The glamor of television and the pervasiveness of the Internet have put an enormous burden on agriculture.
Dr. Dan Thomson, a K-State professor and authority on animal activism, said here Friday night rich and famous people involved with animal rights groups had convinced many that farmers and ranchers were ogres, who care nothing about the livestock they raise to meet the great de-mand for protein-rich food.
Quite the opposite is true. No one cares more about the welfare of farm animals than the person who raises them.
Those of us who live in rural America have first-hand knowledge of the efforts that farmers make to be sure their animals are well-fed and protected from the elements. Even in the huge feedlots of the High Plains animal health and safety always are at the forefront.
Agriculture is the primary industry in Allen County and Kansas. Millions of dollars flow each year into the local economy from crops and livestock operations within the 504 square miles of Allen County.
When opportunity arises, it would behoove us all to tell agriculture’s story, how farmers toil, often daylight to dark, to plant and harvest when the time is at hand and how they frequently are up in the middle of the night tending to livestock.
It is the story of our friends and neighbors, those we rub shoulders with in stores, greet at restaurants and events and are delighted to visit with any chance we have.
— Bob Johnson
