Food Inc: A blessing in disguise

Sometimes in life, you just want to tell people...

"I respect your opinion. But you know what? Your opinion is horse shit."

Unfortunately, that's not acceptable in today's society (nor should it be acceptable, ever, despite how good that may feel). It's also a weee bit rude, no matter how high their pile of shit is. Therefore, you've got to find a way to disagree in a more professional way that gets people to listen to what you have to say. My latest struggle? Food Inc. What is Food Inc.? If your views on agriculture are anything like me, it's you sitting down to enjoy a movie when the popcorn bowl ends up smashing the TV screen and your blood is boiling enough to cook enough spaghetti noodles for a third world country.

OK, so here's the thing. I'm a girl who's been raised on a farm and grown up while being surrounded by family, friends and fellow members of society dedicated to portraying a positive image of the world of agriculture. We are communicating the difference that we, farmers of all sorts, are trying to make. Where does your food come from? US! And we want to you to see that!! So when my ERM 210 (Environmental Resource Management) Professor starts off our first class with the film Food Inc., here are the words my classmates and I are greeted with:

"Now our food is coming from enormous assembly lines where the animals and the workers are being abused. And the food has become much more dangerous in ways that are being deliberately hidden from us ... This isn't just about what we're eating. This is about what we're allowed to say, what we're allowed to know."

WAIT. NO. REALLY?! Busted, you've caught us red handed. That's EXACTLY what our goal is! To keep eeeeeverything we do a big fat secret. Behind those closed barn doors we're kicking our chickens, mocking cows who can't get up with juicy Big Macs and chasing pigs around with a skid loader and pitch forks.

LOL. Come ON people! We are doing what we do because we LOVE what we do! This movie is absurd and just pure evil media. I get it... some things that are happening in that film make valid points. Preventing E. coli outbreaks and improving food safety are things we should never lose focus on. And, we need to treat our animals with the dedication, respect and care that it takes for them to prosper and provide a valuable food product. It's sad to say that animals get abused every day.. there are just plain crappy people in this world. But what we're seeing in this film is the minority in agriculture. The majority are people (like me) who, along with their families, have committed their lives, studies and careers on ridding the industry of those nasty and unwanted farms and filling those vacancies with men and women who want to feed a rapidly expanding population with safe and healthy food products. All while keeping the well being of the animals AND the public in mind.

I'm happy to say that I wasn't alone in that classroom. There were others who had smoke coming out of their ears by the end of the class. When we heard this movie "accurately captures agriculture today," that's when the smoke started coming out of our ears. I asked two of my classmates, Kelley and Mary, what bothered them most about the film. This is how they responded:

"The thing that upset me the most is that this video displays only bad cases of the industry such as the "old style" chicken houses. No wonder they are "old" and there are now new and improved ways. And then the comment in the paper we had to fill out that "we aren't producing chickens, we are producing food." No kidding...that's why we have regulations that ensure that the animals are taken care of properly to ensure a quality product." -Kelley

You tell 'em Kelley.. also, I don't know how many times we have to say this but I'll say it again since this was also brought up in the film.. THERE ARE NO ANTIBIOTICS OR HORMONES IN THE (CHICKEN) MEAT YOU ARE CONSUMING.

"But, honestly it wasn't Food Inc. that surprised me the most. The fact that a professor, who has accomplished a PhD, could be so ignorant and believe everything that is shown on Food Inc. and believe that indeed is American agriculture is what shocks me. And yet what mortifies me is that she teaches hundreds of students a year, that don't have our backgrounds and understanding, which allows them to walk away from the course believing the same thing that she does, which continues to further the gap between producer and consumer and allows those who have absolutely no understanding of production agriculture leave with a negative and FALSE image in their heads." -Mary

But Mary, she's a Doctor...

These opinions are real, people. I'm shoving direct quotes at you. But what I'm REALLY trying to do is bring attention to the other side of reality. One classmate that I spoke with told me "I walked out of that classroom not wanting to eat meat ever again. That stuff can't be all true right?" No sista, it ain't. She wasn't the only one who looked disgusted. Judging by the sighs, grunts, comments and facial expressions of my classmates, it looked like they all wanted a farmer's head on a stick. But can we blame them? This movie makes "our kind" seem like cold, heartless soul-eating demons.

