you see today.
Leia is gentle, outgoing and remarkably comfortable around people and other animals. She’s been known to happily share her space with everyone from cows to chickens.
Her favorite things are simple: good friends, green grass and the occasional fruit or vegetable treat.
Born: August 2019
Sparky
The Survivor
Sparky has one of the most remarkable stories in the herd.
He was born on a beef ranch on the same day the 2019 Kincade Fire began and suffered severe burns as a newborn calf. A couple took him in, bottle-fed him and spent months carefully treating his injuries. Sparky recovered, but the experience left him with scars that tell an extraordinary story of resilience.
Today, he’s known less for what he survived and more for who he is: an exceptionally calm, gentle soul who has formed strong friendships with the other animals around him.
At Mission Peak, Sparky has plenty of friends, open hillsides and all the time in the world to roam.
Born: October 23, 2019
Barbara
The Mama
Barbara is the quiet, gentle member of the herd. She arrived at One Living Sanctuary pregnant and understandably cautious around people. Tragically, she lost her calf during birth shortly after arriving. Then something extraordinary happened.
A newborn dairy calf named Bodhi had been rescued just one day earlier. Bodhi needed a mother, and Barbara had just lost her baby. The two were introduced – and within minutes, Bodhi began nursing. Barbara adopted him as her own.
She’s still one of the more reserved cows in the herd and prefers to build trust at her own pace. But there’s one cow you’ll rarely find far away: Bodhi.
Born: ~May 2020
Bodhi
Bodhi’s life changed when he was just one day old. He had been separated from his biological mother after birth at a dairy farm and rescued when fate brought him to Barbara, who had lost her own calf only hours earlier.
The introduction worked. Barbara accepted Bodhi as her baby, Bodhi began nursing, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
Bodhi inherited a little of Barbara’s cautious personality, but over time he’s learned to trust the people around him. Even as he’s grown into a very big boy, you’ll still find him close to his adopted mama.
Born: February 25, 2022
Bee
The Baby of the Herd
Bee may be the youngest member of the Mission Peak herd, but he’s already been on quite an adventure.
He was rescued from the veal industry when he was just two days old after Honey had tragically lost a calf of her own. Honey was given the opportunity to adopt him.
Soon afterward, Bee became seriously ill and spent ten days receiving treatment at UC Davis — with Honey by his side to nurse him and keep him company.
He made a full recovery and has grown into a confident, affectionate young steer who seems capable of making friends with just about everyone.
Bee now has an entire herd looking out for him — and many years of exploring the Mission Peak hills ahead.
Born: October 6, 2024
Their Next Chapter
Honey, Luke, Leia, Sparky, Barbara, Bodhi and Bee came to us through One Living Sanctuary, a Bay Area farm animal rescue dedicated to giving rescued animals the opportunity to live their natural lives in peace.
At Mission Peak, they’ll remain together as the herd they’ve come to know as family.
Their new job is a pretty good one: roam the ranch, graze our hillsides, help us naturally manage vegetation and fire fuel, and remind all of us that there’s much more happening on these 150 acres than growing grapes.
Welcome to the ranch, Honey, Luke, Leia, Sparky, Barbara, Bodhi & Bee.
JJ
JJ came to us from a horse rescue in Napa that has since closed, and there’s no question he knows how handsome he is.
At 14 years old, JJ is confident, strong-willed and occasionally likes to remind everyone that he thinks he should be in charge. He lives with a hoof injury that requires a little extra care, but it certainly hasn’t diminished his personality.
Beneath that confident exterior is a horse we’ve grown to know and love – and one who has found his permanent home here on the ranch.
Born: April 2011
Annabelle
Annabelle came to Mission Peak after retiring from her former life as a broodmare, and it didn’t take long for her to completely win us over.
We don’t know exactly how old she is or everything about her life before she arrived here, but we do know one thing for certain: she is quite possibly the sweetest horse we’ve ever met.
After Annabelle joined our family, we discovered that she has Cushing’s disease, which means she needs daily medication and some extra attention to keep her feeling her best. She takes it all in stride with the same gentle, trusting personality that makes her so special.
These days, Annabelle’s job is simply to enjoy retirement, spend her days with JJ and soak up all the love and attention she deserves.
Born A lady never tells
Charlie
The Gentle Giant
Charlie has been part of our family since he was just eight weeks old, and at nearly a decade old, he’s earned his place as one of the original members of the Mission Peak family.
Life hasn’t always been easy for our gentle giant. Charlie has experienced ongoing digestive issues since he was a puppy, and despite visits to specialists throughout the area, we’ve never been able to find a clear answer. At just one year old, he also broke his leg – but true to Charlie’s resilient nature, he recovered like a champ.
Through it all, Charlie has remained our big, lovable Great Dane. These days, we’re simply grateful for every day with him and hope he has many more comfortable years ahead, enjoying the quiet life and open space here at the ranch.
Born: April 27, 2017
Salem
The Barn Boss
We’re not entirely sure how Salem found her way to Mission Peak, but somewhere along the way, she decided our barn was home — and we’ve loved her to pieces ever since.
Friendly, clever and always perfectly put together, Salem carries herself like she owns the place. She has mastered life on the ranch and peacefully coexists with just about everyone who calls it home — horses, cows, dogs and even our resident wild peacock.
She may have arrived without an invitation, but these days it’s hard to imagine the barn without her. Salem has officially appointed herself part of the Mission Peak family, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Born: Unknown
Forever Part of the Ranch
Some of the animals who made Mission Peak home are no longer with us, but their stories remain part of this place. They were family, companions and characters we’ll never forget.
Ned
The Wise One
Ned was smart, wise and always seemed to understand a little more than he let on.
A beloved Great Dane and an unforgettable member of our family, Ned took his responsibilities around the property very seriously — particularly when squirrels were involved. To this day, we consider him the best squirrel hunter west of the Mississippi.
He left a very big mark on our family and will always be part of the story of Mission Peak.
DOB: XX/XX/XXXX
Forever Remembered: XX/XX/XXXX
Leo
The Loyal One
Leo was loyalty in Great Dane form.
Devoted to his family and always wanting to be wherever we were, Leo loved deeply and stood faithfully by our side. He was loyal to a fault — the kind of dog whose presence becomes so intertwined with everyday life that the space feels different when they’re gone.
We’ll always remember his enormous heart, his companionship and the years we were lucky enough to call him ours.
DOB: XX/XX/XXXX
Forever Remembered: XX/XX/XXXX
Raisa
Raisa was one of the horses who helped make the ranch feel like home.
Her time here became part of the rhythm and history of Mission Peak — quiet days in the pasture, familiar routines and the simple joy of looking out and seeing her there.
Though she’s no longer grazing our hillsides, Raisa will always have a place in the story of the ranch.
Pookie
Pookie was another special horse who called Mission Peak home and became part of our family’s story.
Like all the animals who have shared this land with us, Pookie brought a personality and presence entirely their own. The memories remain long after the hoofprints have faded.
Pookie will always be remembered as part of the Mission Peak family.