On my way to cattle country
I am sitting at the airport on my way to Nebraska – land of cows and corn. My husband has family there so every year about this time we head east to immerse ourselves in farm life. Four of my brother-in-laws are farmers. They raise corn, soy beans and cattle. Of course since I am vegan this provides many opportunities for discussion. Mostly they just think I’m an alien from another planet.
Right after we showed up last time, my mother-in-law said they made sure to clean up the deer carcass in the backyard that had been shot by one of my brothers. You might think this is shocking to me but unfortunately it’s not. I’ve been going to Nebraska for 10 years now. Long since before I was vegan. Even when I ate meat, they thought I was a bit of an alien since my family hails from Northern California where we were brought up to think of people as equals and envy creative minds.
In Nebraska it’s a bit different. People say things more like “that’s the way we do it because that’s the way it’s always been done.” Well ok if it works but if it doesn’t work you might want to try something else! Or maybe not … it’s not for me to say. I just take a deep breath before we drive by the feed lots packed with cattle and send positive energy the cattle’s way. I also hold my breath because the stench is so horrible!
The cattle have no shelter … the live outside all year around. Being that it’s November, there will likely be snow and possibly freezing temperatures. To retain a tiny bit of heat, the cattle group together in a huddle to keep from freezing to death … snow covering their backs. I just can’t help but think that’s sad! Who wants to stand outside in the freezing cold with snow on their back?
The feedlots are horrible. But there are also farms where the cows get to roam … like my brother-in-laws farms. They transport the cows from field to field so they can eat corn left on the ground after it has been processed in the combine. This is somewhat of a better life for the cows. They still don’t have a barn but they are allows to spread out. I always ask … why is it that when people go to the store to buy meat, they don’t get to know the difference between the cows that are allows to live freely vs. the cows that are stocked up in the feed lots?
Yes if you go to Whole Foods you can see if your food has been grass fed, organically produced and free range. But most of these farmers in Nebraska don’t mess with that. They just take their cows to the same processing plant as the cows from the feed lots. If people could choose whether their meat came from a free range farm vs. a feed lot, I think they would choose free range assuming cost is the same.
When I talk with my in-laws … these are the questions I pose … why not try some organic farming? Why not try to market the beef as free range? It could be better for their financial circumstance while better for the earth and the animals raised. Usually I get a laugh and “why would we want to do that?” Maybe this time will be different … I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
I can relate to you 100%! I’m from Los Angeles but my husband is from Lincoln, Nebraska. His whole family farms. I lived there for 6 months while my husband was in Iraq. PURE HELL!
His family doesn’t like non-meat eaters at all, going so far as to say I’m working against Gods will.
I think his family would sooner accept me if I were from another planet! There heads nearly exploded when they found out my husband went (and still is) vegan.
I stay as far away from Nebraska as I can!!! Like here in Hawaii!
Good Luck!!!