But as always, there's a silver lining in all of this. Together, we could make something positive out of something as repulsive as Food Inc. It's our time to battle back. For me personally, this lecture came as a blessing in disguise. Thanks to ERM 210 and Food Inc., there is finally a fire lit under lazy senior bum and it's time for me to make a difference.. are you with me?

PS check out the links... they're legit, or what our professor likes to say, "backing up our opinions with science."

TRUE LIFE: Organic ... A lifestyle, not a health choice

The old Becca used to hear the word organic and just laugh in a person's face and say "You're stupid." The new and improved Becca, however, has learned to step back and look at both sides of anything and everything agriculture.... including the organic industry.

Or maybe the new Becca is just better at hiding her eye rolls previously directed towards people buying into the "healthy" organic section at a grocery store... or maybe not.

Let's take a walk through Wegmans, the best grocery store in the whole wide world. Why is it the best ever? BECAUSE I FINALLY FOUND HONEY CRISP APPLES. AT WEGMANS. But wait, hold the excitement because this chick missed the (what I like to think was) fine print on the sign... these Honey Crisp apples weren't just any apples. They were ORGANIC Honey Crisp apples.

Even better huh? Sooo much better that when I was paying for my groceries the cashier was kind enough to say "Uhm, ma'am do you realize that these organic apples are going to cost you $13.98?"

After I brushed off the "ma'am" comment (I'm 21 years old... stop it) I realized that I was about to pay $13.98 for 6 apples.... in case you hate math like the rest of the entire human race, that's $2.33 per apple. Unless there are fireworks that go off in the background and shirtless pool boys that fan me while I'm eating this apple, I'm gunna go ahead and say that price is bullshit.

But, some would argue with me that I'm paying that extra amount of money to be healthy. I didn't pay for the "healthier" choice. I just paid for that organic "lifestyle" that people are confusing with some sort of health trend. What I don't quite understand is where people got this whole "organic is healthier" concept.. SINCE WHEN?!

I'm open to anything and I love to hear other opinions and thoughts. But if you want me to buy into your case, there better be cold hard facts supporting it. Sure, some woman with way too much time and money on her perfectly manicured hands told you that buying that organic green pepper is going to change your life. But why is it healthier? Because it's more expensive than the "regular" version? Organic products are expensive because of the added expenses along the supply chain, not because of and added "value." If just once someone provided me with credible research and studies that organic is healthier, then I'd listen.

But until then, my money supports "regular" products. And in case anyone is wondering, those $2.33 Honey Crisp apples? BIG SURPRISE.. They taste like apples. No fireworks or marching band to follow a mouth watering experience. Just apples with an outrageous price tag that left this broke college student with an empty wallet and disappointed taste buds.

Bloggin out,
Bec

Am I overreacting?

Since arriving back at Penn State, I've had a number of friends asking me to go on a Panera Bread date. When I say no, people look at me like I have three heads. But wait, it gets better. When I go on and tell them I'm not eating there because of the disrespect they showed to farmers in a recent advertising campaign, I have been receiving quite the collection of reactions.

"That's ridiculous."

"Really? Is that a joke?"

"No offense, but that's a stupid reason."

*An example of the EZ Chicken campaign (trying to be "clever" in saying farmers are lazy)*

 

 

NO, it is not a joke and NO, it is not stupid. This is me being very, very serious. Panera Bread attacked and insulted an industry that I'm passionate about and everything I stand for. OF COURSE I'm going to react and retaliate! Not supporting their business is hardly drastic when compared to the EZ Chicken campaign they created .

 

Trust me, giving up Panera wasn't easy for me. I have yet to find a Sunday cure as satisfying as a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup and an iced green tea. But just take a second and put yourself in my shoes....

 

You're on a collegiate baseball team. Nike creates a series of ads and commercials that target baseball players as the "lazy athlete" and accuses you being 'slackers' when compared to other athletes, like football and soccer players. Would you still continue to purchase Nike products and apparel?

 

You're a Penn State alumni. Penn State just released a series of articles that accused the past five years of graduates to be lazy and subpar to those graduating before them. Basically, you're a bad example of the student that the University is trying to produce. So when Penn State calls you for an annual alumni donation, are you still going to give back?

