As another profitable year of farming comes to an end, you may be considering ways to improve your business position and reduce your 2011 tax liability.
The Animals for Life Foundation (AFL) may be the answer you’ve been looking for.
No – the AFL is NOT an animal rights group. Instead, it is an organization started by the Ohio Farm Bureau that is working on behalf of farmers to promote the value of the human-animal bond, the professions that further it, and the proper care of animals in the diverse ways they improve human life.
“There has to be a mainstream discussion about these topics,” said AFL Executive Director David White. “We can’t let activists dictate society’s expectations about the essential elements animals bring to human life when they ultimately want farmers, zoos, restaurants, researchers and veterinarians go out of business.”
The Animals for Life Foundation wants society to value the many ways animals bring quality to human life and for people to treat animals with dignity and respect regardless of their ultimate use.
In addition to further common sense discussion around these philosophies, this year, the Foundation gave $30,000 in grants to organizations pursuing projects that align with the Foundation’s goals, including a local foods event, a school therapy dog’s veterinary bills, developing and training a therapy dog for children with autism, an Ohio FFA career development program program and an Ohio Farm Bureau Federation livestock handling for first responders training.
In 2009, farmers rallied behind Issue 2 that pitted the farm community against outside interest group and anti-agriculture activist group the Humane Society of the United States, or HSUS. That success has led to the development of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board taking a common sense approach to regulating animal care.
“We have to continue to frame this issue proactively and engage stakeholders beyond the agricultural community for increased influence,” said White. “If we are successful, high standards of animal care will be upheld and farmers and our colleagues will be celebrated for what we do for human life and have the social license to enjoy these professions.”
How You Can Help
1. Make a tax-deductible contribution to the Animals for Life Foundation at http://aflfoundation.org/donate.
2. Join the discussion at Facebook.com/AnimalsforLifeFoundation.
3. Co-brand your organization or business with AFL educational and promotional materials, such as banners, ads, brochures and fact sheets. Contact us for more information on how we can help!