peta2 is wrong. FFA is not lame

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Go to any agricultural college in America, find a class studying agriculture of any variety, and ask those students if they dislike PETA. I guarantee the response from 90% of the class is that they actually hate PETA. That sounds a little harsh, but it's true. Because PETA tries on a daily basis to ruin the very thing that gives us drive, fuels our passion, and provides us with a future; agriculture.

Recently peta2.com, an animal rights group that claims to be an expansion of PETA, put out an article that angered many of my Facebook friends. The post was entitled "FFA is Lame AF". I sighed with disgust before I even took the time to read the article. Sure enough, five minutes, later I too, was angry. 

Temple Grandin stood before me and 349 other agriculture students at Texas A&M University and said, "some people are just too radical; you can't even talk to them, it's not worth your time". So, my response is not for the small minded person who wrote that article, this is for my friends and family that might read it. I want you to hear our side of the story. Why FFA is not lame.

Touching on the same points as the peta2 article:

1. "Develop my potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success."

The other article used this point to bash FFA, saying we as members are encouraged to raised animals to be slaughtered. Not true. Each FFA member is required to complete a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and fill out a record book. At no point in my FFA career did I ever hear my advisor encourage a student to kill an animal, as the article suggests. Personally, my record books were done on swine finishing. I purchased a pig, treated it with the utmost respect and care, and exhibited it with pride at the county fair. Yes, I then sold my pigs at the Junior Livestock Auction. But no one is forcing us to do so. If I wanted to keep that pig for the rest of it's life, even when it weighs 500+ lbs, I could do that. (With parent approval of course). So peta2, FFA does not encourage killing! A record book can be kept on a job at McDonald's if that's what the member wants. 

2. "Make a positive difference in the lives of others"

Meat judging is in fact a contest FFA members can participate in. It prepares members with an interest in meats for their possible future careers as meat inspectors, meat scorers, etc. peta2 briefly touches on this event and then moves on to say what happens in slaughterhouses. There are many standards and regulations on how an animal is to be ethically slaughtered. Also, FFA does not have a direct effect on what happens in the slaughterhouse!  

3. "Dress neatly and appropriately for the occasion."

This time peta2 decided to talk about the wool judging teams. Yes, we evaluate wool. Wool that is removed from the sheep carefully and ethically. There is no harm done to the sheep in order for this contest to take place. FFA does not control what happens in the wool industry in Australia. Their comparison is once again irrelevant. 

4. "Respect the rights of others and their property."

Oh it's time to bash the dairy industry. *insert eye roll here.*  I could have seen that one coming. Participating in the All American Dairy Judging Contest was one of the highlights of my year, every year in FFA. We spent the day judging multiple classes and testing our knowledge of the industry. During this event, members proved to be respectful towards each other and the cows. Once again, I'm no expert, but I'm knowledgeable enough to know that the cows and their calves are not harmed during milk production. Dairy farmers treat their cows better than many humans treat their children. Let's think about that for a moment.

5.  "Be courteous, honest, and fair  with others."

Multiple contests revolve around the dairy industry; dairy judging, handling, knowledge, etc. Many of my fellow FFA members come from family run dairy farms and will one day be managing their own herd. So, these contests educate them, prepare them, and allow them to execute their skills and knowledge while being courteous, honest, and fair with others. peta2 doesn't bother to address this, instead they take to bashing the dairy industry once again; specifically, artificial insemination. When this is done the cow is artificially impregnated. But no peta2, I've never heard of this happening in a "rape rack". So, good one. You may be vegan, and good for you. However, I like drinking milk produced by cows and so do millions of other people in this world. In order for the dairy producers to efficiently produce milk for us, artificial insemination is key. The process is fast, precise, and efficient. Once again, no cows are harmed and it is done with care. 

 6. "Communicate in an appropriate, purposeful, and positive manner."

Props to peta2 for using their imagination, I guess? I'm kidding. But where does poultry evaluation and bashing the poultry industry fit in here? It doesn't. To gain these skills listed above, FFA members compete in public speaking contests; another event that is near and dear to my heart. From reciting the FFA Creed, by E. M. Tiffany as a freshman, to competing on a regional winning Parliamentary Procedure Team my senior year, this is where I developed and polished my public speaking skills. FFA members conquer fears, gain skills, and become effective communicators.

7. "Demonstrate good sportsmanship by being modest in winning and generous in defeat."

FFA members foster the importance of both winning and losing with grace. We compete against our best friends many times. There is no better way to learn these lessons. As for the peta2 article, bringing hunting into this again makes little sense. However, hunting was a way of life even in biblical times. That's one tradition all the animal rights campaigns in the world won't end.

8. "Make myself aware of FFA programs and activities and be an active participant."

