The idea that some people are not smart enough to understand certain ideas and concepts is not a new phenomenon. For centuries people have been naturally sorted into classes. This is not saying people are doomed to failure or a life of mediocrity. This is saying that it is okay to not keep up with the Joneses.
There are people in Agriculture who will never have a super successful farm or operation. Partly because they don’t think big enough or outside the box. That is okay. Agriculture needs everyone that wants to participate and be involved. Successful farmers and ranchers are not lucky. Just like an Olympic gold medalist is not lucky. There is a lot of hard work and determination behind those achievements.
Some people in this world are outstanding researchers. They spend their days in labs or test fields gathering data. They analyze samples from livestock, fields, grains, all in the hopes of the next big breakthrough. That breakthrough could be discovering a more disease resistant crop strain. It could mean a better process to collect oocytes or semen. It could be one simple step in their analytical process that changes the world’s perception.
These are actual occurrences that have literally changed the way we raise crops and produce livestock. The evolution of science in agriculture has been one of our greatest accomplishments. We are able to share better genetics around the globe to improve people’s herds and lives.
When it comes to being environmentally conscious, the agricultural industry is the best at it. Factory farms is a term that was created to scare people. The truth is 96% of farming operations are family owned. There are people all over this country using social media to show others their daily lives of farmers. Whether it is cotton, corn, wheat, or all the above. All across the country. These are not people controlled by corporations. They are family farmers.
All of these are parts of agriculture that many of us know and love. The problem is we are not screaming the loudest. When we do, we are labeled rednecks, racists, white supremacist, and Nazi’s because our ideas do not comply with Wall Street's ideas, or some senator or congressman who wouldn’t know what wheat looked like if a bushel was dropped on their head.
It’s time to take the blinders off. It’s time to stop letting large organizations and groups make our case. They are most likely making the case to line their pockets.
We as individuals have to go to our elected officials and educate them on the truth. Either that or start electing people who know and care about agriculture. We have to start fighting against wrong information. Instead of your neighbor posting how their vegan, organic smoothie is the healthiest thing they can consume, teach them how a lean piece of beef provides more nutrients than almost any other product.
Teach people that clearing underbrush will help prevent fires. When they ask what underbrush is, explain it. Teach people that if they want to lose weight, no refined sugars, no boxed foods, nothing fried, no soda, and drink more water. They will start to lose weight. Then tell them to get off their ass and at least walk 30 minutes a day.
You can no longer sit on the sidelines and accept dishonesty from companies. We are in an age where we as consumers can make a difference. Stop buying the Hey Dude shoes because they openly support PETA. Stop buying products not made in the USA. Stop buying beef from places you don’t know where it came from and start buying it from the hundreds of pasture to plate operations out there today. Fresh farm raised products always taste better and are better for you.
Start telling your “clean eating" friends they are not eating clean just because half their plate is kale. The only thing to do with kale is throw it in the trash. People need to learn portion control, not calorie control. People need to learn beef, chicken, and pork are all important parts of a healthy diet. Chickens in the United States do not have added hormones.
As the people that live it and work in it every day, you are the best advocate for agriculture. It is time we step up and act like it. Have you ever had that friend who feels like they have to get into everyone’s business, even when they don’t know them personally? They think they are experts in all fields of life. Find one that is teachable and teach that friend about proper agriculture and let them spread the good word.
Start supporting operations that are sharing their success, the right messages, and philosophies about agriculture and the world. Stop letting others define you because you do not fit into the box, they want to put you in. Take that box and shove it up their ass, then teach them why they are wrong about agriculture.
At the end of the day, there will always be people who will not comprehend what you are teaching them about agriculture. They are not smart enough to analyze their own beliefs to see if they are on the right path or not. Some people feel safer following large groups because they are not capable of having those more thought-provoking conversations. We need to stop letting those people be in charge. We need to stop electing those idiots. We need to start putting doctors, farmers, ranchers, policemen, and teachers into political offices. Start making people see the real world from your perspective.
“If we just remove all the warning labels, the order of natural selection will play out a lot better. If you are not smart enough to know that you don’t pour gas on a fire, you probably deserve to get burned.” – Jeremy Workman
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