My November Column

Every month I write a column for the Dakota Farmer magazine.  I've really enjoyed writing it over the last couple years.  Last months column was pretty special for me.  I've had several people tell me that this has been their favorite article I've written.  Take a look and tell me what you think.


Click here to see the magazine article.

The cable news channel CNN ran a story on their website this summer that raised the question “Does 4-H desensitizes kids to killing?”.  As a former 4-H member for 13 years and the parent of a first year 4-H member this certainly caught my attention.  Over the course of those 13 years I spent countless hours leading, washing, combing and clipping on calves.  I did everything I could to make them as comfortable and healthy as possible.  So how could anyone ever believe that this somehow desensitizes kids?  

According to the story, some believe that 4-H helps desensitize youngsters into having no emotional attachment to animals raised for food.  A few of the commenters even tried to claim that this was some grand conspiracy by the meat industry to keep them in business.  Apparently by forcing these kids to sell their livestock to be processed somehow turns them into greedy, uncaring people and will lead to a life of mistreating the animals in their care.  

The truth of the matter is that it teaches kids about responsibility and how life works and is sustained.  We just capped off our 4-H year with a trip to Rapid City, SD for the Western Junior Livestock Show.  It’s a tremendous show that our son was very excited to be part of.  For his first year in 4-H he decided to show a bred heifer named Morgan.  All summer and through the fall he learned how to care for his calf.  He probably put a hundred miles on his bike just going back and forth to the barn to check on her.  In the end his hard work paid off when he proudly marched his well-behaved heifer into that show ring with a grin on his face.  

While we were at the show I tried to figure out how all of the hard work each one of those kids had put in that summer could somehow be a bad thing?  I didn’t see any desensitized kids.  What I saw were hard working, polite young people, working with their families and their fellow 4-Her’s to learn responsibility and proper livestock care.  

I also couldn’t help but think what a better place our world may be if every kid had a “Morgan” in their life for just one summer.  Morgan will be in our herd for the next several years but like every cow on the ranch her time will come to an end.  However, the lessons she taught our son will last forever and for that I’m grateful.  

Animal Rights Activists Protest 4-H Auction

Activists Protest Animal Auction

4H Club says it's not animal cruelty, it's farming

By SUSAN RIVERA
Updated 9:00 AM CDT, Tue, Aug 3, 2010

Protesters targeted an animal auction at the Lake County fair this weekend.

Several protestors showed up to this at the Wagner Farm in Glenview during a pig auction to draw attention to what they say is animal cruelty, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Since it was established in 2002 the 4H Clovers club – which on its Website boasts membership of “57 children from the ages of 8 to 18" – has generated some controversy. In part because the livestock sold are raised on Glenview Park District Land. But also because most animals sold at the auction are headed to the slaughterhouse.

One of the animals on the auction block was a pig named Buddy raised in part by 11-year-old Mata Stilp and her brother Hans, reported the Chicago Tribune.     Read More


Animal rights activists have been targeting 4-H more as of late. Any type of program that teaches young people about the how’s and why’s of raising livestock is certainly a threat to their misinformation campaign. Supporting programs like 4-H is more important than ever before. For many children, 4-H is their only exposure to agriculture. Taking advantage of these teaching opportunities is something we have to continue doing.

Bringing Kids Out To The Ranch

Appreciating Ag
By Suzanne Jacobson
Payson, AZ
May 21, 2010

’Twas agriculture field day and not a video game was in sight. Rim Country kids played in a Rockin’ Rodeo, watched a branding, and learned how to harness draft horses all before night.
The Tonto Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) Agriculture field day offered about 100 students — fourth-graders from Payson Elementary School and 4-H members from Pine and Tonto Basin — the opportunity to learn about agriculture and gain an appreciation for food’s source.

“A lot of these kids don’t know where the milk comes from in the grocery store,” said Lori Brown, who hosted the event on her ranch.

“We’re all five and six times generational ranchers,” said Brown. Compare a rancher’s way of eating to today, where most people drive to grocery stores and buy processed, packaged food laden with hydrogenated everything.

“There’s this national push to reconnect children with nature,” said Hall. “Kids are spending unbelievable amounts of time in front of the computer and TV.”

