Quiet & Bold
photo credit - #FavoriteFreakingFarmer aka Evan Volf
I am no poet and sharing this is extremely nerve-racking, but in the last few weeks I have observed some nastiness directed at farmers and ranchers; this is nothing new and I know it's there, but seeing it, albeit through social media, has been quite a bit eye-opening at how terrible it has become. . .thanks to social media.
Like anything, social media is a tool and we are given the choice to use it for good or bad. Is the hypocrisy truly lost to people?
With one hand they type about racial justice and with the other they brutally harass a group of people who have chosen a lifestyle they do not understand.
They say, "Ask questions and learn from those who are oppressed!" But blindly believe any and every lie -- without asking anything -- when it comes to those providing their food and fuel.
And stopping here, I want to vehemently thank those who have and do ask the actual source, aka the producer not the marketer. We are so extremely blessed to live in a state and community that thoroughly supports agriculture and those that may not understand the process do take the time to visit and learn more about what we do. And I know most who read this will be those who encourage and support us and PLEASE, from the bottom of my heart, PLEASE know that your prayers are so appreciated. Your loving words and thoughtful sharing is what keeps us pushing forward.
And also those farmers and ranchers who put in the extra hours and hard work to make a more direct line to those eating the food we lovingly labor over. . .go check out Montana RancHERS to see how this process unfolds.
This post is most heartfelt -- I ache reading these terrible stories about comments and direct messages and actual social media pages dedicated to harassing and encouraging harassment towards those who have chosen a lifestyle most often scoffed at. A lifestyle that is hard and stressful and demanding BEFORE reading nastiness directed at them for putting all that hard work in EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I dare you to check out Natalie Kovarik on Instagram, specifically her "Here's the Truth" post -- this is the post that really started it for me. Or Emily Shaw who is in the dairy business. They have both come alongside others to share how anyone in agriculture has been slandered and even stocked because people don't agree with their chosen job.
No worries, this blog will not become a soapbox for these issues, but I feel as though I sometimes bypass these things because I'm not as involved on the farm and ranch -- these women are constantly out there beside their husbands and I feel a bit "less than." However, I do see the toll it takes on my husband and on my faither-in-law -- as well as my brother and our neighbors -- as they put their hearts and souls and bodies through the wringer and I am determined to overcome my quietness in order to flourish in boldness, especially when it comes to those I love and a lifestyle we are proud to live.
