Thursday, May 31, 2012

Purdue Farm Tour


FFA project-turned-career headlines Farm Management Tour
Some farmers are born into farm families and carry on the tradition. Others grow a few crops and watch the enterprise blossom into a career. Still others build an agricultural business piece by piece. A farmer featured in this year's Purdue Extension Farm Management Tour embodies all three.
Sam Erwin, owner and operator of Indiana Berry and Plant Co. of Plymouth, will talk about how he turned a high school FFA project into one of the state's largest fruit, berry, vegetable and horticulture businesses. His agricultural conglomerate is among four Marshall County farms visitors will learn about during the 80th annual tour June 20-21.
Other farms on the tour are Homestead Dairy/Legacy Dairy, Stackhouse Farms and the Marvin and Charlie Houin Farm. Tour stops are free to attend, and a complimentary lunch will be served June 21 for those who register in advance.
The Indiana Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Banquet takes place June 20 and costs $25 per person.
The tour offers an up-close look at successful farms and how they operate, said Alan Miller, Purdue farm business management specialist and tour coordinator.
"The host farmers will share their insights on the challenges and opportunities of managing a modern family farm," Miller said. "They will share information about the management practices that have made them successful and the innovative management practices they are evaluating. Learning from their experiences as managers is a great way to pick up ideas that might be useful in your own operation."
Erwin represents that entrepreneurial spirit. Although he was raised on a farm, Erwin did not want to grow commodity crops like corn and soybeans. In 1969 Erwin planted blueberries and established a U-pick operation to complete an FFA requirement. Within 10 years, Erwin's Pickin' Patch Inc. was incorporated and he began expanding into other fruit and vegetable crops.
Today, Erwin continues to operate the U-pick farm, as well as businesses that sell supplies to specialty crops operations and machinery for horticultural production.
Those who attend the Indiana Berry and Plant Co. tour stop will hear an inspiring business story, said Craig Dobbins, a Purdue agricultural economist and tour stop host.
"This is the story of how an individual assembled his strengths and the strengths of people around him together to do successful things," Dobbins said. "Sam's story is about identifying opportunities where other people see problems and how one provides focus for a business to keep it moving forward. And it will demonstrate the importance strategy has in running a successful business."
The Indiana Berry and Plant Co./Pickin' Patch tour stop is at 3 p.m. EDT June 20. The farm is at 2811 U.S. 31 North.
Other tour times, stops and activities:
* June 20, 1 p.m., Homestead Dairy/Legacy Dairy, 11505 13th Road, Plymouth. The family-owned dairies headed by Floyd Houin operate as a single farm with 3,800 dairy cows, 4,000 replacement heifers, 3,500 acres of mostly corn for silage and manure nutrient recycling. Tour visitors will learn about the innovative use of information technology, crop and forage management, milking operations and cow housing.
* June 20, 5 p.m., Indiana Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Banquet, Christos' Banquet Center, 830 E. Lincolnway, Plymouth. This event recognizes outstanding agricultural producers and community members and is co-sponsored by Purdue's College of Agriculture. To register, contact the Purdue Ag Alumni Association at 765-494-8593 or debby@purdue.edu by June 8.
* June 21, 8 a.m., Stackhouse Farms, 6808 9B Road, Plymouth. Brad and son Kyle Stackhouse market non-genetically modified and identity-preserved grains for specialty markets worldwide. Visitors will learn about the farms' unique business structure, land ownership trusts for farm succession and pivot irrigation. They also will tour a geothermally heated and cooled shop building and examine farm equipment the Stackhouses have modified.
* June 21, 10:30 a.m., Marvin and Charlie Houin Farm, 7563 Plymouth-Goshen Trail, Bremen. The Houins operate a 3,000-acre corn and soybean farm. Marvin and son Charlie will talk about their different roles in the operation, and how family relationships and resources have helped them expand their farm through land acquisition and cutting-edge crop technology. They also will share about the challenges of farming on the fringe of a suburban area.
A sponsored lunch follows on the Houin farm at noon, and Purdue agricultural economist Chris Hurt will present an agricultural outlook at 1:30 p.m. Registration is required by June 14 and can be completed by visiting the Farm Management Tour website at http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/commercialag/progevents/tour.html. The website also contains additional information about tour stops and a map to the farms.
Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics hosts the Farm Management Tour.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Indiana Ethanol opens door to Political Leaders