Hall went into schools and taught kids where pizza comes from. “There was one little boy who thought there was a pizza farm someplace.” Read More

I always enjoy highlighting farmers and ranchers that take the time to host children for a tour. The smile on the faces of these kids is as wide as the prairie itself when they get to learn about where their food comes from and who grows it. Kids today are getting bombarded with negative messages about farmers and ranchers so it’s vitally important that we share with them the true story of agriculture. The only people that can do that best are the farmers and ranchers themselves. I hope all of you get the opportunity to be involved in teaching kids about ag at some point.

Letter From SD 4-H Office to National 4-H Office

I was very pleased to see my home state send this letter (posted below) to the National 4-H Headquarters. 4-H alumni from around the country are very concerned about this. Unfortunately, in my conversation yesterday with a public relations specialist from USDA, I was informed that Lisa Hampton, the lady listed as the contact for this conference, would not be taking any calls or answering any questions. How incredibly disappointing it is that those who are leading our national 4-H program are refusing to talk to the volunteer leaders who are the lifeblood of this organization. Without those volunteers, there wouldn’t be a 4-H program. This was true when I was a member myself and it’s the reason I became a volunteer leader. Hopefully more states will continue to share their frustration with this embarrassing situation.

I would like to also mention that I tried to talk to the National 4-H office before I made any mention of this on my blog. I hope they will learn a lesson here that if they had been willing to talk about this right away that this thing may have been handled differently. Instead, they are still refusing to talk about it.


Date: April 6, 2010
To: Lisa Lauxman Director, Youth Development, National CYFAR National 4-H Headquarters
From: Dr. Latif Lighari Associate Dean and Director South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service
Re: South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service Position on HSUS at National 4-H Conference

I am writing to register the strong concern of the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service regarding a program offered by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) at the 2010 National 4-H Conference on March 23. We are deeply troubled that the HSUS proposal would have been reviewed by the national conference planning committee and found to be acceptable. To consider a group that is known to be controversial and less than supportive of U.S. agriculture is ill-considered.

The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, which administers the South Dakota 4-H program, does not agree with the policies and practices of the Humane Society of the United States as they relate to U.S. agriculture. The South Dakota 4-H program has a long and honored tradition of helping young people understand the role of science and critical thinking when forming their own personal opinions. We understand our responsibility to be vigilant with regard to the messages, however subtle, that children may encounter through programs offered by 4-H.

South Dakota 4-H leadership would not knowingly allow our youth delegation to attend a national program that has not been properly vetted. Had we known that this program would be exclusively presented by HSUS, we would not have encouraged minor 4-H members to attend.
As your colleagues, we request that you give thoughtful consideration to implementing a more rigorous peer review of all future programs. In keeping with our commitment to youth, we ask that the review consider not only the proposed topic to be presented, but also track record and common interests of the presenter and affiliated organization.

PETA Says 4-H Is Cruel

4-H: Cruel to animals and kids
Chicago Tribune
By Jennifer O’Connor, PETA

November 2, 2009

Like most little girls, my stepdaughter loves animals. She joined a local 4-H club when she was 9, solely because "cows are cool." Now that the fall 4-H animal auctions are upon us, I can't help but remember Bonnie's first "assignment" a beautiful cow named Dana with long lashes and ears as soft as velvet. We all grew to love Dana, but none more so than Bonnie, who spent hours grooming her and walking her on a lead.

I had misgivings about Bonnie's decision to join 4-H: Unlike an unsuspecting 9-year-old, I knew the ultimate fate of the cows and other animals used in this program.

My fears were realized a couple years into the program when Bonnie learned that Meredith, another one of "her" cows, who was sick and unable to reproduce, had been sold to slaughter for a mere $75. To see such a deep bond so ruthlessly broken was a painful and eye-opening lesson for Bonnie. Her club leader was genuinely puzzled and irked by Bonnie's tears, dismissing her as "sentimental."

Dana, Meredith, Kath, Elise, Lola. They all had names, personalities and quirks. None was like the others except in one critical way. Like all cows used to provide milk for human consumption, these cows were treated as breeding machines and were artificially impregnated again and again.

