Another farm under siege article

[Red_Barn]

^ Right.

They had names so long as they were cute and pet-like - not as beef. The unfortunate Minnie was 2 years old at the time of this debacle.

I live in an area full of dairy farms, and teach in a university full of farmers’ kids. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one kid ever describing herds of adult cattle, dairy or otherwise, as pets. I’ve also toured multiple farms as part of Sustainable Ag classes, and never yet have I been formally “introduced” to a farm animal.

I understand that people want to vilify the morons picking on Mr Benner - and they are indeed morons - but I also think you have to be realistic about what’s likely to work in a family farm PR campaign and what isn’t.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Red Barn;8634539]
^ Right.

They had names so long as they were cute and pet-like - not as beef. The unfortunate Minnie was 2 years old at the time of this debacle.

I live in an area full of dairy farms, and teach in a university full of farmers’ kids. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one kid ever describing herds of adult cattle, dairy or otherwise, as pets. I’ve also toured multiple farms as part of Sustainable Ag classes, and never yet have I been formally “introduced” to a farm animal.

I understand that people want to vilify the morons picking on Mr Benner - and they are indeed morons - but I also think you have to be realistic about what’s likely to work in a family farm PR campaign and what isn’t.[/QUOTE]

I understand what you are saying, but that lady that started those protests is supposed to be an adult.

That should be someone with a minimum of common sense, not a little kid thinking Bambi or Donald Duck’s cartoons represent how deer and ducks really live, think, talk and act.

Doesn’t sound like that family raising their animals there are making a point to shock their agro-turists, but were truthfully answering a question she posed.

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=Red Barn;8633089]
I agree, and I’m really, really, really surprised that so many people now name and pet-ify animals they’re going to eat.

Certainly not a trend I’d support myself.[/QUOTE]

I think the thing you are missing here is the difference between a herd and a family homestead.

My experience is that people who raise a few of this or that for meat do tend to name them.

It is not turning them into pets, it is just a more familiar way to communicate. Humans like to have names for things and saying Bessie is much easier than saying 2756.

[Red_Barn]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8634555]
I understand what you are saying, but that lady that started those protests is supposed to be an adult.

That should be someone with a minimum of common sense, not a little kid thinking Bambi or Donald Duck’s cartoons represent how deer and ducks really live, think, talk and act.

Doesn’t sound like that family raising their animals there are making a point to shock their agro-turists, but were truthfully answering a question she posed.[/QUOTE]

And I understand your point too. I just think this Benner guy could’ve created a much more instructive and realistic tour by leaving the Disnification out of the picture entirely.

I do understand that he wanted the farm to be entertaining. Sure. But Mrs Dipshit’s reaction clearly demonstrates that humanizing Minnie wasn’t a very good plan at all. So why not admit it? There are plenty of ways to involve local communities in farming without turning the whole thing into a Saturday morning cartoon.

[Anne_FS]

Naming a cow you are raising for meat is not Disneyfication. I mean the act of simply referring to a cow as Minnie or Daisy or whatever instead of calling them 463 and 382 is not Disneyfication.

[Red_Barn]

Okay. Lets review.

~ You’ve got a meat animal weighing half a ton named after a talking mouse in a dress.
~ This animal is “introduced”, by name, to visitors touring an historic farm.
~ Said animal’s purpose remains unstated until a random visitor happens to ask a direct question, at which point the farmer backpedals all over the place, finally admitting that good old Minnie is about to trundle off to Freezer Camp.
~ Naturally enough, the startled visitor now assumes the farmer is a sneak and a bastard, and proceeds to throwing a massive fit.

Clearly, this is not good.

But just think how much better it all would’ve been if the farmer had simply discussed sustainable farming like a grown-up:

"Welcome to Blah-di-Blah Farm, producing fresh, sustainable food for local families since 1751!

"Here are the tomato gardens, featuring heirloom varieties A, B and C! We love these strains because blah blah blah . . .

"Here are the poultry houses and runs, featuring heritage breeds X, Y and Z. These hardy, dual purpose birds are wonderful because blah blah blah . . .

"Here are the cattle barns, in which we raise Breed A for meat and Breed B for milk. These traditional American breeds are ideal for the small farm because blah, blah, blah . . . "

No need to introduce the animals by name, or to be coy about their purpose.

Tours like that are awesome, and nobody goes apeshit because they feel like they’re being taken for a ride. Visitors learn about sustainable food production, and farms gain local sympathy and custom.

IOW, a win/win instead of a trainreck. What would be wrong with that?

[xQHDQ]

@Red Barn;8635097

But just think how much better it all would’ve been if the farmer had simply discussed sustainable farming like a grown-up:

"Welcome to Blah-di-Blah Farm, producing fresh, sustainable food for local families since 1751!

"Here are the tomato gardens, featuring heirloom varieties A, B and C! We love these strains because blah blah blah . . .

"Here are the poultry houses and runs, featuring heritage breeds X, Y and Z. These hardy, dual purpose birds are wonderful because blah blah blah . . .

"Here are the cattle barns, in which we raise Breed A for meat and Breed B for milk. These traditional American breeds are ideal for the small farm because blah, blah, blah . . . "

This would be fine for a tour directed at adults but not children. They would be bored to tears and wouldn’t understand.

[roseymare]

You don’t know that is what transpired though. You don’t know that they presented the cow as a pet. And you do not know that she was named after Minnie Mouse. All we know is they were initially told the cow was named Minnie.

[Red_Barn]

[QUOTE=xQHDQ;8635228]
This would be fine for a tour directed at adults but not children. They would be bored to tears and wouldn’t understand.[/QUOTE]
I doubt that. I see lots of kids on the MOFGA* tours, and they look pretty rapt, even without a lot of cutesy bullshit.

Honestly, I think lying to kids about food is what ultimately produces idiots like Mrs WhatsHerName - and I think we can at least agree that none of us wants that, right?

@roseymare;8635237

You don’t know that is what transpired though. You don’t know that they presented the cow as a pet. And you do not know that she was named after Minnie Mouse. All we know is they were initially told the cow was named Minnie.

Actually, we know or can surmise quite a lot.

We know that a visitor had to ask about the cow’s purpose (not good) and that the animal was introduced by name - something ordinary people associate with family pets - instead of being integrated into the overall farm scheme by breed or purpose (not good either, at least in my view).

We also know that many people, especially kids, associate the name Minnie with Minnie Mouse. I have no idea whether this reference was intentional, but I don’t think that really matters either.

Long story short, I think this is a very counterproductive trend in agritainment, and I hope its as short lived as possible.

*Maine Organic Farmers’ and Gardeners’ Assosiation

[Davignport]

What is the old saying? No good deed goes unpunished. It is amazing how so many people can be that ignorant of where their food comes from. Unfortunately, in today’s society of social media, good people can be the subject of bullying just by living their lives! Sad…

[RodeoFTW]

You shouldn’t introduce food animals by name to people though, especially around people who aren’t apart of farming culture. That was just a bad, bad idea on the farmer’s part.

[Red_Barn]

Thank you, Baby Jesus - a rational person!

:lol:

Hoping to see more of you, Rodeo.

[Anne_FS]

[QUOTE=RodeoFTW;8635334]
You shouldn’t introduce food animals by name to people though, especially around people who aren’t apart of farming culture. That was just a bad, bad idea on the farmer’s part.[/QUOTE]

I disagree. The “people who aren’t a part of the farming culture” need to be educated, which is what this homesteader was attempting to do.

Someone else on here suggested that the farmer should just lie about the future converted-to-meat plan for the cow. No. That’s how we got into this mess in the first place: pretending that shrink-wrapped meat was never an animal and willfully helping people put on the blinders about where food comes from.

[RodeoFTW]

[QUOTE=Red Barn;8635365]
Thank you, Baby Jesus - a rational person!

:lol:

Hoping to see more of you, Rodeo.[/QUOTE]

I’m actually a big city girl who just likes country stuff (horses, livestock). I don’t hate on anyone for providing food for my table, but you won’t see me butchering my own animals (let alone naming them, omg >_>) anytime soon. I went to a 4H show once and my friend introduced me to a girl who did that to me with her steer she planned on slaughtering. I was pretty shocked. I knew 4H livestock weren’t pets, of course, but he’s named?! And I was petting him and everything!

If someone isn’t used to that, they might freak out a little.

Now an online pension is a bit much, but New Yorkers are intense.

[QUOTE=Anne FS;8635367]I disagree. The “people who aren’t a part of the farming culture” need to be educated, which is what this homesteader was attempting to do.

Someone else on here suggested that the farmer should just lie about the future converted-to-meat plan for the cow. No. That’s how we got into this mess in the first place: pretending that shrink-wrapped meat was never an animal and willfully helping people put on the blinders about where food comes from.[/QUOTE]

You can’t force people to think the same way you do. That’s not how education works. People don’t have to like or agree with everything you (or the farmer in question) tell them, even for the sake of ‘enlightenment’.

Clearly it didn’t work here.

[Red_Barn]

@Anne FS;8635367

I disagree. The “people who aren’t a part of the farming culture” need to be educated, which is what this homesteader was attempting to do.

I don’t think so. I think this guy was lying - or at least trying very hard to lie - by omission and misdirection.

The only reason anybody ever learned about Minnie’s fate was because a random visitor specifically asked about it. The farmer himself volunteered exactly nothing.

So, no. If what you’re looking for is honesty and transparency in farming practices (a goal I happen to share), I think you’re very clearly backing the wrong guy.

[D_BaldStockings]

[QUOTE=RodeoFTW;8635371]

I’m actually a big city girl who just likes country stuff (horses, livestock). I don’t hate on anyone for providing food for my table, but you won’t see me butchering my own animals (let alone naming them, omg >_>) anytime soon. I went to a 4H show once and my friend introduced me to a girl who did that to me with her steer she planned on slaughtering. I was pretty shocked. I knew 4H livestock weren’t pets, of course, but he’s named?! And I was petting him and everything!

If someone isn’t used to that, they might freak out a little.

Now an online pension is a bit much, but New Yorkers are intense.

You can’t force people to think the same way you do. That’s not how education works. People don’t have to like or agree with everything you (or the farmer in question) tell them, even for the sake of ‘enlightenment’.

Clearly it didn’t work here.[/QUOTE]

It isn’t Forcing, it is exposing people to how farmers think. Heck, humans will name some of the more often seen wildlife that moves across their property.
They will name vehicles, they will name vacation homes…it goes on and on.

You can’t force non-farmers to respect farmers, unfortunately. That is the obvious problem.
“I wouldn’t kill it to eat it… YOU shouldn’t, either.”

I would not be surprised if the farmer told people that crops and animals are production, not decorative, at the beginning of the tour.
Or perhaps not, because if it is a farm that would be the default option for anything that lives on the place that isn’t human or housepet.

‘Animal Farm’ it isn’t. Nor should people EXPECT that it is a petting zoo: it isn’t.

Keeping domestic meat/dairy/laying animals happy and comfortable is humane and good. if that involves naming them, good for the farmers for treating them as individuals - it is a form of respect for the animal.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=Countrywood;8629951]
Very silly, but that’s what happens when you let the public in. The owner of this nice farm should hand out leaflets about the lives of animals on “factory farms”, where most of our meat and poultry come from, redirect people to go there and protest . Or protest in front of a supermarket would be better , or in front of a KFC fast food place.[/QUOTE]

Doth not matter, one bit.

Like people who lovingly breed superb dogs, being harassed because they are evil breeders, never mind they have nothing to do with puppy mills.

The certain crowds have made great strides in dumbifying the masses.

[D_BaldStockings]

From the original article:
“As common as it is, there is still something shocking about the idea that a complete stranger can enter the life of a farmer or any citizen, tell him how to live his life and what to eat and where to buy it, and through the use of cheap and often mindless technology, threaten his family, livelihood, peace of mind and way of life.”

Disagreeing is a far cry from threatening family and livelihood. I don’t respect threatening at all.

[RodeoFTW]

You’re talking about people who aren’t exposed to livestock or farmers, and think having a ‘mini pig’ would be oh so cute. A lot of things you’d consider common sense just isn’t universal when dealing with city people. Most urbanites think any farm that will let their kids pet the cow with a cute name is a petting zoo. You can tell them a million times ‘oh this is a working farm’ but they don’t have concept of that unless they’ve actually dealt with livestock before.

Try to be a little bit more understanding. Most city people have no exposure to animals outside of dogs, cats, and a police horse. : )

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=D_BaldStockings;8635440]
From the original article:
“As common as it is, there is still something shocking about the idea that a complete stranger can enter the life of a farmer or any citizen, tell him how to live his life and what to eat and where to buy it, and through the use of cheap and often mindless technology, threaten his family, livelihood, peace of mind and way of life.”

Disagreeing is a far cry from threatening family and livelihood. I don’t respect threatening at all.[/QUOTE]

But it’s for the righteous cause!!!

I find the US has an unhealthy culture that permits not only threats, but also factual bodily harm visited upon those one disagrees with.

I mean, unpunished lynchings in the South, attacks vs minorities, be it of race or ‘life style’, or plain old murder of people who offend one’s ‘morals’, be that abortion doctors, or slaughter house employees.