Duane A. Lienemann UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
June 25, 2011 Edition Does 4-H desensitize kids to killing? “4-H stands for "Head, heart, hands, health" and apparently a fifth - for "haters."
To many, 4-H Clubs are all about nurturing sweet little calves, adorable children winning ribbons, urban garden patches and proud future farmers grooming prized pigs for show. To others, it's a calculated system for turning the youth of America into cold, unfeeling animal killers.”
Please know that I do not think that, and in fact you better believe that blood really shot from my eyes when I read this orchestrated attack on animal agriculture and particularly the 4-H program. This was the lead-in for a story on CNN yesterday, and boy did I get some emails, calls and texts on my phone. So if nothing else others had the opportunity to see and read what I did. I know that our news media are always looking for sensational stories, but picking on 4-H and other youth programs that work with animals is really hitting below the belt. It does go to show though what I have been preaching for several years. There is a huge disconnect between the rural and urban communities and you better believe the animal agriculture industry has a lot of enemies and they are in very influential places, are loaded with money and power, have the power of media behind them, and we are definitely in their sites.
In defense of CNN this story sprang up from an earlier piece they had done entitled “5@5 - Five reasons to buy from your local 4-H”, which really wasn’t a bad rap on 4-H and the animals that we raise. The response to that original airing is what chilled my blood. It was picked up and shot through the cyber world via blogs, websites, AP, TV, vegan & animal rights sites and even Facebook. The misinformation, vitriol and emotional response gives evidence of why PETA, HSUS and all their friends have found an easy prey for their propaganda and fodder for them to fill their treasure chests even fuller as they continue to move towards the elimination of livestock from the food chain and clamor for animal rights.
I mentioned earlier the disconnect that I have seen growing in the last years as an ag teacher and more recently as an extension educator. I think this CNN story proves that there is that disconnect between rural and urban folks when the local 4-H kids come under fire as being desensitized to the suffering of animals. I know that I, as well as most of my neighbors and friends, believe that 4-H and FFA are wholesome, honest organizations that put valiant efforts out to educate our children. It is real world however, and it is obvious to me that there is apparently more than a few misguided and misinformed souls who think otherwise. To me this is almost sacrilegious.
There is no doubt that the division between agriculture and the rest of society continues to widen. Increasingly fewer and fewer Americans have any ties to a farm or rural life. We used to be just one generation removed from the farm, and there were ties to the land and to the animals that we raise. We now have families that are two, three or more generations removed and as those ties are lost, so is the recognition by the bulk of our society that food comes from some place other than a grocery store. In many respects, it is understandable that some in our modern society are uncomfortable with the facts of food animal production. To one that has not lived the life, or heard about the agrarian life style from their parents or grandparents, I can see where they can be confused and perhaps distressed. More distressing however to me, is that many people are convinced those animals are raised in “factory farms” living their lives in dire conditions of overcrowding, mud and waste infected, confined quarters, fed bucket loads of antibiotics and hormones and even worse, “tortured” prior to slaughter. Of course there are those with their own agendas pushing and prodding the smears.
It is heartrending that unfortunately we have some people that don’t get it, and some of this does happen. There is evidence on the internet, TV, YouTube and of a handful of well-publicized media exposed incidents of animal abuse, some of which probably weren’t staged. I am sure that these incidents have done significant damage to the image of our industry and obviously to 4-H and FFA. Now in order to repair the damage done by a few “bad apples” we have display constant vigilance on the part of every stakeholder – including 4-H and FFA exhibitors – who do it right. Our kids do promote responsible animal husbandry and the cultivation of food resources in a responsible, ethical way. Our goal is now, not to be satisfied and complacent about what we do, and just hope that other people leave us to our chosen path, but to continue to educate those that are misinformed and to make sure that we and the people that surround us are good stewards of these animals, the land on which we live and the water that sustains both.
I can tell you, from almost 40 years in education that these young people are not desensitized, they are the most sensitive, and I might add sensible, people I know when it comes to the care and love of their animals. They fully know and understand nature, and the consequences that come with working with nature and its inhabitants. It is not that our 4-H and FFA kids are de-sensitized...it is they have been educated and have become realists --unlike the detractors, who in my opinion, have no sense of reality. It is hard for me to understand the naivety of people when it comes to where their food and fiber comes from. I cannot comprehend that so many people think that all animals should roam the planet freely without management, and that we should live on ….I guess, “manna” that comes from the heavens.
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: www.webster.unl.edu/home
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