Consumers in many areas of our state and nation are several generations removed from production agriculture. As that trend continues, agriculturalists face growing challenges to keep consumers educated and informed on their methods of production and the quality of the commodities they produce.
“We have been so busy producing, that we have not taken opportunities to slow down and share our message. That has to change.” said Richard Alig, fourth-generation producer in Kingfisher County.
Consumers are bombarded with misinformation from animal rights activists and environmental groups whose sole mission is to put an end to production agriculture. They paint a picture of farmers and ranchers focused solely on the bottom line and operating with reckless disregard for the natural resources and animals in their care. This picture could not be further from the truth.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau has, for many generations, been producers’ most trusted ally for agriculture public policy, and their goal with the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation is to be the trusted source for social issues as they relate to the production of our food and fiber.
“As a mother, and a fourth-generation producer in Oklahoma, I am surrounded by farmers and ranchers I trust and can talk to when I hear misleading information about the safety of the food I feed to my family. Many consumers don’t have a personal relationship with a producer, so they trust the “doctors” and “experts” they see on TV.” said Amanda Rosholt, Director of Fundraising and Public Relations for the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. “Our goal with this series is to help consumers get to know our producers as people who devote their lives to safely and efficiently feeding and clothing their family, community, state, nation and world.”
The Producer Perspective stories will be published on the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation website, okfbfoundationforagriculture.org, and will be distributed to media outlets across the state.