Read More

If there were ever animals that lived the easy life, it would be 4-H calves. These animals are pampered more than most people will ever experience. The point of these projects isn’t to make pets out of these livestock, it’s to teach proper animal handling, care and responsibility. It’s also to teach the next generation about food production. With that in mind, I would actually be worried about the 4-H kid that isn’t a little sad to see their livestock go down the road at the end of their time. After all, they have spent months caring for them and they should be proud of job they did. But I also know from my experience how proud I was when the person that bought my calf told me how great the beef tasted. After all, that was my ultimate goal. If PETA wants to criticize 4-H for teaching life lessons, then 4-H should wear that as a badge of honor. I’m proud of the fact that the 4th generation of my family is now starting 4-H. The lessons I learned in 4-H have served me well in my life. ~TH

4-H Members Honor Their Pledge

4H members donate portion of livestock sales
Aug 17 2009 10:09AM
Associated Press

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) Several members of a 4-H club in western Montana are donating a percentage of their livestock sales to a 9-year-old girl who is fighting cancer.

Sydney Cutler, a member of the Flint Creek Valley 4-H Club, was diagnosed with a tumor in early May and has since undergone surgery to remove the growth.

Cutler will begin a series of chemotherapy treatments in September.

Members of 4-H and FFA sold 126 animals and brought in more than $135,600 at the Tri-County Fair last week.

Most of the teenagers who sold animals at the fair last week plan to use a portion of the money to pay for college, while several 4-H members from Philipsburg donated 10 percent of their sales to Cutler. Link

One of the things that 4-H teaches you is the importance of service to your community. In the 4-H pledge every member pledges to give their hands to larger service and these young adults have done just that. By donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their livestock and months of hard work, they have become a shining example of what 4-H and rural America is all about.

Miss America Has Milk Mustache

Miss America Promoting Indiana Farmers
06/22/2009
by Gary Truitt

The American Dairy Association of Indiana has announced their new spokesperson: Miss America. She will now be able to represent the Hoosier dairy industry to a worldwide audience. Katie Stam is the first Hoosier to be crowned Miss America and now the first Miss America to also be a spokesman for the ADA of IN.

Stam told HAT that representing the dairy industry will come naturally since she grew up in a dairy farm family in Indiana, “As one of 4 children my job was to help take care of the baby dairy cows and help our in the milking parlor.” She will now be able to take her story of to the whole world, “It is my story; I can talk about my family’s lifestyle and how I was raised.” In 4-H, Stam had experience showing dairy cattle at the Jackson County fair, is not afraid to talk about animal care, and is eager to tell consumers about how dairy farmers treat their dairy cows, “For a farmer, his cows or his crops is his livelihood. It is the way we make a living so, of course we are going to take good care of our animals.” Stam said dairy farmers live on or near the land that their families farm and they understand the importance of protecting the natural resources.

This extremely articulate and intelligent young woman will serve as a role model for many young people and has a strong message about dairy products and the role they play in a daily diet, “Not only are dairy products a great source of calcium but 12 other important nutrients.” She also stressed that dairy products taste great. Her day begings with dairy, “I could not start the day without a good breakfast of bacon, eggs, and fruit and, of course, milk.” She said that after her daily exercise routine she enjoys a glass of chocolate milk.

Stam was in Indianapolis this week participating in a photo and video shoot. From this, advertising messages will be produced and used by the American Dairy Association of Indiana, to educate consumers about dairy. Deb Osza, General Manager of Milk Promotion Services of Indiana, said, “Katie is a wonderful role model for girls and people of all ages, and we are confident she will set a good example to remind us to drink milk every single day.” Link

It’s refreshing to say the least when we see someone like Katie Stam achieve so much success and not forget her rural farming roots. Congratulations to her for representing the dairy industry. Not only is she supporting American agriculture, but she also is supporting good nutrition for children.

Mesa Verde Ranch Days

Fourth graders head out for a day at Mesa Verde Ranch
Alamogordo Daily News
By Bev Eckman-Onyskow, For the Daily News
Posted: 04/30/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

The 627 kids from 18 Otero County schools, along with home-schoolers, weren't the only ones impressed with Mesa Verde Ranch Days, held Tuesday and Wednesday west of La Luz.

"This is my first time, and I didn't know all this ranch was out here. I'm surprised at the number of animals," said Senior Airman Shonte Small, while "branding" arrivals with an M-V hand-stamp Wednesday morning.

"I wish I could have done something like this when I was little," added her husband, Airman 1st Class Kenneth Small III. Both are Holloman Air Force Base volunteers. "I assure you this is really educational and beneficial to the future of ranching."

That was the idea behind the establishment of the event a decade ago, to make ranching real to city children who rarely see a cow, horse, sheep or cowboy up close.

The Rabon family members, who own Mesa Verde Enterprises, Inc., were hosts for Ranch Days: Randy and Cheri, Jeff and Judy, and Tim and Debbie. In addition to the three brothers and their wives, their children, grandchildren and mother, Shirley Rabon, were helping out.

