I first read the story on Cattle.com, and then looked up the info, http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/fw-stock-show/article59530736.html
after reading the comments from the people opposed to livestock, meat animal agriculture, I have come to
the conclusion that you are wasting your time trying to get them to see your side. The way they can attack and criticize a 13 year old girl and try to turn her and her parents into monsters is beyond me.
I think she had a huge challenge and did a wonderful job and should be congratulated for her efforts not chastised.
We have all had animals that we have gotten attached to even tho we knew what their end purpose was, I always had a empty feeling when we loaded the calves for the last time when I was in the FFA and can still remember each calf these many years later. My oldest did not eat pork for 6 years after his first show pig, he continued to show both hogs and beef, he just would not eat pork, (pepperoni is beef, right) BLT's finally got the best of him.
I have come to a conclusion that we are wasting our time whenever we try and get these types of people to see the other side. The beef industry and animal agriculture in whole needs to put its efforts into educating and informing the general public on the benefits of its products and by products, how proper grazing can restore pasture land, benefit wildlife among other things. How the rancher/farmer cares for their animals, land and environment. We need to get ahead of the ativist not keep trying to catch up and fix the damage they have already done.
One way to get their story out might be for an FFA student to do a video ography from start to finish of a project, from selecting it to the final day at the show, document the time in the barn, the work and sacrifices they put in, missing out on social events, the friends they make, the shows, everything that goes into and comes out of a project. Let people know it is not just pouring feed into a feed pan and off you go.
after reading the comments from the people opposed to livestock, meat animal agriculture, I have come to
the conclusion that you are wasting your time trying to get them to see your side. The way they can attack and criticize a 13 year old girl and try to turn her and her parents into monsters is beyond me.
I think she had a huge challenge and did a wonderful job and should be congratulated for her efforts not chastised.
We have all had animals that we have gotten attached to even tho we knew what their end purpose was, I always had a empty feeling when we loaded the calves for the last time when I was in the FFA and can still remember each calf these many years later. My oldest did not eat pork for 6 years after his first show pig, he continued to show both hogs and beef, he just would not eat pork, (pepperoni is beef, right) BLT's finally got the best of him.
I have come to a conclusion that we are wasting our time whenever we try and get these types of people to see the other side. The beef industry and animal agriculture in whole needs to put its efforts into educating and informing the general public on the benefits of its products and by products, how proper grazing can restore pasture land, benefit wildlife among other things. How the rancher/farmer cares for their animals, land and environment. We need to get ahead of the ativist not keep trying to catch up and fix the damage they have already done.
One way to get their story out might be for an FFA student to do a video ography from start to finish of a project, from selecting it to the final day at the show, document the time in the barn, the work and sacrifices they put in, missing out on social events, the friends they make, the shows, everything that goes into and comes out of a project. Let people know it is not just pouring feed into a feed pan and off you go.