Indiana Ethanol Producers Association Member Plant Welcomes Congressman Joe Donnelly

Posted on 23 May 2012 by Gary Truitt
The Indiana Ethanol Producers Association (IEPA) member plant POET Biorefining – Alexandria today welcomed Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly for a behind the scenes tour and discussion about ethanol.  The tour was led by Dave Hudak, the General Manager of the Alexandria plant and Secretary of the IEPA.  “The ethanol industry is an essential part of Indiana’s economy and we are pleased to welcome Joe Donnelly to Alexandria today to highlight our work,” said Dave Hudak, Secretary of the Indiana Ethanol Producers Association and General Manager of POET Alexandria.   “As a homegrown, renewable energy source, ethanol will help us reduce our reliance on foreign oil while creating jobs for Hoosiers.”
 Donnelly’s visit to an Indiana ethanol plant is only the latest in Hoosier elected officials visiting IEPA member plants.   Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R, IN-03), Senator Dan Coats, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, and numerous other state legislators have also toured IEPA facilities.    “All elected officials have an open invitation to visit our facilities to learn more about our dynamic industry and its importance to our state,” said Steve Pittman, President of the Indiana Ethanol Producers Association.
 Joe Donnelly represents Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District. 
 “I strongly believe we need to set partisanship aside to get things done for Hoosier middle class families, which is why I wholeheartedly support the ethanol industry,” said Donnelly.  “We are fortunate to have such a vibrant industry in this state that benefits so many Indiana farmers, producers at facilities like this one, and families at the pump.  We need to go all-in on American energy production so we stop sending our hard-earned tax dollars overseas.  Indiana can be a leader in this effort with our ethanol production.”
 A recent study by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council found that ethanol directly and indirectly supports over 3,500 jobs while creating over $3.4 billion in combined economic activity in Indiana.  There are 13 operating ethanol plants in the state with an annual production capacity of over 1.1 billion gallons.
 The Indiana Ethanol Producers Association is a statewide organization that works to promote and encourage effective production and widespread usage of ethanol in Indiana through education and advocacy.  Learn more by visitingwww.indianaethanolproducers.org.
Source: IEPA

Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Pizza Party for Agriculture

A Pizza Party for Agriculture

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Gary Truitt
 
A grassroots movement of farmers from across the country is asking other farmers to buy a pizza from Domino’s this weekend.  Several weeks ago HSUS tried to pressure Domino’s Pizza into only buying pork from producers who did not use gestation crates. While this effort has recently been successful with several fast food chains, it did not work with Domino’s. According to the digital media company annarbor.com, 80 percent of Domino’s shareholders rejected the resolution and only 4 percent voted for it. In its proxy report, the Domino’s board recommended voting against the proposal, saying, “We rely on established industry experts and the USDA to determine best practices in this area, and will continue to do so.”

A farmer in Missouri, Chris Chinn wanted to thank Domino’s for trusting farmers to do a good job and suggested in an on-line blog that farmers should buy some pizza from Domino’s. Mike Haley, a grain and livestock farmer in Ohio who is active in social media, told HAT bloggers around the country picked up on the idea, “The blog ‘Truth About Agriculture’ picked up the idea and created an event on facebook for this weekend that suggested that farmers should buy pizzas From Domino’s this weekend.”  At this writing, over 2,000 people have pledged to buy a pizza from Domino’s this weekend.

In the past, grassroots efforts such as this have been negative, with farmers boycotting companies that side with radical animal rights organizations.  The campaign against Yellow Tail wine which donated funds to HSUS generated so much bad publicity that the company eventually changed their position.  Haley says that, this time, it is a more positive message, “My dollars speak when I buy something, so I think it is important to speak up and support Domino’s in a positive way.”