Participants have the ability to chose from an abundant variety of activities. peta2 relates this to the billions of animals being killed for food every year, stating, "no compassionate person should ever want to participate." The way I see it, (everyone's entitled to their own opinions) is that there are animals put on this earth to be companions; like dogs and cats. But livestock are here to provide for us. Does that make me not compassionate? No. There is no greater compassion than a farmer awake in the wee hours of the morning feeding a new born calf to keep it alive. 

I could finish the list, but you see my point. FFA members across the country learn the best life lessons, the best way Americans know how. We are hard working. We are kind and courteous. We are respectful.  But you know what else we need to be? Tolerant.

Part of why we have a strong disliking for PETA is because they are everywhere. Just like the article I'm referencing. There are millions of people out there who don't agree with us and follow them, even if their information is inaccurate and misleading. We need to see their point of view, but work our butts off to educate the public about agriculture; respectfully, courteously, and accurately. It is time for us to get creative and get loud. We need to shout our ag stories; share our knowledge and our passion! As FFA members, we make up the largest youth organization in the country. We hold the power to educate the world and beat PETA to it.

peta2, FFA is not lame and your article does not even make sense. I am completely okay with anyone being vegan. Live your life how you wish. But please, please, please stop criticizing me. You may love tofu, but I love a big, juicy, steak. You tolerate me, I'll tolerate you.

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a little throwback thursday; my barn

About a month ago, Nolan suggested I do a "throwback Thursday" blog. My travels home to Pennsylvania last week inspired me, so I decided to take Nolan's suggestion.

I was ecstatic to be home and to feed my ducks and cats (the only animals left) in the barn. People use the word, "bittersweet" all the time, but I've never truly known what a bittersweet moment felt like until I walked into my barn and found it basically empty... Sadness overcame me at first, but then I quickly recalled all the happiness it brought me over my childhood.

I recall the bittersweet feeling and shed a few tears, mainly because I'd give anything to be shivering my hiney off in the Pennsylvania snow, working hair on a steer, rather than preparing for finals. I found this perfect "throwback" that I wrote in Mrs. Robley's english class 3 years ago; around the time I realized I like to write. Enjoy!

The Massive wooden doors of the wold white barn rumbled on the old tracks as I struggled to pry them apart. I could barely reach the handle so I stuck my hand through the small crack in the doors and pushed with all my might until the opening became wide enough that I could squeeze through. The aroma of ancient dust and fresh hay overwhelmed me. My sister, Emily, and I started our adventure to find a litter of stray kittens amongst the clutter that filled the barn wall to wall. Dressed in our finest hand me down shirts and old jeans we tried our hardest to sneak around the barn without alarming the kittens. Empty light sockets that used to hold light bulbs years ago seemed to taunt us as we trudged around with our flashlights. Thick cobwebs hung everywhere; on every piece of wood from ceiling to floor. Giant horse shoes nailed in rafters hinted to the history of the barn. My dad’s old International tractor posed as an obstacle to get around. But on the other side kittens could be hiding. Til we found the kittens cobwebs and dirt covered our clothes, but we didn’t care.

At age ten the barn was finally home to livestock of my own. Two goats, Sweet Pea and Sally, lived in one makeshift pen. It wasn’t much, but it was shelter from the harsh winter weather. A rusty broken fence, spare boards nailed up as a wall, and a piece of ply wood supported by two stacks of cribbing that were also supporting the falling through floor served as a pen to contain my goats. An old plywood election sign with two shiny hinges functioned as a door. A single light bulb hung from the ceiling. It created enough light for me to feed in the morning before I went to school. Around the pen the rusty old International still stood and the rest of the clutter remained. I’ll never forget when I heard that strange cry come from the barn. I knew what it was and I took off running through the December wind and snow with my dad right behind me. I tore open the barn doors and flipped on the light and gazed with amazement at the two baby goats standing in the pen with Sweet Pea and Sally. My once empty barn now came to life.

Now my barn steals me away from the rest of the world when I’m home. The once cluttered mess of a barn still stands, but without all the clutter. Thanks to all of the back breaking work of my dad the upstairs floor holds its own weight, the once drafty walls block all the wind and snow, one light became a long strand of bright white lights on a thick yellow chord, and the space once occupied by one makeshift pen and the rusty old tractor transformed into three pens for many goats and a few pigs. Some of the holes in the concrete still remain. On the cleanly swept floor you can see my name along with Nolan’s and Jed’s baby hoof prints where he ran through the wet cement during Nolan’s attempts to patch the holes.Though my barn changed a lot over the years, even as a sixteen year old girl I still see it as an adventure.