"This is our way of giving something back to the community. We have to show the kids what the ranching way of life is all about. If they don't come out here, they won't see it," said Randy Rabon.

Mesa Verde is a working ranch, 13,000 acres with 10 horses, 150 mother cows and an expected crop of more than 130 calves.

"This is a great opportunity for us to see 600 smiling faces," said Jeff Rabon. Read More

Congratulations to the Rabon family, Mesa Verde Ranch, and all of the volunteers for hosting this event. Taking part of day teaching kids about agriculture is a small price to pay when this may be these kids’s only exposure to agriculture during their life. One of the reasons that I like to highlight events like this is that hopefully it will inspire others to do the same. I know that some schools won’t let their kids go out to a farm, but if that’s the case take your farm or ranch to the school. Remember, doing anything to promote agriculture is better than nothing.

My Point of View

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that most of my posts are news articles that I think are important for those of us in animal agriculture to be aware of. These articles are then followed by my own commentary. However that commentary is usually brief and I want to start sharing more of my own thoughts and ideas with you. So with that in mind, I am going to start occasionally posting some original content from My Point of View.

This month has been a fun one around our house. The fall is always my favorite time of year for a variety of reasons. Seeing the crops come out of the fields and calves being weaned is always exciting. And if you enjoy hunting, the autumn months are like Christmas with pheasant, grouse, deer, elk and antelope seasons. But one October event in our area that has been going on for 71 years is the Western Junior Livestock Show.

The WJLS is a 4-H show that draws young livestock enthusiasts from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska. My wife's family has been involved in the show since it's inception and it has been exciting to carry on that tradition.

Our kids are too young to be in 4-H yet, but we have been volunteering at the show since we were married 10 years ago. As are many of these types of shows, it is run completely by volunteers and it takes a lot of them. But the rewards of volunteering at the WJLS are many.

Whether it is seeing the smile of a young exhibitor going into the ring for the first time or feeling for one that has a calf that isn't cooperating that day, the lessons learned showing livestock will last for a lifetime.

These lessons won't happen though if the volunteers don't provide these opportunities to the next generation. If you aren't involved with the 4-H program in your area, you need to be. There are many different ways to advocate for agriculture and this is a great one. While you will be volunteering, you will be repaid in smiles and that is something you can't put a price on.

Jewel Supports Agriculture

Jewel does some recruiting for future farmers, ranchers

KUSA - Her voice is one of the most distinctive in music today. But when singer/songwriter Jewel isn't out performing on the road, you'll find her down home on the ranch. She's a proud Future Farmers of America alum, and now she's helping to make sure the organization is around for a long time to come.

"A lot of people don't realize where their food comes from, that the stuff that they eat for breakfast lunch and dinner comes from farms all across America. Agriculture is our No. 1 industry in America, and its what makes us uniquely American." Jewel said on 9NEWS 5 a.m.

Agriculture remains one of Colorado's top industries. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2006 alone it provided more than 3 million jobs in our state. The Future Farmers of America helps prepare young people for agribusiness careers, and Jewel wants to make sure the organization will continue to thrive. Read More

It’s great to see a popular musician that is standing up in support of American agriculture. Instead of lining up to be part of some activist cause that is the cool thing of the day, she has chosen to look forward and realize the importance of food producers. Congratulations Jewel and thank you.

National FFA Convention

Some of you that check out my blog may have noticed my absence on several days last week. Well, I wasn't on vacation but I was on the road and spent most of last week in Indianapolis, IN for the National FFA Convention.

My wife and I sit on the American Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Committee and I am part of a sub-committee that hosts a booth at the convention. It was a great opportunity to mingle and visit with the next generation of agriculture that is coming up through the ranks. With nearly 50,000 FFA members in attendance, the air in Indianapolis was electric. These young members of our industry are more than excited about agriculture. One of the speakers at a general session challenged the members with producing twice as much food as their parents currently do. And judging by their reaction, this challenge will be met head on with enthusiasm and conviction.

I seem to hear quite often that kids these days don't want to work hard or have no interest in agriculture. If you hear those statements, challenge that person to attend a 4-H show at the conty fair, or an FFA meeting. My experience has been that you will walk away witha renewed sense of enthusiasm yourself and realize that agriculture will be passed on to very capable and willing hands.