 

You're a young, single parent. Johnson & Johnson has been slandering unmarried and 'young' parents, saying that you are irresponsible  and unreliable to raise a child. Are you going to continue buying Johnson & Johnson products? If you only have even an ounce of self respect, you would be saying "see ya later" to such an offensive company.

 

Now remember, these were all hypothetical situations. Nike, Penn State and Johnson & Johnson have done NOTHING I mentioned above. Why? Because they have a brain and just plain common sense. I'm simply trying to put you in 'my shoes.'

 

My refusal to eat at Panera Bread is my way of standing up for what I believe in. It's only a small step, but a step nonetheless towards supporting the industry of agriculture.

 

 

 

Sit back and think for a moment. What are you passionate about? Someone attacks it. Not just someone, but a someone who either depends on you, or you depend on them to keep that passion chugging along. Like Panera Bread, who depends on farmers for ALL of their products, but still had the nerve to call them out for taking care of their sick animals and assuring that they are healthy. Because we'd all rather be eating sick animals right? Because Panera Bread can get their chickens from somewhere other than farmers, right? Riiiight.....

 

Bloggin out,

Bec

 

 



PETA is a little confused

PETA, more commonly referred to as "People Eating Tasty Animals," has been consistently blowing up our Twitter feeds with campaigns against the dairy industry. These are a few of the images I found interesting:

So what are they angry about? They are angry that dairy farmers are dehorning calves. But let me ask you this, PETA members. Have you ever worked with dairy animals? I highly doubt it. Because if you had, you would understand WHY we remove the horns from all of our animals.

I'll tell you why. Safety and just plain common sense. When you have a farm of 600 dairy animals, imagine all of them running around with huge horns. That sounds like a good idea, right? No, it doesn't. It's not safe and not only putting the farm employees at danger, but other animals as well. And isn't that what you're all about PETA, protecting animals?

Dehorning calves is done carefully and early enough that the calf will recover quickly and completely. Check out how and why we dehorn calves.

Here's another fun fact. Temple Grandin, a well-known and highly respected  doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University is pro-dehorning calves. You can also add bestselling author, autistic activist, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior to her lists of talents. Why is her opinion valid? Ohhh I don't know, maybe because HBO thought her opinion was important enough that they made a movie about her work and accomplishments. Let's hear what she has to say about dehorning:

"There is no excuse for not dehorning very young calves. There are several very good heating devices which will destroy the horn button on a calf. These methods are more effective than paste. There have been a few insensitive people who have suggested cutting horns off of cattle shortly before slaughter. This would be very cruel to the animals and it would also result in condemnation of most of the heads by the meat inspector due to hair and dirt entering the openings in the skull." -Temple Grandin

There are always going to be bad people in this world who do bad things. I'm not saying everyone in the dairy industry is dedicated to the safest practices. However, what people (PETA members and supporters) need to realize is that the larger majority of us are.

We're in this industry because we love dairy animals. There is rhyme and reason behind our practices. PETA is like your little brother who stole a cookie from the cabinet and suddenly a UFO came and aliens invaded the kitchen. Because that happens all the time, right?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

In Response to the Butter Cow being vandalized....

You want respect, and that’s understandable. We all do. But is this really the way to go about it? You don’t see any of us building a tofu vegan sculpture and burning it to the ground at one of your Iowans for Animal Liberation meetings.

So what’s the problem here? Are we closed minded people, us modern-day dairy farmers and agriculturists? That must be why we are so upset and don’t understand why what you did was totally OK.

I get it. We have different opinions. You think eating those poor little animals is cruel. You have the freedom to think that. But hey, guess what? I ALSO have the freedom to eat whatever the hell I want and not feel bad about it. Dumping "blood" on a butter cow is not proving a point, it’s just making you look like a (for lack of a better term) jackass.

What the group has to say for themselves blows my mind.

Animal Liberation Front supporter Jerry Vlasak, however, praised the vandalism of the butter cow as a “reminder that there are people opposed to the eating of meat and dairy and that the meat and dairy industry is inordinately cruel.”

"After dismantling the lock to the refrigerated case housing the Butter Cow with a screwdriver, we doused the entire butter sculpture in red paint," the email said. "The paint represents the blood of 11 billion animals murdered each year in slaughterhouses, egg farms, and dairies."