Susan Crowell, writing in Farm and Dairy newspaper, said, “They (HSUS) are smart. They know how to influence corporations and whip up publicity, all in the name of animal welfare, when all they really want to do to end meat production, period. Agriculture needs to remain vigilant and tell its story in all arenas, too. We need to take some pages from the HSUS playbook.”

preprinted thank you note, created by agvocate Kelly Rivard, is available for farmers to print and present to their local Domino’s when ordering a pizza this weekend.   Social media ag activists are being urged to spread the word about the event by posting the link on facebook and twitter. HSUS bought stock in Domino’s in 2010 and has vowed to bring the issue back before Domino’s stockholders next year.

Click Play To Listen: 

Get the Details

Say thanks when you buy your Domino’s pizza:

created by agvocate Kelly Rivard, sign it and add your own comments for the store manager or owner, when you pick up your order.



Two Maids a Milking

Check out Amy and Liz Kelsay's blog with highlites of their lives on a dairy farm.
www.twomaidsamilking.blogspot.com

E15 Pretty Good Stuff

Growth Energy reaffirmed its steadfast support of E15, pointing to facts and extensive testing instead of relying on misinformation and inaccurate data. While critics are entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to distort the facts on the performance and reliability of E15. The truth is that E15 is better for the environment, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, provides consumers savings at the pump and has definitively proven its reliability under some of the most demanding conditions. “The continued campaign against E15 has been one that is filled with misinformation and misleading data,” stated Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “The reality is they are completely dismissing the fact that E15 is the most tested fuel to date, with extensive testing done by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, with results showing no significant difference between gasoline without any ethanol and an E15 blend.”

In examining the recent study of today’s Coordinating Research Council there is a fundamental flaw in their conclusion as they failed to use a baseline of E10 in their engine testing. E10 makes up virtually our entire nation’s gasoline supply. This fact alone invalidates their study, rendering all of the data flawed.  Buis continued, “The EPA tests were much more thorough, testing more engines for longer periods, and for 120,000 miles and the results were consistently clear – E15 did not produce any negative effects. If that is not enough, consider the fact that NASCAR has run close to two million miles on E15 in some of the toughest engine conditions imaginable with no problems whatsoever. As a matter of fact, their extensive use of E15 has shown the benefits of increased horsepower and performance. “Most concerning of all, is a resistance by groups to end our addiction to foreign oil by refusing the American people the voluntary choice of E15 in a free market. While the large oil companies continue to espouse their support of a free market, they have put roadblocks up at every opportunity to prevent the free choice they claim to champion so dearly,” Buis concluded.

America’s continued addiction to foreign oil and the whims of OPEC affects our energy security and prices at the pump, while failing to acknowledge the reality that we must adopt a comprehensive energy strategy; by accepting the status quo, Americans will not only be denied a choice, but it would display a dangerous message to the world that the United States is not serious about true energy security.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Handling Beef Cattle "BQA" best practices

BQA handling practices impact quality

Cattlemen have long recognized the need to properly care for their livestock. The checkoff’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program develops tools based on sound animal husbandry practices and decades of practical experience and research, which is known to impact the well-being of cattle.
Besides animal health protocols, BQA encompasses cattle handling and facility design, which can greatly impact beef quality and ultimately the profitability of producers. BQA offers training videos on cattle handling and facility design from Dr. Temple Grandin and other low-stress cattle handling experts.
Here are some samples of BQA YouTube videos that feature cattle handling tips and facility design plans:
  • Permanent facility design, featuring Dr. Temple Grandin, Colorado State University
  • Handling systems for small operations, featuring Curt Pate, South Dakota cattleman
  • Cattle handling during weaning, featuring Dr. John Maas, University of California - Davis
  • Cattle handling tips for moving bulls, featuring Dr. Ron Gill, Texas A&M University
For more BQA videos, visit the National BQA YouTube channel.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Putnam Co. Election Results

