Jon Stewart's Farm Proposal Back Up for Vote Tuesday Night

Colts Neck, NJ - The Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board is scheduled to make its final decision Tuesday night, May 3, on whether or not it will approve Jon and Tracey Stewart's ambitious plans to open a farm animal sanctuary in Colts Neck.

Tracey, a former veterinary technician and wife of the former "Daily Show" host, seeks to open a farm animal sanctuary and educational center at Hockhockson Farm on Rt. 537. JTS Land Trust, owned by the Stewarts, is currently in contract to buy the farm.

At its last meeting, on April 5, the agriculture board unanimously approved part of the Stewarts' plan, to grow and sell crops on the farm. The crops would be sold to the public from the existing farm stand that's there now.

But the second part of the Stewarts' plan — to turn Hockhockson into a shelter for livestock rescued from slaughterhouses, and to open an educational center — hit a few speedbumps at that April meeting. Testimony over the issue lasted for hours, and not everyone was happy with the idea.

Colts Neck's deputy mayor Michael D. Fitzgerald said he was irked the Stewarts presented their application before the county, leaving out the local Colts Neck planning board.

"We’re not adverse to the concept, we’re adverse to the process," Fitzgerald said at the time, according to the Asbury Park Press. It "usurp(s) any authority that Colts Neck has to regulate what’s being proposed."

Philip San Filippo, an attorney representing Jon Stewart and his wife, promised to present their plans to the Colts Neck Planning Board once the Monmouth Agriculture Board approves their application.

Farm animals, such as horses, cows, pigs and sheep, will live on the farm, as will between 15-50 caretakers, Tracey Stewart testified at the April 5 meeting. Additionally, students from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital and Rutgers University's Cook College will be invited to study the animals.

The board is scheduled to vote on the issue Tuesday night, May 3, at 7:30 p.m.

A call to San Filippo was not returned Monday. Stewart and his wife live in Red Bank and own an existing farm in Middletown.