This first appeared on the Oh That's Chelsey blog and is reprinted with permission.
By Chelsey Erdmann
Do they know, really know, what they are banning?
Would they feel this way if they could see the vital role livestock play in keeping ecosystems thriving?
Would they feel this way if they could see the marginal land, byproducts, and waste animals eat to turn into high-quality protein and countless other digestible nutrients essential for optimum health?
Would they feel this way if they knew pulmonary surfactant used to help NICU babies breathe is sourced from cows?
Would they feel this way if they understood how much more we get from an animal than milk and meat?
Would they feel this way if they returned to their roots, generations back, and see exactly what it takes to survive while also noticing what isn't a necessary part of life?
Would they feel this way if they knew food comes from families?
Food comes from families that make up small communities.
Would they feel this way if they really knew our way of life, our values and our efforts?
Now knowing all that about us and this place, would they feel differently if they knew the whole truth about the "alternatives?"
Chelsey and her family live on a sixth generation farm. Chelsey is the District 5 representative on the NDFB Promotion and Education Committee.