Putnam County election results

Tuesday, May 8, 2012
County Commissioner Dist. 1(R) (4,664 total votes)
David E. Berry -- 38.96 percent (1,817 votes)
Jake Zaring -- 36.49 percent (1,702 votes)
James Rodney Fenwick -- 24.55 percent (1,145 votes)
(D) (578 total votes)
Jeffrey Oliver Blaydes -- 100 percent (578 votes)
County Council At-large
(R) (12,408 total votes -- each votes for 3)
Gene R. Beck -- 64.11 percent (2,652 votes)
Larry L. Parker -- 61.23 percent (2,533 votes)
Phillip J. (Phil) Gick -- 54.24 percent (2,243 votes)
Stephanie Summitt-Campbell -- 52.5 percent (2,172 votes)
Tina L. Fogle -- 46.68 percent (1,931 votes)
Ty Hampe -- 21.21 percent (877 votes)
(D) No candidate filed
County Commissioner Dist. 3
(R) (4,005 total votes)
Donald K. Walton -- 100 percent (4,005 votes)
(D) No candidate filed
United States Rep. District 4
(R) (3,922 total votes)
Todd Rokita -- 100 percent
(D) (602 total votes)
Tara E. Nelson -- 59.14 percent (356 votes)
Lester Terry Moore -- 40.86 percent (246 votes)
State Senator District 24
(R) (2,539 total votes)
Connie Lawson -- 100 percent (2,539 votes)
(D) (343 total votes)
Charles Albert Bender -- 100 percent (343 votes)
State Senator District 37
(R) (1,731 total votes)
Rodric D. Bray -- 53.55 percent (927 votes)
Ryan Goodwin -- 46.45 percent (804 votes)
(D) (230 total votes)
Jim S. Cahill -- 100 percent (230 votes)
State Rep. for District 44
(R) (4,128 total votes)
James (Jim) Baird -- 100 percent (4,128 votes)
(D) No candidate filed
County Auditor
(R) (3,868 total votes)
Lorie L. Hallett -- 100 percent (3,868)
(D) (564 total votes)
Wilma Phipps -- 100 percent (564 votes)
County Treasurer
(R) (3,929 total votes)
Sharon Owens -- 100 percent (3,929 votes)
(D) No candidate filed
County Coroner
(R) (3,849 total votes)
David R. (Dave) Brown -- 100 percent (3,849 votes)
(D) No candidate filed
Precinct Committeeman Fox Ridge
(R) (126 total votes)
Joan P. Billman -- 50.79 percent (64 votes)
Douglas Nally -- 49.21 percent (62 votes)
Precinct Committeeman Cloverdale 1
(R) (169 total votes)
Pat McFadden, Sr. -- 56.80 percent (96 votes)
Audra Vickroy -- 43.20 percent (73 votes)
State Convention Delegates
(R) (42,469 total votes -- each votes for 12)
H. Keith Berry -- 3,378 votes
Marsha S. Carrington -- 2,769 votes
Gerald E. Ensor -- 2,796 votes
Donald K. Walton -- 2,739 votes
Darwyn Nelson -- 2,605 votes
Richard Coffin -- 2,604 votes
Sherrie Fenwick -- 2,480 votes
Joan P. Billman -- 2,369 votes
C. Jane Snellenberger -- 2,192 votes
Jennifer J. Coletta -- 2,173 votes
Carol Sweet -- 2,129 votes
Charles Hendrixson, III -- 2,082 votes
Clyde Flynn Coulter, Jr. -- 2,042 votes
Kevin D. York -- 1,986 votes
Matthew A. Manzano -- 1,963 votes
Dan G. Snellenberger, Sr. -- 1,888 votes
Michael Trisler -- 1,558 votes
Elizabeth N. Suddarth -- 1,380 votes
Joshua M. Snellenberger -- 1,336 votes
President of the U.S.
(R) (4,636 total votes)
Mitt Romney -- 61.58 percent (2,855 votes)
Ron Paul -- 17.08 percent (792 votes)
Rick Santorum -- 13.83 percent (641 votes)
Newt Gingrich -- 7.51 percent (348 votes)
(D) (537 total votes)
Barack Obama -- 100 percent (537 votes)
United States Senator
(R) (4,923 total votes)
Richard E. Mourdock -- 59.80 percent (2,944 votes)
Richard G. Lugar -- 40.20 percent (1,979 votes)
(D) (569 total votes)
Joe Donnelly -- 100 percent (569 votes)
Governor
(R) (4,208 votes)
Mike Pence -- 100 percent
(D) (547 total votes)
John R. Gregg 100 percent (547 votes)

