.jpg)
Today is National Ag Day. Recently I’ve been reminded of the “thank a farmer” campaign I was involved in on twitter last year. At the time it felt right and I honestly enjoyed doing it. Lately I’ve been taking a slightly different approach….I want to give thanks for being a farmer!
I’ve been dwelling a lot lately on my families rich heritage of farming and how its evolved over time. There is a very small portion of my family still involved in agriculture in any way. I feel very fortunate to be able to be a part of the family tradition. It gives me a lot to be thankful for. Its the only thing Ive ever known, simply because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do! Farming is quite literally “in my blood”! When I look at the pictures of how my farm started out, compared to how it is now, it makes me swell with pride to know that I have played a small part in carrying on this great tradition. I want to thank my forefathers for starting this great way of life and carrying it on long enough to allow me to play a part in it.
.jpg "Farm Kids stacking hay")
While things have drastically changed from the way they used to be, I like to think that a lot has remained the same too…. I believe they had the same gratifying feeling I do at seeing a new healthy calf born. I imagine them feeling the exhausted, yet extremely pleased after a long day in the fields.
I truly believe these feelings and values are one of the best, most important things that those of us involved in agriculture try to cultivate with our own families and children everyday on our farms. It is my fondest memories of growing up on the farm. Those feelings of seeing my grandpa smile and sigh after finally sitting down in his chair, or of my own father going back out at all hours of the night, just to pull a calf. Without any hesitation and with a smile on our faces we do all of these things simply because we love doing them!
I know that my ancestors were thankful for everything that they were blessed with. I, too, am very thankful to be a farmer on this National Ag Day. To see how much the farm has changed from the early 1900s check out this video.
Trent and Ian checking the milk cows in pen 8
show hide 4 comments
Kelly M. Rivard (@KMRivard) - Great post, Trent. I feel so blessed to be a part of this industry — I’m grateful I can be! It’s allowed me to meet (and get supper with) fantastic folks such as you, and that’s on top of having the coolest, most fulfilling job in the world and a really exciting lifestyle than spans across both urban and rural.
Happy Ag Day, friend!
Zarka - Much talk on this with colleagues today Whether this conapmy is real or fake (I lean towards fake, but I don’t see the point of it), all the kneejerk FUD and way-cool marketing talk here is making more of this than it deserves. scnt has become mainstream since 1996 and, statements to the contrary .to produce cows along with pigs and the everpopular sheep. (Even dogs!) High-producing livestock sell for many tens of thousands $ on market yes, businesses use science for profit (gasp) .and yes, clones are doubtless in some foods today . Once you’ve done your due PubMed diligence to get the facts of it, if what you’re left with is the willies .fine but don’t spread it here. that’s a gut reaction .What I want to know is: what really is the issue? Is there anything special about cloning that demands real consideration? As I see it, it breaks down to issues that are already under scrutiny .not to lessen them, but they’re known . 1. reproductive tech generally . lots of issues, but keep in mind we’re talking animals not infertile people. Artificial insemination is already the rule in agriculture, it’s nothing new, and cloning doesn’t change the process 2. animal cruelty. again, no issues that AI .and of corse the use of animals for food don’t already bring. 3. longevity. that’s the crux of it I think .SCNT just extends the life of a specific gene set, ethically no different from extending the life of an individual 4. food contamination. The products are genetically identical, so why would there be any new issue? And besides this case is dairy ..that comes from cows old enough and healthy enough to have had calves, people, wouldn’t diseases have a chance to exhibit? we’re not talking about embryos or even veal here . 5. sanctity of life . no different from AI issue here, except maybe prolonging the gene set is actually helping value the life of the individual Am I missing something or is there some special issue that makes cloning different from standard practices already in livestock agriculture? If not, then at least be honest about following your gut reaction and not an analysis of the science and ethics of it at all.- Mel
Thankful to BE a Farmer | thecowlocale - [...] Last year Trent Bown was involved in the “Thank A Farmer” campaign. This year, as he reflected on Ag Day (we celebrated yesterday – 3/8/12), he felt grateful to BE a farmer. Check out his post at USFarmGuys. [...]
Denise - Every day should be Thank The Farmer Day! THANK YOU!