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Activist Watch (Emily Meredith) By Hannah Thompson-Weeman
Emily Meredith is the communications director for the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

My own worst enemy

(The views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of the author.)

For more than a year, I’ve been talking to anyone who would listen about hosting a “Farm to Fork” blogger tour that would address some of agriculture’s perceived pitfalls.  I wanted to bring influential bloggers with no first-hand knowledge of life on the farm and show them it all.

And yet—after months of work—when twelve bloggers hit the kill floor at the Smithfield plant in Clinton, North Carolina, I was the one who was feeling queasy.

I found myself questioning our entire mission of radical transparency, searching the bloggers’ faces underneath hardhats and hairnets looking for any signs of discomfort or discontent. I was petrified that they would all run screaming from the room—or worse—that I would have twelve women fainting on me, like one giant row of human dominoes.

I was my own worst enemy.

In May, the Animal Agriculture Alliance partnered with the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, North Carolina Pork Council and others to bring my zany “Farm to Pork” blogger tour to fruition. We set out to find bloggers who had large followings, who were well respected in the blogosphere, who were interested in seeing where their food was made and who were open minded. We set a goal of finding 8 bloggers who met these exacting criteria.

We found 12.

We found bloggers from all across the country—California to New York, Washington D.C. to Utah to Florida, and even several local bloggers from North Carolina. These bloggers write about being moms, crafting, food, recipes, local politics, religion and healthful living.  Varied in their interests, only one, had ever been on a farm before.

Over two and a half days we took them to tour Prestage Farms, Smithfield’s processing facilities, and the meat science lab at North Carolina State University. We let them see it all—and encouraged them, at every step of the way, to ask us anything. 

The bloggers asked about antibiotics, animal welfare, humane handling, food safety, hormones, cleanliness and biosecurity. But with every question, the farmers at Prestage and plant managers at Smithfield told it to them straight—and that openness, transparency and honesty really resonated.

We had bloggers arguing over who got to inseminate a sow (seriously—we let two bloggers inseminate sows, I mean, who does that?!?), listening intently as farmers discussed lagoons and waste management, and observing—from the kill floor—Smithfield’s C02 stunning process.

These bloggers were complete troopers; I thought for sure we’d lose them all when we asked for their undergarment sizes in advance so we could have their coveralls ready pre-shower in/shower out—but that only made them more curious and committed to the process.

On the second night, we all gathered for a big dinner—bloggers, farmers and industry professionals. As the bloggers stood up to introduce themselves they each discussed just how humbled they were to be given a “birds eye view” into pork production. The women mentioned their appreciation for all that goes into raising the food that feeds our nation and how they loved being surrounded by people that “just love pigs.”

Already, they have written about their experiences, shared recipes and tweeted and posted photos on Facebook holding piglets, inseminating sows (it was definitely a highlight) or sharing jokes about the “Boar Cart” from the tour.

While I was truly touched by how quickly these bloggers were able to connect to the farmers and industry folks I work with every day—I was greatly humbled by the experience of seeing food production through their eyes.

For me, the entire event was an exercise in practicing what I preach—and while I’ll always be a firm believer in showing—not just telling—our story (especially after last week!) I can now better appreciate that it’s easier said than done.

It’s hard to open the barn doors without any idea what people will think. Words can’t express the kudos I give to Prestage and Smithfield for baring it all with as much grace and pride as they did last week.

Despite my (several dozen) panic attacks, I am more confident than ever in knowing that radical transparency is what’s going to turn the tide for ag—it’s what’s going to make up for all the bad press and misinformation and activist campaigns.

Last week the Alliance et al. showed twelve bloggers how we slaughter pigs. And guess what? They didn’t faint. Most didn’t even bat an eye. Did they all agree with every single thing they saw and did and heard? No. But I know that those bloggers—my new friends—are all grateful for the experience that so few get: to see how bacon is made, from farm to fork (or #farmtopork). 

And I am grateful for their willingness to see it.

9/23/2014

 
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