Blog Followers,
I know it's been quiet some time since I've last posted, but be sure to follow me as I move to a new hosting site. Being the Farmer's Daughter has now moved to: www.beingthefarmersdaughter.wordpress.com Hope to see you following soon!
~Emily
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Oprah and 378 Staff Members=Vegan for One Week
Vegan:'a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products; also one who abstains from using animal products (such as leather).' (source, Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary)
If you haven't heard by now, you should know that on Tue Feb. 1, 2011 Oprah and 378 staff members announced that they'd be going vegan for one week. Why such a fuss over some one's decision of how they'll be consuming their food for one week? Let me ask you this question, did you thoroughly read the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary definition that's written just before this paragraph? Let me remind you, it says not only will they be eating greens for a week but they'll also not be using or eating anything made by animal by-products. Since I'm a farmer's daughter and I do enjoy meat in my diet, I will admit that I do have a biased opinion. I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you how many items you'd have to live without if you did decide to go truly vegan.
Here's just a few items that include animal by-products in them (some are more obvious than others): ice cream, chewing gum, shoes, candles, deodorant, fabric softener, glue, insecticides, photographic film, plastics, shaving cream, toothpaste, jello, marshmallows, insulin (treat diabetes), thyrotopin (stimulates the thyroid gland), thrombin (promotes coagulation during surgery), steric acid which is found in rubber tires, asphalt and printing ink. (You can find a more complete list at: http://forces.si.edu/main/pdf/6-8-BeyondTheBeef.pdf)
Now, just to clarify a few things... I don't have anything against people who have chosen to be vegetarian or vegan. I may not agree with their choice but that's the beauty of living in the United States of America. The only thing I'd like to ask of those who make this choice is realize that it's their choice and only their choice. I ask that vegetarians/vegans respect others who do not want the same nutritional diet that they've chosen. It's like politics and religion, you can ask your friends their beliefs but typically after that you just let it be, because we have the right in this country to make our own unique decisions.
So those that have chosen to go vegan with Oprah, please think about what you're really taking on here. Without agriculture and animal by-products please be sure to walk barefoot to work, don't take the prescription medications you need, women please don't shave your legs before wearing that cute dress and remember without printing ink you can't print off your paper work or the O Magazine.
Just remember, if you're going to make a huge announcement and think you're doing something great for the planet, please step up to the plate and truly commit to what you're proposing.
-----------------------------------------
Oprah,
Please accept this invitation to visit my family farm and see how we humanly treat our livestock. Not only is agriculture a way of life for my family, but it's something that I enjoy doing with my brother, parents and grandparents. I'm the sixth generation on my family's farm in Northwest Ohio where we raise crops and beef cattle to meet the demands of America's hungry bellies. Many of the farmers and ranchers that produce food for this nation and world do take pride in properly caring for their livestock, unlike the few that have been seen in the media. Hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Emily Brinkman
P.S. Want to know where we'd be without farmers? Check out this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUggaD6Mr0
A fellow agriculture friend, Mike Haley, has a great blog post I think everyone should read because it goes in depth of how challenging of a task vegans have for this lifestyle they're choosing. (You can view his blog here: http://haley-farms.com/blog/2011/02/01/oprah%e2%80%99s-one-week-challenge/)
If you haven't heard by now, you should know that on Tue Feb. 1, 2011 Oprah and 378 staff members announced that they'd be going vegan for one week. Why such a fuss over some one's decision of how they'll be consuming their food for one week? Let me ask you this question, did you thoroughly read the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary definition that's written just before this paragraph? Let me remind you, it says not only will they be eating greens for a week but they'll also not be using or eating anything made by animal by-products. Since I'm a farmer's daughter and I do enjoy meat in my diet, I will admit that I do have a biased opinion. I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you how many items you'd have to live without if you did decide to go truly vegan.
