Cyndi's Two Cents

What would your governor do?

Commentary.

In 1985, the Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) based in Washington D.C. invented “MeatOut” to encourage people not to eat meat on March 20.  FARM advocates the end of “using animals for food.”

FARM pitches its scheme to cities and states every year, and from time to time, a mayor or governor will proclaim March 20 “MeatOut” in the city or state governed.  From Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA to Ithaca, NY to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM, cites across the country have made the declaration.  Former Delaware, Michigan and Colorado governors made the declaration in the past, but when Governor Jared Polis proclaimed March20, 2021 as MeatOut Day in Colorado, ranchers in the state cried foul. 

It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, for some in the cattle business.

A couple of years ago, the governor received a great amount of scrutiny when eating an Impossible burger in his office, he told the political columnist there with him that the state should open a plant-based protein factory.  He redeemed himself in the state’s ranching community when he ate a beef burger at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) shortly thereafter. 

When coronavirus restrictions cancelled the NWSS earlier this year, the state of Oklahoma grabbed the bull by the horns, forming Cattlemen’s Congress, welcoming exhibitors from 41 states and 3 Canadian provinces to the Sooner state. In a news release in early February, that state’s governor jabbed Colorado.

 “The folks in Denver turned their back on the Ag industry,” said Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “They wouldn’t let them have their major national cattle show because they insisted on keeping their state locked down. That put the stability of the U.S. beef industry in danger. So, we started a new tradition here in Oklahoma City.”

A media release from the office of Nebraska’s governor responded to the Colorado governor’s “MeatOut Day” proclamation.  

“Agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry and beef is our largest segment of production,” said Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts.  “While meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat, there are radical anti-agriculture activists that are working to end meat production and our way of life here in Nebraska.  I have designated March 20^th as ‘Meat on the Menu Day’ to highlight the importance of meat in a good diet as well as to provide an opportunity to support our farmers and ranchers.”

That release jabbed Colorado’s governor for saddling up with a movement that encourages people to adopt a vegan diet and aimed at ending animal agriculture production.  

Although Colorado’s governor does eat meat, his fiancé is a vegan and animal rights advocate.

Why would a governor or a mayor willingly make a proclamation that they know very well will incite even greater polarization among the citizenry than already exists, especially on the first day of National Agriculture Week?  Isn’t that a slap in the face to all who raise livestock or are employed in the field of animal agriculture?

Would your governor or do such a thing?