Last fall my family held an open house to celebrate our newly constructed confinement hoop barn for our feeder cattle.  We went out of our way to invite non-farm neighbors, members of our church, acquaintances, and the broader community in general. We learned that some questions are just that – and that’s important to not respond defensively.

“So, the cattle don’t ever go outside?” was a question I received from one of the attendees.  She had no farm experience.  Now, I am all too familiar with the nasty accusations that can be hurled at certain farming practices. I have been attacked on my blog for some of the practices used on our farm. There are individuals who feel it is cruel to keep an animal under a roof while it is being fattened for market – and they are none too hesitant to share their feelings.  I’ve been round and round with people, and despite my best efforts, some minds just can’t be changed.

Liz Nieman is a full time mom of three, wife to Justin, and a farmer who resides in northeast Iowa.

I’ll admit, my defenses immediately went up at the asking of this question.  I assumed that she disapproved of the practice.  For a second, I considered a snarky response.  Then I took a step back.  She was simply asking an innocent question, and if I responded with a short answer, I would have the absolute wrong effect.  I explained that, yes, the cattle get to spend the rest of their lives being pampered in this barn, with fresh bedding added weekly and daily balanced meals delivered right to their feed bunk.  They would be monitored closely for health and comfort, as a happy calf is a productive calf.  I told her if she wanted to learn more, she could follow our farm on my blog.

In face-to-face conversations, and online comment threads, I have occasionally seen a different scenario play out.  A producer will become defensive in explanations of the practices they use on their farm, and will resort to an accusatory tone, especially if the individual they are talking with disapproves.  The conversation spirals downward from there, and neither party is working to find common ground.  While I understand this reaction to criticism, I also realize that becoming defensive is counter-productive when sharing the great message of agriculture.

My philosophy as an “agvocate”, is to remember that most of the people I talk to, even the ones who disagree with me, are simply looking for information.  It’s my job to provide that information while finding common ground.  I don’t have to agree with someone in order to respect them.  I let my commitment to my work show, check my attitude frequently, and build a bridge.

I may never know what the lady was really thinking when she asked that question, the day of the open house was crazy and I only had a few seconds to give to one person.  I do know that I conveyed a positive message that showed the commitment we have to the livestock on our farm.  Hopefully she went home and looked up my blog.  Which is much better than a snarky response. That would have only put both of us on edge and closed her ears.

When engaging in discussions about agriculture in food production, remember to ask yourself, innocent question, or skepticism? When in doubt, treat it as an innocent question, show the other person that you are a respectable human being, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll begin to build that bridge.

Liz’s family has a diversified farming operation that includes beef feeder cattle, a cow/calf herd, wean-to-finish hogs, corn, soybeans, and hay.  She agvocates about family-corporate-agribusiness farming at her blog: https://iafarmwife.com.  She’s also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lizzynieman) and tweets from @farmwifeforlife.