Agricultural News
OSU Animal Ag Advocacy Group Receives Positive Response from its 'Surviving Without Ag?' Display
Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:15:19 CST
The FARM Theory hosted their "Surviving Without Ag?" event on Feb. 28 and March 1 at Oklahoma State University. The new agriculture advocacy group held the event to educate students, faculty and staff on the impact agriculture has on everyday life. One of the group's founders, Megan Bryant, spoke with Sam Knipp of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau about the significance of the event. (You can hear their full conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this story.)
"We're here to inform people that agricultural products are a part of your everyday life, or animal agriculture products are, whether you're eating them as a meat source or if you're doing your laundry or if you're driving a vehicle. Animal byproducts are a part of the things we use every day and a lot of times we don't even realize it."
The demonstration took place just north of the Classroom Building near the library lawn. The FARM Theory group was set up near a group from PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Members of The FARM Theory and Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlemen and Cattlewomen's Association grilled samples of pork and chicken to distribute to people on campus. There also exhibited different items which contain animal by-products. In a Facebook message to RON- Megan Bryant says that they served about 1,200 folks over the two days- including Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis- and Oklahoma State Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese, who expressed apprciation to the students for standing up for Oklahoma agriculture.
In her conversation with Knipp, Bryant said The Farm Theory message was being well-received on campus.
"I think people are actually enjoying the free food, but I've actually seen a lot of people go through our display and just kind of hearing some of the things like, 'Wow!' or 'I had no clue that this was from an animal product.' I think we really hit home on a lot of people."
FARM stands for the "Future of America Relies on Me." The idea for the FARM Theory originated from an advocacy course OSU's animal science department offers each spring. Students in this class get to interact with world leaders in the agriculture field and learn how to promote agriculture in a positive way. Encouraged by faculty, students began working together to create a coalition on campus to educate fellow students, faculty and staff on the importance of agriculture.
"It is exciting to have an organization such as The FARM Theory on campus," animal science senior, Emily Bardot, said. "It is important for agriculturalists to tell their story. The FARM Theory is something students can be involved with while they are at school to promote this industry."
The FARM Theory hopes to expand and have branches at other colleges and universities across the nation. The ultimate goal of this group is to educate consumers on agricultural practices and serve as a credible source of information.
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