So True.

I have mentioned Amanda Nolz's blog from www.beefmagazine.com before and encouraged you to check out the website and read her updates. If you have not found the time to do this yet, take a second now and make your way over there. The girl is good at what she does, and, unlike me, she actually updates her blog on a very regular basis.

In her most recent post, Amanda landed on an excellent point that needs to be heard by everyone, especially the creeps in the HSUS and PETA. The reason I am passing along her message is because I (and probably every other farm kid) have experienced the same sense of awe that she is describing, and I am furious that a slew of self proclaimed activists have successfully covered up the greatness of farmers.

Like Amanda, I have looked up to my dad throughout my entire life because of his unwavering strength and commitment to this farm. He spends winters out in sub zero weather wearing frozen Carhartts and ratty gloves with holes worn in them dealing with icicles in his mustache (really) and broken down equipment and snow burying everything just to maintain a cozy situation for our cattle. He has spent countless frozen hours on the old cabless John Deere in howling winds hauling manure away from the barns and moving fresh sawdust into them so the animals can be comfortable. I have watched him chisel ice out of frozen-solid waterers, use his own hands to warm up frozen water pipes, and carry clean water in buckets to provide the herd with something to drink. From sun-up to sun-down (and sometimes well into the night) in all weather conditions he is willing to place himself in uncomfortable situations just to keep the cattle happy and healthy. The only thing I have never seen him do is whine and complain, give up, or throw a fit about how hard he is working. He has chosen to be a steward to these animals, and would not change occupations if the offer arose. It is impossible not to respect him.

This is what I lived and seen my entire life, this kind of self sacrifice is something that happens on every farm across the country every day of every year, and I cannot put into words how absolutely sickening it is to turn on the news and hear some latte-sipping, comfort-craving, PETA supporting clown who can't last a minute without climate control and an imac, someone who is incapable of caring for another living thing (and has never tried, and never will) and is afraid to get their plastic faux-fur dirty, say that farmers are mean and do not care about animals as much as the compassionate individuals in PETA. My blood boils thinking that these idiots are actually ACCEPTED by the public, that their empty, meaningless words are broadcast across the country every time they set up some "trendy" demonstration (remember the Groundhog Day hoopla?) or have some clueless celebrity join their group while the negative image about farmers sets even deeper into the American mindset. I am willing to bet my life that if a group of softies from an animal rights organization were left in charge of a herd of cattle, they would kill the animals within one week because taking care of them is too hard and too big of a drag on their social life. They have no connection to agriculture, no understanding of the effort people like my dad and uncle put into the welfare of animals, and have no idea how much joy it brings to see a young calf grow into a healthy marketable animal, yet they are out there on their soap box telling the world (and SUCCEEDING, for crying out loud) that farmers are horrible, uncaring people who destroy the environment and abuse animals. My skin is crawling right now just thinking about it.

So, here is your mission. The next time you see an anti-agriculture ad, or a "don't be cruel, go vegetarian" sign, or hear someone talking about how abused farm animals are, do not just shrug it off and move on. Tell the person they are wrong. Ask them to seek out the truth from a farmer (not some self-appointed foodie or disconnected radical organization) and get the real story. If people, those involved with agriculture AND everyone who is not, start pushing back against animal rights groups' elitist power grabs they will quickly lose momentum and go away. Only when the public begins to see farming in its true light and accept the fact that American producers are committed to safe food production and are willing to do whatever it takes to provide inexpensive food to the masses will real progress be made for the future.

I am sorry that this is such a hateful post; I do not think it is constructive to angrily bash those with whom I do not agree, but there is no point, I decided, in covering up my distaste for those involved with PETA, the HSUS, and every other anti-agriculture organization. If you read Amanda's story about her dad you will find that it is very similar to mine, right down to the mustache icicles, because everyone who has committed their lives to animal care shares the same devotion to the cause. It is time for farmers to change their ways; no longer will we sit back and let radical extremists touting their "noble cause" manipulate public opinion about farmers. This is the start of a new year, a new decade, a new face for farming, and there is no room in the agenda for misinformed activists.