Well let’s take a moment and enjoy a little fun fact for the vegans. Just a heads up… you’re not as far from our industry as you think. Let’s take a list at everything made from just cows:

Now, I didn’t say there is “no such thing as a vegan.” But unless you eat dirt and lick the sidewalk puddles when you’re thirsty… It’s going to be pretty hard.

To be perfectly honest, you can be whoever you want and you can believe whatever you want. But if you expect others to listen to you and take you seriously, you’ve gotta earn that R-E-S-P-E-C-T the right way. So how about this, you replace the “blood” on innocent butter sculptures and replace it with credible research and weekly meetings to discuss your findings on how mean we are to our animals. Because I know for a fact I hate cows and I treat my animals badly…

…or not

Bloggin out,

Bec

Dairy Around the World: Peru

I'll admit I've been a little "culturally spoiled." I've traveled a lot, to nine countries in fact. Canada (if it counts), Costa Rica, Ireland, England, France, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Fun fact? They've all been dairy related trips. 

However, there is one place I've never been... Peru. That's where Emma Andrew comes in. Emma, former New York State Dairy Princess, is just busy traveling through the world of dairy. First stop, Peru! I'm just here to share her story :-)

Bloggin out,

Bec

Dairy Around the World: Peru

By Emma Andrew

So, I just got back from Peru and I am having serious dairy farm withdrawal. Why, you might ask? Well it's due to the fact Dairy Farms aren't really present in Peru. In fact, they are importing 25% of their milk from Argentina and Holland. I am dying to get my hands on a cold glass of milk (would asking for cookies be pushing it?). The problem is, 25% is not a huge number, and there were no farms where I was living in Cusco. The majority of the farms were located outside Lima and in Arequipa.

However, let me take a second to rewind. Why was I having dairy withdrawal? Well, let me tell you  that nine weeks is the longest that I have ever been separated from my cows, the dairy farm, the surprisingly comforting smell of manure, tractors and anything that has to do with dairy farming.Though it was a a challenge for this farm girl, I made it!

Even though it was tough being away from everything I was familiar with, I know how it is important to see the good and every situation. Seeing the dairy industry in Peru made me realize how blessed New York State is to have so many wonderful dairy farms. In fact, New York has over 8,000 dairy farms and roughly 98% of them are family owned. Many people take for granted the wonderful dairy and agriculture industries we have in New York, myself included.

               

In closing, I want you to go out and enjoy the wonderful agricultural around you. If you live in the city, take the time to go and visit a farm. I can say with confidence that you won’t regret it. So, enough "chatty kathy" for now, this girl is headed out to the barn to final get her fix of dairy!

Is it an ending or a beginning?

Watching the Season Finale of The Bachelorette has me thinking (Yes I am a woman, and yes I cried during that proposal, judge me). With two weeks left of my internship, growing up is hitting me... hard. If it were any other summer, I'd be thinking to myself "What internships should I go after next year?" or "What hot spot should I pick to enjoy a summer off of school?" But now it's different. Going into my senior year, it's not time to look for the next internship or summer job that pays enough for that Fossil bag, my dairy month shenanigans in America's Dairyland or those "bomb" $2 tacos at Bel Air Cantina on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Senior year is time to get serious. I can't laugh at people when they ask me about my future anymore... my future is now. 

A summer in Milwaukee has really opened my eyes. Whether it's the relationships both built and lost, the car repair bills, or the deadlines at my internship it has all served as a swift kick of reality. 

And now for the almighty internship. The golden ticket. The last hurrah before my last year of freedom. I would like to give Bader Rutter a Wisco-sized and cheesy shout out they deserve. This experience has changed me for the better, and taught me to be a more well-spoken, patient, and attentive young woman. However... despite being a PR intern for the summer, my spelling has gotten surprisingly worse. Win some, lose some, right? 

I honestly don't have a clue where  I'll be at this time next year. Maybe I'll be a salesman, maybe a writer. Who knows.. maybe I'll be unemployed. But I do know one thing, and that is my love for the dairy industry is still as strong as it was 3 months  ago when I made that 11 hour journey to Milwaukee. The beauty of it all is not knowing what beginning will come from this end... and being excited about it. 

Bloggin out,

Bec