Sunday, May 6, 2012

2012 Primary Election Candidates

Election OfficeCandidateParty
US PRESIDENTNEWT GINGRICHREPUBLICAN
US PRESIDENTRON PAULREPUBLICAN
US PRESIDENTMITT ROMNEYREPUBLICAN
US PRESIDENTRICK SANTORUMREPUBLICAN
US PRESIDENTBARACK OBAMADEMOCRATIC
UNITED STATES SENATORRICHARD G LUGARREPUBLICAN
UNITED STATES SENATORRICHARD E MOURDOCKREPUBLICAN
UNITED STATES SENATORJOE DONNELLYDEMOCRATIC
GOVERNORMIKE PENCEREPUBLICAN
GOVERNORJOHN R GREGGDEMOCRATIC
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE - DISTRICT 4TODD ROKITAREPUBLICAN
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE - DISTRICT 4LESTER TERRY MOOREDEMOCRATIC
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE - DISTRICT 4TARA E NELSONDEMOCRATIC
STATE SENATOR - DISTRICT 24CONNIE LAWSONREPUBLICAN
STATE SENATOR - DISTRICT 24CHARLES ALBERT BENDERDEMOCRATIC
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - DISTRICT 044JAMES (JIM) BAIRDREPUBLICAN
COUNTY AUDITOR - PUTNAM COUNTYLORIE L HALLETTREPUBLICAN
COUNTY AUDITOR - PUTNAM COUNTYWILMA PHIPPSDEMOCRATIC
COUNTY TREASURERSHARON OWENSREPUBLICAN
COUNTY CORONERDAVID R (DAVE) BROWNREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - DISTRICT 1DAVID E BERRYREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - DISTRICT 1JAMES RODNEY FENWICKREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - DISTRICT 3 - PUTNAM COUNTYDONALD K WALTONREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - DISTRICT 1JAKE ZARINGREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER - DISTRICT 1JEFFREY OLIVER BLAYDESDEMOCRATIC
COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGEGENE R BECKREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGETINA L FOGLEREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGEPHILLIP J (PHIL) GICKREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGETY HAMPEREPUBLICAN
COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGELARRY L PARKERREPUBLICAN

Friday, May 4, 2012

Standing Up for Agriculture

Bullying the Farm Kid

5/4/2012 8:35:41 AM
Laurie Johns

It’s a parent’s nightmare; seeing your child bullied for standing up for his lifestyle or what he believes.  When your child is targeted or ridiculed by another child, you see it as an opportunity for intervention; teach appropriate behavior so each child comes to appreciate their differences while hopefully becoming more respectful adults. 

But, what do you do if your child is bullied by an adult, an adult who disagrees with your child’s lifestyle or pokes fun at his passion?  That’s what happened to Jamie Pudenz at the recent FFA Convention in Ames. 

Jamie, a shy farm kid from Carroll, is one of those rare finds; a teenager who works hard, doesn’t complain and speaks glowingly about his parents, his teachers, his fellow students.  He sets the bar high for himself and constantly strives to push himself.  His passion for the land and livestock is the very quality you hope all future farmers possess.

FFA Advisor Kolby Burch says when this football-playing  junior takes on a new project, he tackles it with the seriousness of a preacher preparing for a Sunday sermon.  It was quite a challenge for him to enter the FFA Public Speaking contest.  His entry, “Unveiling the HSUS and the Need for Animal Agriculture,” was written with passion.   He spent months preparing and practicing out-loud.  He sailed through preliminary contests, but took the stage at state, knowing it was a controversial subject for a wider audience. “I knew going to the state level, I’d face resistance; I put it in the back of my head, just went to the front of the room, took a deep breath and got started,” said Jamie. 

According to the rules, the purpose of the FFA Public Speaking event is “to develop agricultural leadership, communication skills and promote interest in leadership and citizenship by providing member participation in agricultural public speaking activities.”  While the rules state that judges don’t need an ag background, they should all be ‘competent and impartial.’  Normally, judges are chosen well in-advance, but because of a scheduling snag, a last-minute FFA alumni from Illinois became the third judge. 

As soon as Jamie finished his speech, the volunteer judge, decked out in Birkenstock sandals, white socks, a rumpled cotton shirt and jeans, leaned forward and asked, “Is feeding cattle 100 percent efficient?”   Jamie wasn’t sure at first what to say.  “I closed my speech about livestock and how we feed them corn because they can’t be sustained on grass alone, so I told him we feed them out and it’s much more efficient.  But before he let me finish he said, “No, you’re completely wrong.” 

He then proceeded to berate Jamie on how animals are meant to be raised on pasture and raising them indoors is a perversion of nature, horrible for the environment and the cause of all society ills. He then jabbed a finger at him and said, “And, another thing, you call this a ‘Works Cited’ page? Who taught you how to do a ‘Works Cited’ Page? This is a mess!” 

Jamie says he was surprised by the harsh tone and unsure of the implications of the comment, so he defended his English teacher who helped him with the ‘Works Cited’ formatting. 

FFA advisor Burch says the burly teen held his composure, but was choking back emotion after he left the room, his confidence shaken. 

Jamie Pudenz isn’t interested in a career as a public speaker or writer.  He doesn’t dream of being a politician or sportscaster.  He wants to be a farmer, just like his dad.   “We need livestock production around. If I don’t’ start talking about the threats against us now, it’s myself, my friends, my neighbors who will pay. If HSUS shuts us down, I’m out of a job. So are so many other kids like me."

I believe, as most farmers do, that consumers should have a choice when it comes to their food and farmers do their best to provide them.  There will never be a return to the days when everyone farmed the same way and consumers didn’t care for the narrative.  Consumer demand for choice should be the tie that binds Iowa’s incredibly diverse farmers together.    And, choosing one type of food production over another shouldn’t involve ‘shooting the messenger,’  whether that messenger is a consumer, a farmer or a child.  Anything less is, well, being a bully.

But, at the end of the day it seems to me Jamie can already teach a valuable lesson to those who think it’s someone else’s job to ‘do PR.’   He won’t give up.  His quest to tell the diverse story of ag is even bolder because of the resistance he met in a wider audience.   He’s ready for ‘round two.’  How about you?

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Vegan book goes over the edge....

“Vegan Is Love” is the title of a new children’s book by Ruby Roth. While I grew up on innocent Disney fairytales, the Bernstein Bears, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, Roth introduces young people to the horrors of eating meat, and she goes way too far in the process.

A book review from MSN reads, “Vegans, you can abdicate yourself from the pinnacle of the food chain, but don't try to scare us off our bacon sundaes. And, please don't try to make our kids read Ruby Roth's new book, ‘Vegan Is Love,’ a gorgeously illustrated but sinister children's book that graphically depicts bleeding, slaughtered animals and describes their deaths as violent and sad. It's no wonder Roth's unsmiling stepdaughter told The Today Show her favorite food is kale. Critics say the book encourages vegan kids to see their meat-eating friends as cold-blooded killers. One thing is for sure: As far as bedtime stories go, you're better off with ‘Goodnight Moon.’

“Vegan Is Love” is Roth’s second shot at targeting children to push forward her vegan agenda. Her first book, “That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals” encourages kids to avoid parks, circuses, horse races and eating meat.

I believe it’s important to educate kids about where their food comes from. Show them seeds are planted in the soil to grow vegetables. Teach them about how cattle and sheep grazing in the pasture convert grass into protein for us to eat. Tell them that bacon comes from pigs, and eggs come from chickens. Correct them when they think chocolate milk comes from brown cows. Explore farms and ranches, learn about careers in agriculture and teach them how to be confident in the kitchen. These are all important lessons for kids.

However, using fear tactics and dramatic illustrations to scare kids away from healthy, nutritious animal proteins is just wrong. What do you think about the book, “Vegan Is Love?”

Check out these children’s books that celebrate animal agriculture and show your kids how you can love animals and the planet and still enjoy meat and dairy products.

“Levi’s Lost Calf” by Amanda Radke

“Star Becomes A Mother” by Rianna and Sheridan Cheney


“Peekaboo Farm” by Charlie Gardner 

“Open The Barn Door” by Christopher Santoro

“Little House On The Praire” by Laura Ingalls Wilder