The basis for this program is that, on average, the American farmer is responsible for feeding 155 people a year. The question becomes, "are we having enough meaningful conversations to cover the 155 people we feed?"
Farmers get frustrated that people demand a certain type of product, but don't understand why they have chosen to ask for that product. It is the responsibility of the farming community to show people what we do and why there are choices.
I think that some of the frustration is that farmers assume people know what we do, but aren't willing to show them or even have those meaningful conversations. My thoughts about how public opinion reflects in agriculture can be seen in a previous post. But I think there is a bigger problem in agriculture that revolves around the fact that people aren't having those conversations.
In the past three weeks I have had the opportunity of a lifetime to have literally thousands of conversations with people as they come through the Pig Adventure. There are some farmers out there in my industry (pigs) that assume people aren't willing to listen to us if we want to have those meaningful conversations with them. But I think the greater problem is, they haven't had the opportunity to have these types of conversations. I'm not saying they are wrong for being opposed to the way we have chosen to promote the pig industry, but I think there is a lot of room for improvement within our industry to get involved with these conversations.
If agriculture can get behind one message about what we are and why we are proud of the choices we have made to grow our industry combined with the moral obligation we have to feed people I really don't think the opposition would have a platform to stand on.
I'm down to two and a half weeks left on my internship here, and I am very proud of the impact I have been a part of. I am very excited to see what comes in the last few weeks of my job and to continue helping the industry have these meaningful conversations.
This blog has inspired me to get pigs lol. My family is looking to buy a small farm in south central Ohio, at first we were only going to raise horses, but since running into "reflections of a country boy" my family is thinking about expanding to pigs and goats as well, not on a big scale just enough for recreation and pets, do you think that is a safe idea? I'd love to here your educated opinion on a families break into agriculture and farming. If you could give us any advice or tips what would they be? I'm 23 my mom and dad are over fifty but still fit and this had been a dream of ours for the longest, I already work with horses and an in love with all that entails raising Them, are pigs just as rewarding to raise in your opinion and is south central Ohio a proper place to have them?? We are kinda going into this blind as we have lived in sine what urban areas but really arelooking forward to getting away from all the concrete and get into more wide open spaces on gods green earth! So what advice would you give a 23 year old inspiring"pigger" with nothing but time and drive on her hands? LOL, I look forward to your time and advice than you for inspiring me to go after mine and my families life long dream to have a little farm! God bless you and your family Sam! I can't wait for your next blog as well!
ReplyDeleteThats great to hear! I'm glad you enjoy my blog. Keep up your passion and you'll go places!
ReplyDeleteraising pigs can be rewarding, in my eyes, you get what you give. If you work hard, provide a healthy atmosphere and low risk living for your animals, you can get much reward out of it.
From a "where to go next" perspective, the biggest decision you must make is if your pigs will be pets, or if they serve a greater purpose, by that I mean protein as a meat product.
If this is the route you want to take (a very rewarding one) I would suggest you look at how you want to raise your pigs. Either indoor, outdoor, or both. There are most certainly ways to do it all! Both rewarding, both require work, but both are needed to promote sustainability.
The beauty of being in America is you can raise your pigs how you see fit, as long as you are raising them with responsibility. I would suggest researching it before you go buy pigs.
I would contact the Ohio Pork Producers Council at ohiopork.org and also your county extension office (find it at extension.osu.edu) and find your extension specialist. The land grant institutions have the ability to provide farmers of all sizes with expert advice and help.
Good luck to you and your family, and I hope it goes well. If I can be of any other help let me know.