Awards for a Lifetime

I started showing livestock competitively when I was about eight years old. Back then, I LOVED Reserve Champion ribbons. Having shiny, pink, silky ribbons cover my wall was all that I wanted. People had to constantly remind me that “the purple ones are better” and that I should strive for the ‘champion’ title rather than ‘reserve.’ Of course, as I grew older, I quickly grasped this concept. Purple became my favorite color.

As my years progressed, my walls became covered in signs, pictures, and of course, these ribbons. Eventually, I started running out of space and the boring, plain ribbons got moved to boxes, while the bigger, more creative ones got displayed in my room.

My life revolved around the next livestock show. My heart ached to have the judge shake my hand and smiles covered my face each time I was handed a rosette, banner, big check, or belt buckle.

I know what you’re probably thinking: “Oh poor little Emily. So successful, so perfect, so spoiled.” Trust me, I’ve heard them all. The problem is, everyone’s fighting his or her own battle. Mine was success. Until a few months ago, I believed that I had to win everything. I thought I had to make a name for myself – for people to love me and to be proud of me.

Thankfully, I’ve learned that’s not the case. Ephesians 2:8 reads, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” …not from yourselves… It’s always been a hard concept for me to grasp. Throughout the year, God really taught me that my identity doesn’t consist of what I’ve won. My identity is that He loves me and that people love me. I don’t have to earn love.

Still, showing livestock helped shaped me into who I am today. But I felt like I needed to let go of my old identity of selfish pride. I ended up getting rid of my big banners, checks, and signs. They’re currently being stored in my old room in Eagle Point, OR. My collection of belt buckles is piled up in a crate sitting on my dresser. For the longest time, I didn’t know what to do with my rosettes. They’re full of memories, lessons, and passions through my childhood.

Then, Pinterest hit me. I got a $0.99 poster board, drew and cut out a heart, and then proceeded to tape the rosettes onto it. I folded the parts that say ‘champion’ behind each emblem. All, except for one. The one in the middle I kept out. Not because it says “Grand Champion,” but because it’s the only gold one that also says “Jackson County Fair.”

My Pinterest Creation

The Jackson County Fair is what my life revolved around. I bought, fed out, trained, and showed each and every lamb, hog, goat, heifer, or steer…just for this fair. Most of all, it’s at this fair where I learned the most. Yes, I learned in the show ring everywhere I went. But most of what I learned, and cherish today, was taught outside of the show ring. I learned about feeding and training animals. I learned about each specie’s industry. I learned that 4-H is about community and service – being part of something bigger than myself. I made friends and had mentors that I still admire today.

Yes, banners are pretty, big checks are cool, and buckles are flashy. But in reality, the banners will end up in the garage, the money gets spent, and you can only wear one buckle at a time. What matters today are the memories you make, the lessons you learn, and how you love one another.

Don’t be disappointed if you end up last in your market class or don’t get chosen to receive the “Grand Champion Master Showman” rotating trophy. My name’s engraved on there multiple times and I can tell you that today, on June 26, 2014…it doesn’t matter.

So, as you head to your county fair this summer – what’s your goal? How do you want to remember this part of your life? What will you cherish? What matters forever?

Does Veganism Exist?

As a farm girl, I grew up in a particular rural area. Driving through Eagle Point, Oregon, it’s not uncommon to see a luscious green pasture filled with grazing, healthy cattle. It’s actually a beautiful sight, if you ask me. The hard-working community gathers together regularly to plan, celebrate, and converse about local agricultural production.

 

My beautiful home in Eagle Point, OR

Throughout my childhood, until about 10 months ago when I moved to college, I had NEVER met a vegan. I currently live in Albany, Oregon. The population is estimated to be over 50,000 and when compared to Eagle Point’s 9,000 citizens, my environment has changed drastically. My new home is a short 15 minute drive from Oregon State University (GO BEAVS!), a 48 minute drive south to Eugene (according to Google Maps), and a 30 minute drive to the state capital (Salem). As you can see, I live in a very populated community. So, there’s no question, I was sure to meet a vegan at some point during my adventure here.

As a kid, I didn’t even know what veganism was, or that it even existed. But does it?

So what is a vegan anyway? Here’s how Webster’s dictionary defines the term “vegan.”

Most people think of vegans as people who don’t eat any animal products, such as meat, dairy, and eggs. Additionally, today’s vegan doesn’t buy or use other animal products, like leather, wool, etc. Each vegan has his/her own reasoning behind that lifestyle, but the two most common justifications are:

1.     “Veganism is healthier for my body.”

2.     “Animals are treated inhumanly, so I don’t support those industries.”

WARNING: What I say next may be a complete shock to some people!

Veganism doesn’t exist and reasons #1 and #2 (listed above) aren’t legitimate.

 Here’s why. It’s nearly impossible to not consume any food that comes from animals and the same goes for using animal products. Yes, a person can take meat, eggs, and dairy products out of his/her diet. But the fact is: many plant products wouldn’t exist without animal agriculture.

