A few days ago one of my high school classmates commented on her Facebook that she had watch a health documentary, and as a result will no longer be eating beef or pork. All of my chicken and fish friends are probably happy to have gained some sales, but all joking aside this type of thinking is very alarming for us farmers. It's the reason why we have been trying to convince people with a grassroots movement of open barn doors and open dialogue to trust American Agriculture.
These sorts of comments really resonate with me, as for the past year I have only had pork and beef in my freezer. I raise the pork myself, and one of the guys that works on the farm sells me a quarter steer each fall. Not that I don't like the other meats, but my the time I empty my freezer, it is being filled again with more beef and pork. I don't eat meat everyday, and I do balance in lots of veggies. I try to eat whole grain and generally avoid carbonated beverages, alcohol, and other processed foods. It's not that I believe I am eating better than others, or that my way is right, but it works for me. I feel good, have great energy and enjoy my food along the way.
The irony in all this to me, is that people see what's on TV and take it as absolute truth. Even knowing the stories have a slant to them, people are influenced enormously. Maybe I have been reading too many Dystopian novels lately, but it sounds a little bit like 1984 to me. We spend hours a day in front of the TV, believing whatever propoganda is put out in front of us. Do we consider the source?
As a blogger and a farmer, I know that I have an angle. I am trying to sell my product to support myself. At the same time, I believe in what I produce. I put my name on it. I told my friend to come down to the farm any time she likes and see how we do it. To ask questions and form her own opinion. I won't be hurt if she decides not to eat pork or beef after that, because at least I have given her all I can to make a decision with both sides of the story presented. Honestly, I know that there are things on the farm that could be better. Things we are changing and will be changing in the future. The industry will look different in ten years. That's ok. Farms are now looking at sustainablity as a piece of the business, along with responsibility. We need to embrace the changes that are coming and be ready to innovate along with them, instead of wishing for the "good old days."
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