The Best Medicine

I took last week off, because I was in Chicago on spring break. It was just what I needed: a trip filled with friends, adventures, and above all else: laughter. Laughing is my second favorite activity. (It is narrowly beat by talking). Laughter is a miracle cure for life. Stress, anger and even exhaustion can disappear with a chuckle.


The bus ride to the Windy City took about nine hours. We had tickets to a comedy troupe called Second City at 8:30 that night. As we approached our destination, we realized there wouldn't be enough time to stop at the hotel and make the show. Second City kindly accommodated us by offering to stow our luggage until the show was over, but that meant navigating public transportation, in a new city, while lugging suitcases. By the time we arrived, nobody wanted to laugh. As we sat in the audience, I was afraid that this night would turn out to be a bust.

The show was hilarious. The improv was snappy and the jokes current and clever. Laughter caused the travel fatigue to melt away and ten happy Nebraskans made their way to the hotel. The same thing happened today when my class was discussing the charged issue of stereotypes. In the middle of class, the professor decided to show a clip from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." After the clip, the class was at ease, and the conversation was better for it.

I don't claim to be a funny person, but I always love to laugh. Tickling somebody else’s funny bone ignites my own chuckles, so I take every opportunity to make people laugh. To spark conversation or cheer up a stranger, a funny anecdote is the key ingredient. Before attempting to tackle tough issues in agriculture, or any other discussion with friends or neighbors, have a laugh first. No body can be mad and giggle at the same time. A secret my little brother knows all too well.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

How to survive a horror film.

Scary movies are awful. I'm not simply saying that because I'm a chicken who is easily scared. My biggest problem with horror films is that most of the characters are idiots. With some critical thinking, most individuals could determine that it's probably a bad idea to go off alone, or to investigate a strange noise unarmed.


This weekend an image popped up on my Yahoo homepage. Like most weird pictures on the web, I assumed it was a gimmick to get people to do more than check their email on the site. I didn't take the time to read the article, but went about my business. Little did I know that agriculture was about to be attacked by the "Pink Slime."

The image of a Play-Doh pink substance coming from a factory pipe made me sick to my stomach. It certainly didn't look appetizing. With some research I discovered the stuff was lean beef trimmings treated with ammonium hydroxide, a chemical that eliminates pathogens like E Coli and Salmonella. By the way, the picture shown with most of the articles wasn't even beef, but chicken (although that's a whole other issue).

It's a classic case of misinformation coming from sources removed from the process and the industry. An ABC news blog was posted on my wall as an argument against the industry. The post contradicted itself calling the substance fat, but then explaining the process as trimmings heated so the fat is separated from the product. Most of the media coverage focused on how gross this stuff seems, and not on the science behind it.

Lean Beef Trimmings are used in school lunches because it can basically be guaranteed safe. Is it pretty? No, it most definitely is not. The bigger issue is the media explosion. Very little science and fact was placed in the various written pieces. Articles on Drovers Cattle Network, and the blog posted by a beef processor were attacked for being "biased sources." The key to this coverage was determining facts and science from opinion and here-say.

Critical thinking is necessary no matter what media you are viewing, whether it's a network news broadcast or an industry article. Using your brain is important when reading articles and trying to survive a horror film.

Big gloves to fill

Coming up this weekend, my family will again be attending a cattle show. This meant the past weekend was spent loading up the trailer with the fan, show box, chute, and side panels. As I was the kid at home, I got the chance to help do all the heavy lifting. As we began the work, I realized, like a newbie, I had forgotten my gloves. My dad, ever the hero, insisted I take his. As I slipped the worn leather onto my fingers, I realized there was no way I was ever going to fill these gloves.


My parents’ generation lived many experiences in agriculture. They have seen technology revolutionize the way we breed and feed cows. Farmers and ranchers worked the tough times like the 1980s and saw the rewards in later decades. These are the folks who have adopted not only the technology of the personal computer, but also embraced social media. In addition to all that, they have fed a growing world.

It makes me nervous. The older I get, the more I appreciate my parents and their peers. I stand in awe of all they have accomplished, and wonder where we go from here. Don't get me wrong, I know that agriculture has many issues on its plate, but I wonder is my generation up for the challenge. Are we willing to work hard, and think outside the box like those before us?

We shut the door on the trailer and I handed the gloves back to dad. After all, I was simply borrowing them. I have my own that fit quite nicely. We as a generation of farmers, ranchers, and allied industry professionals have our own gloves too. As we begin to take leadership roles in the industry we must respect and honor those who have done so much, but we must also forge our own way. Find the place where your hands fit best, and put them to work.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie