A Message from your President, Robert Luther – reprinted from the 2009 Winter print newsletter*
My family has farmed in Richfield for over 100 years. The equipment has changed, the neighborhood has changed, but our commitment to the land and to farming has not changed.
Over the years, our family has had about a million employees. We’ve provided comprehensive health care, housing, food and water to each of them. We have rejoiced at births, sorrowed at unexpected deaths and appreciated what each and every one of them has done to help us provide for our families.
These employees have been black, white, red and yellow. They have harvested grasses, feasted on grains and tested our patience. Today we are down to a very manageable few, but they are still working to help us provide for our families.
Just in case you are wondering, these employees have had two legs and feathers or four legs and hair.
We haven’t had to worry about clothing them, but we have had to worry about the best ways to house them, keep them comfortable and provide the proper feed to keep them growing and producing. These employees have produced milk, eggs, beef, lamb, pork and chicken.
Our families have eaten well and we have helped feed hundreds of other families.
Today, our chosen occupation – animal agriculture – is being challenged by people who don’t enjoy a good breakfast of eggs and bacon. These people don’t understand how good a great hamburger can be or how satisfying a steak dinner is.
When asked, they say they want animals to be comfortable and safe, but their ultimate goal is to eliminate animal agriculture, zoos, circuses and other animal-based activities. They want everyone to choose to be a vegan, a person who does not eat food with an animal origin or use products produced by animals.
They are threatening animal agriculture and your right to choose.
Before the early 1900’s, most products were moved using horses and oxen. With them, our ancestors plowed the land, planted the seeds and harvested the crops.
With their four legged employees, our ancestors moved the logs and challenged the frontier. Sure, once trains started to cross the country, large loads could be moved over the iron rails. Getting those loads to the railways required the original horsepower – teams of horses and oxen.
Today, we marvel at a team moving people or products.
Animal agriculture has changed greatly since our family settled in Richfield. We no longer expect our cattle to pull heavy loads. We don’t walk our hogs hundreds of miles to market. We don’t tie our chicken’s legs together and hang them from our saddle to get them to the butcher shop.
We have changed the way we treat our animals because we have found that they are worth more when we keep them safe and comfortable.
Contrary to the ads, not all happy cows are in California. We have some of the happiest cows here in Ohio because our summer’s are cooler and cows are happiest from about 40° to 65°.
In order to survive, Ohio’s livestock industry, including our family’s farm, needs your help. We have a story that has to be told about how we provide safe and affordable food in an environmentally responsible way. We need your help to share the word that we take good animal care seriously.
Today, most consumers have never been on a working farm. They’ve never tried to push a steer out of the way or spent a day harvesting hay to feed to the cows.
They don’t know what it takes to get milk, meat and eggs to the table. Since you are reading this column, you at least care about where your food comes from.
I’m asking you to help spread the story. Less than 1% of the population are active farmers – we need your help in reaching the other 99%.
We need an army of concerned people who can share our story and we welcome you to our ranks. Thank you, in advance, for your help.
*The Summit County Farm Bureau mails out a print newletter to each of its more than 1,000 members each year. To become a member, apply online here.
Did You Know?
Ohio’s livestock industry provides more than $8.13 billion to Ohio’s economy and employs more than 47,000 Ohioans. Ohio ranks second in the nation in egg production, with 33 million laying hens produce millions of eggs daily. Ohio is ninth in hog production and is one of the top six states in veal production.