You know Newport is home to plenty of beautiful mansions with rolling fields and manicured lawns, but did you know that right next to Hammersmith Farm a special foundation is working hard to ensure that rare livestock breeds are preserved?

This foundation is underappreciated but serves a vital role to the future of our food system. Read on to learn more!

The SVF Foundation is located on 45 acres in Newport, Rhode Island, comprised of the old Swiss Village and land that was formerly part of Hammersmith Farm.

Locals might remember Surprise Valley Farm, also known as the Swiss Village since its buildings were designed in 1914 as an exact recreation of just that. A farm for many years, the property has also been used as a rehabilitation facility. In 1998, it was transformed into the SVF Foundation.

The Foundation partners with Tufts' Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to conserve heritage breeds through cryopreservation, or freezing germplasm. It's just like a seed bank, for animals. This ensures that these livestock breeds can be bred in the future and that their potentially useful traits will not be lost.

The breeds they preserve include a number of rare cows, like the Belted Galloway pictured here.

The different breeds of animals (such as this Navajo-Churro sheep) all have very different needs, so the scientists work carefully to ensure they get what they need.

All of the animals get the very best possible care, and get to enjoy the fantastic beauty of this historic farm.

The animals are protected from predators like coyotes by the farm's llamas, which are incredibly good guard animals, despite their silly appearance.

Due to the need to carefully protect the farm animals from any kind of viruses or bacteria, the farm is generally closed to the public. However, they do offer tours to school groups, and open to the public for tours one day each year in June. Keep an eye out for your next opportunity to tour this special place!

Are you as fascinated by this farm as we are?

If you want to get a little more up close and personal with some farm animals, check out this fantastic horseback riding stable.