Here's just a few items that include animal by-products in them (some are more obvious than others): ice cream, chewing gum, shoes, candles, deodorant, fabric softener, glue, insecticides, photographic film, plastics, shaving cream, toothpaste, jello, marshmallows, insulin (treat diabetes), thyrotopin (stimulates the thyroid gland), thrombin (promotes coagulation during surgery), steric acid which is found in rubber tires, asphalt and printing ink. (You can find a more complete list at: http://forces.si.edu/main/pdf/6-8-BeyondTheBeef.pdf)
Now, just to clarify a few things... I don't have anything against people who have chosen to be vegetarian or vegan. I may not agree with their choice but that's the beauty of living in the United States of America. The only thing I'd like to ask of those who make this choice is realize that it's their choice and only their choice. I ask that vegetarians/vegans respect others who do not want the same nutritional diet that they've chosen. It's like politics and religion, you can ask your friends their beliefs but typically after that you just let it be, because we have the right in this country to make our own unique decisions.
So those that have chosen to go vegan with Oprah, please think about what you're really taking on here. Without agriculture and animal by-products please be sure to walk barefoot to work, don't take the prescription medications you need, women please don't shave your legs before wearing that cute dress and remember without printing ink you can't print off your paper work or the O Magazine.
Just remember, if you're going to make a huge announcement and think you're doing something great for the planet, please step up to the plate and truly commit to what you're proposing.
-----------------------------------------
Oprah,
Please accept this invitation to visit my family farm and see how we humanly treat our livestock. Not only is agriculture a way of life for my family, but it's something that I enjoy doing with my brother, parents and grandparents. I'm the sixth generation on my family's farm in Northwest Ohio where we raise crops and beef cattle to meet the demands of America's hungry bellies. Many of the farmers and ranchers that produce food for this nation and world do take pride in properly caring for their livestock, unlike the few that have been seen in the media. Hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Emily Brinkman
P.S. Want to know where we'd be without farmers? Check out this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUggaD6Mr0
A fellow agriculture friend, Mike Haley, has a great blog post I think everyone should read because it goes in depth of how challenging of a task vegans have for this lifestyle they're choosing. (You can view his blog here: http://haley-farms.com/blog/2011/02/01/oprah%e2%80%99s-one-week-challenge/)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tweeting on Twitter???
Greetings Blog Readers!
Maybe you've recognized some of these logos surfing the net? These are all linked to a somewhat new social networking site called Twitter. Before we get into a brief social networking discussion here's a recent update of my busy schedule!
Since Christmas I've left my family and close friends in Ohio to move to Stillwater, Oklahoma where I'll be continuing my education at Oklahoma State University! Now that I'm in my third week of the semester, life has slowed down a bit and I've really been meaning to get a new post out.
So here are some updates on recent events, to get you filled in :)
- We decided to exhibit a pen of three purebred Simmental females at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado (which I'll hopefully be blogging about soon). So when my Dad and I left Northwest Ohio on January 4, 2011; not only did we take my college stuff but also the truck and trailer with our heifers to exhibit in Denver.
- We made the 16 hour, 911 mile trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma in one day
- The heifers camped out under the stars at a nearby farm while we were in Stillwater for a few days
- Dad officially went on his Denver adventure on Thursday morning, January 7, 2011
- I moved into my on campus dorm at Oklahoma State on January 5, 2011
- I attended my first week of class and then met up with my Dad again in Denver to help him show our pen of heifers
- Came back to Stillwater on January 18th and I've been doing homework ever since; well until now of course!
So that's a brief run down of why my life has been fairly hectic lately.
Tweet, Tweet, Tweet!
I wanted to make a somewhat brief post about a social networking tool that can be useful in sharing your beef story or agriculture story with consumers! The National Cattlemen's Beef Association just released this helpful handbook of understanding Twitter (here's the link to the booklet: http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=32a09b9c-2320-46be-9cda-99ac5176419c) Twitter is a great social networking tool that many of my friends are using. I can't say that I've mastered it yet, but I've realized that it can be a great asset to sharing our story. So take time to check it out! If you decide to join Twitter be sure to follow me at: @farmerdaughter_ I'm hoping to use this handbook myself to help master this social networking tool!
Your Farmgirl,
~Emily
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)