I wrote this at sixteen. Since then, my barn brought me the joy of raising the Champion County Born and Raised Swine, housed two peacocks, and gave my friends a little "ag education". It provided me with a stage and audience to practice my winning fair queen speech for countless hours. It transformed into the perfect set up with my dreams of raising a steer, which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of my senior year. My barn housed my most prized possessions for years. Now that it's empty, I am thankful beyond words for the experiences I've had. One goat led to two, two led to four babies, and the rest is my life.

road trip TX ➳ PA

To my surprise, a few people asked why I did not blog last week. I usually blog on Thursdays, but last Thursday afternoon, as I contemplated what to blog about, Nolan told me that for business reasons, he needed to go home to Pennsylvania. Not wanting to miss this opportunity to see my family and friends, I neglected my blog to contact professors, google flights, and get my life in order to leave in the morning.

Friday morning, we were Pennsylvania bound!

We left Texas, headed a way we hadn't gone before. After grumbling about the road construction, tiny towns, and low speed limits we rolled into Lindale, Texas to stop for gas. For any of y'all that love Miranda Lambert as much as I do, Lindale is her hometown and also the home of The Pink Pistol, Texas. Since our move to Texas I've been thinking about a road trip to Lindale and here our travels took us right through it! Wanting to keep on going, Nolan was unenthusiastic to stop, but I am so glad we did. I LOVED everything about the Pink Pistol; the old truck door out front, bright pink stair case, Miranda memorabilia, and of course the vintage country/rocker feel. So awesome. 

Still swooning over The Pink Pistol, I got back in the car and we kept movin'. It seemed to take forever to get out of Texas. But once you approach Texarkana, if you blink you'll miss it and wind up in Arkansas. We watched the sun set in our rear view mirror in Arkansas and it was pitch black long before Tennessee welcomed us.

On the other side of Nashville, I got to do a little driving. If you ask Nolan, I drove for about an hour, but I promise you it was more like three. (I offered to drive more in the day time, just for the record). Three hours later and thankful to be in the passenger seat, all the caffeine I inhaled couldn't stop me from sleeping like a baby.

I don't remember much of Kentucky, but the Ohio sunrise is one I'll never forget. The sun slowly rising above the frosted fields and miles of farm land. Finally seeing cattle that weren't Brahman influence excited me. White farm houses and old barns made me anxious for home. I love Ohio; it combines my two worlds. It reminds me of Texas with its flat farm land that goes on for miles, but when we reach Ohio, I know home isn't far.

When we decided to come home, we only told my mom, my dad, and my sister. At the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" sign, I snapped a picture and sent it to my friends! We made a quick stop in Washington, PA to "surprise" my dad at work, even though he knew we were coming. Then, we stopped by Gerry's Western Store. I walked in and my grandma just looked at me like she didn't believe what she was seeing. I smiled and all she could say was, "what in the world". It was a surprise so worth keeping.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and there is an abundance to be thankful for this year. I am so thankful to be home this week, spending time with my friends and family. I'm thankful for my dogs, even though my mom let Boomer get fat while I was away. I'm thankful for my education that allows me to pursue  my passion and the endless opportunities that will bring, for the guy I love, who will drive 17 of the 20 or so hours home, and for all the support and love we have from this great community of Somerset County; a place that will always be home.

we need to advocate for agriculture, now more than ever

Promoting FFA, 4-H, the fairs, and agriculture is so important to me. I especially felt it was my duty to do so while I served as the Somerset County Fair Queen. But now that I have passed on the crown, I still feel that as a member of these organizations and as an agriculturalist in a generation far removed from agriculture, it is still my duty.           

On Tuesday, Dr. Temple Grandin lectured in my Animal Science class at Texas A&M University. She provided us with a wealth of knowledge, but one fact that surprised me was that more than 31% of people today have never been on a farm. Meaning that a lot of people only experience agriculture at county fairs or stock shows and many get their “facts” from radical animal activist groups on the internet. Because everything you see on the internet is true, right? WRONG. So she stressed the importance of promoting the agriculture industry, education, and the actual facts.

There is so much we can do as agriculture enthusiasts to combat the negativity that is so often geared toward the industry we love.

Dr. Temple Grandin, who is famous for her animal welfare systems, spoke of the importance of following proper practices on our farms. I see it so often at the county fair, frustrated exhibitors struggling to get their animal to the show ring; animal and exhibitor both in distress. This commotion often draws me in. If it catches my attention, chances are, it will definitely catch the attention of visitors. Then, rather than remembering the outstanding group of senior showman exhibiting their livestock in the ring, they’ll remember that scene of struggle between the exhibitor and the animal; putting a negative thought in their mind about the livestock shows. That’s why it’s so important to put in time at home so we can set a good example at our fairs.