Have you ever heard of pollination? My family knows, I get all crazy and scientific when the term “honeybee” gets brought into a conversation. Here’s a summary: honeybees save our lives by pollinating many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. that we eat. Recently, there’s been a drastic shortage of honeybees, known as the Colony Collapse Disorder. In result, farmers, ranchers, and even average households have started seeing the importance of raising honeybee colonies.

The honeybee industry has played a vital role in all of our lives.

Honeybees pollinate apples, cranberries, broccoli, cherries, any many other crops. Almond pollination is ENTIRELY dependent on honeybees. Annually, honeybees contribute over $14 billion to the US agricultural industry. Honeybees are animals. They’re raised in “confinement” to control their population and pollination services. So can a vegan consume their products?

Also, have you ever heard of animal by-products? I could probably write an entire blog post on this topic, so in short, animal by-products are everywhere! Agriculture has found a way to be more efficient and useful by using nearly every part of the animal when it’s harvested. Beef organs and glands are used to produce certain medicines, insulin, and shampoo. Beef fat is used in the production of brake fluid, biodiesel, and airplane lubricants. Bones are used to create glass, vitamin capsules, and charcoal. Fascinating, isn’t it?

As far as veganism being “healthier for our bodies,” here are the facts. Yes, many vegans have lower blood pressures, cholesterol, and LDL levels. But, veganism has been linked to severe deficiencies in: vitamin B complex, calcium, iron, zinc, and fat-soluble vitamins (A,D, E, and K). Vegans also have lower bone densities.

One serving of lean beef has only 154 calories and contains ten of the essential nutrients that our bodies need (Protein, B12, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorus, B6, Selenium, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Choline). According to government nutrition website ‘My Pyramid’, beef eaters are 26% more likely to meet nutritional requirements than non-beef eaters. So, consuming a T-Bone or Tenderloin every now and then may save your life.

To learn more about beef nutrition click here.

Reason #2, relating to inhumane treatment, can be answered by one statement.

"Healthy food comes from healthy animals."

Farmers and ranchers care most importantly about the health and condition of their livestock. They use preventive measures (like vaccinations) to keep animals healthy. Government laws have been created to regulate safe capacities and the environment that the animals are raised in. Everyone involved in animal agriculture has the same common goal of keeping his or her product safe and healthy.

So when it comes down to it, why be a vegan? I support the way livestock are raised. I’ve even raised them myself! I choose to live happy and healthy by supporting the hardworking, honest, God-driven industry of American Agriculture. 

The Beginning

 This morning I was on Facebook and I followed a link to a YouTube video from The Ellen Show. I admire Ellen DeGeneres and the messages that she speaks to society, but I was actually quite shocked by what I was about to watch. The video was of Ellen being interviewed about being a vegan. She said that she was a vegan for about 8 months, and then went back to eating cheeseburgers and steaks. But, after forcing herself to watch the video “Earthlings,” she had been vegan ever since. She even had a vegan wedding when she married her wife Portia.

Here's Ellen's Vegan Story

I was in complete shock. Ellen. Ellen! One of my favorite TV stars was a vegan! I still don’t know what to think of this. I mean, I’ve heard of other famous people being vegans. Carrie Underwood, famous country singer, is a vegan and a member of PETA…and I don’t support her because of it. But Ellen????

Still in complete shock, I followed the link from that YouTube video to the website that “Earthlings” can be viewed on. The video is one hour, 35 minutes, 42 seconds long….and I could only watch 28 minutes before I had enough. The entire video was a complete LIE of the agricultural industry. I grew up around agriculture. I’ve been involved in the direct production of sheep, cattle, and hogs…and I’ve never seen anything more disgusting in my life. The video made ME want to become a vegan!

But then I realized: none of this is true. Yes, dirty, inhumane factory farms exist…but they represent the smallest percent of this industry I live for. The beef that’s produced to feed the world is safe. It’s healthy. It’s cared for because the American farmer has values. The American farmer lives his life with honor to raise his cattle, just like he raises his family. God created men and women to tend for his land and everything in it. Genesis 1:26-28 says, Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” The American farmer lives his life for God, so why would I want to become a vegan?! Just the thought is ridiculous.

I remembered having a similar experience in high school when my health class during my junior year was forced to watch the movie “Food, Inc.” Once again, the video was about factory farms and how agriculture is dirty, torturing to animals, etc. I thought, “anyone who believes this garbage is stupid!”

Looking at it today, I was wrong. I’m the stupid one. I’m the agriculturist that lets the population watch these videos, without responding and showing them the truth of the incredible American agricultural industry. Why is it so easy to find negative videos about “factory farms” and “livestock abuse,” but I can’t find a single video showing the true, loving side of the livestock industry? It’s probably because farmers are busy saving the world. They’re busy feeding me. But, those of us who are involved directly in the agricultural industry just look at these videos as ridiculous…and we just brush them off our shoulders. Well, NOT TODAY!

As an American agriculturist, I pledge to educate my society about agriculture. That is why I’ve just created this blog. I’ve always loved writing to express my thoughts. I love agriculture. So why not put the two together? I look forward to sharing my many passions with you, and of course, God’s Beauty of Agriculture.

The American Farmer