Another thing that happens at livestock shows is that the public is there, but we just mind our own and don’t talk to them. Many people have questions and we don’t take the time to answer them. I think about this a lot with the PA Farm Show coming up because many of the visitors are from the city and their experience there is a huge part of their exposure to our industry. It is our job to educate, because no one else will.

One of the statements Temple made that she was most adamant about was “don’t let the FFA programs die”. Programs like FFA and 4-H are the most important ways to promote agriculture because they teach the youth and the youth are the future of agriculture. About 10 years ago, I knew nothing about raising a pig, goat, or steer. I had no idea about the abundant career opportunities in agriculture. I was just an eight year old kid that thought showing a goat looked pretty cool. Now, 4-H and FFA have changed my life.

PETA often uses social media to bash our industry. We can use social media to show our friends and the world that farmers are not stupid, that 4-H and FFA are great programs, that we love our animals, and that we would never think of harming them. 

Today's farmers continue to be the backbone of America, with the average farmer feeding 155 people. As agriculture enthusiasts, we need to set a positive example, educate, and take advantage of the many ways we can promote agriculture, now more than ever. 

battling homesickness

 “I can’t wait to get out of this school and this town.” I see these words tweeted all the time from kids in my hometown. I hear them so often when I am home. Personally, I don’t know how many times I said these words during my senior year of high school. Probably a lot. So I searched long and hard for that college far, far away. I thought Texas would be a perfect escape; Texas A&M University, warm weather, new people, Nolan, & independence.

It was perfect at first. I had a cute little apartment to decorate, thousands of organizations I could join, friends to make, and endless opportunities. So I jumped in head first. But then I sank. I found out quickly that decorating is expensive, so are groceries, school supplies, and basically everything in college. I didn’t get accepted to the only women’s organization I applied to (a common problem for a confident freshman). And I quickly learned that if you find a friend in a class of 350 people, but don’t get their number, chances are you probably won’t see that person again. Believe it or not, out of that sixty thousand people in College Station, it is so hard to find a good friend.

Now, here I am struggling through week six, homesick for small town, Pennsylvania. It’s weird, I have always been so proud of my courageousness, confidence, and independence. I never pictured myself as one who would search for cheap plane tickets daily and find events like Homecoming or a cattle show a “good reason” to come home. Unfortunately, last minute plane tickets are not cheap and driving 24 hours both ways for a weekend home is crazy. So I have found other ways to cope:

Find your passion 

Obviously I liked something about Texas, or I wouldn’t be here. For me, it’s the land and agriculture. So on the weekends, Nolan and I find something to do and take our time getting there; stopping every couple miles, or less, to take pictures. In Texas, in every direction you go you’ll find beautiful (well to us at least) farmland and thousands of cattle. We take advantage of this abundance and feed our passion.

Do something that reminds you of home

Nothing says home to me like a county fair. When the radio man said, “Neal McCoy at the Waller County Fair”, I knew I had to be there. Well, the Waller Co. Fair was small, and I mean even smaller than my beloved Somerset County Fair. But I did find that sense of home watching their sale of champions, while eating fries with cheese and drinking lemonade, and again at the rodeo. Finally, as we were watching Neal McCoy shake it, I realized this was by far the most fun Nolan and I had since our move to Texas. For a while, I forgot about being 1,000 miles from home.

FaceTime, Skype, whatever

FaceTime and Skype have been a saving grace for me while dealing with my homesick blues. I FaceTime my momma (and my dogs, cats, and ducks) regularly and I LOVE IT. I also have Skype dates with my best friends back home and my best friend in the ARMY (I am so proud). Just last Sunday, I found out via FaceTime that one of my best friends got engaged. It was SO much better than any call or text I could have gotten. So text your friend, mom, grandma, whoever and say, “hey, tonight if you’re free let’s have a Skype or FaceTime date” and it will be wonderful, I promise.

Use Social Media

Like Skype and Facetime, I love social media! I use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with family and friends while I’m away. Both of my grandmas and Nolan’s grandma are on Facebook, and I think that’s adorable! So I try to post pictures often for family. Sometimes I feel extra obligated to post on Facebook, so my mom doesn’t have to inform me that, “so and so hasn’t seen you on Facebook in a while and they want to know are you having fun/doing okay in college?” As far as Instagram and Twitter go, same concept, just for more of our generation.   

Try to Make a Few Friends

It’s so easy to be antisocial and watch Netflix for hours upon hours, but it doesn’t hurt to take a few minutes to talk to your neighbor when you’re out. Our super nice neighbors have an adorable dog named Jagger, so being the animal lovers that we are, that is how we made friends! Just by chatting when we saw them out, buying Jagger treats, and being friendly, we have friends. Easier said than done, right?

I am definitely still learning to cope with this monster called “homesickness”. But whether you’re a senior in high school considering colleges or a college student going through the same thing, I hope this little bit of insight helps!