It’s easy to be confused. I feel as though I live in constant confusion sometimes. But there are some things we just have to keep straight especially when it comes to our livelihood of farming.
I know I’ve written about Carrie Underwood and her support of the Human Society of the United States (HSUS). As she continues to support the organization who’s main goal is to abolish animal agriculture - my livelihood - we are finding that she might be a bit confused over exactly what HSUS is all about.

Let me explain: Underwood’s latest release is a rendition of Motley Crue’s hit song, Home Sweet Home. It’s being used as a farewell theme each week for contestants leaving the American Idol show. In addition the song is being released as a digital single and partial proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of the United States.

But here is where the confusion enters, she said, “I’ve always loved this song, and besides being very fitting for Idol, to me, the title is also very fitting with animal rescue and finding animals their own homes.”

By this comment it appears to me she thinks HSUS is like the local animal shelter. Is that what you see?

That leads me to wonder how many others are as confused as Carrie Underwood? How many others are contributing to an organization with a compassionate name and destructive goals? How many others are passively watching as HSUS slinks into each state with an agenda in one hand a fist full of money ready to seek, kill and destroy family farms?

I may sound like an alarmist but again, you only have to head west to see the desolation they left in their path where they took over the minds of California voters. If we want to continue to make a living, which is a relative term these days, it’s important that we spread the good word about animal agriculture.

And that starts and ends with each of us on the farm. Remember, it doesn’t take a majority to change things, it takes a loud minority.
As proof of this, I received an e-mail letting me know that as a result of one young lady voicing her passion for FFA, things were changed. Emily Swift of Bronson set out to let people know of her love for FFA, and she set in motion a chain of events I’m sure even she didn’t expect. Let’s open the mailbag: Bronson has hired a past teacher, Jeff Brazo is going to shepherd the FFA students. He was so gratified to read that in the paper. Maybe not all is lost?
P.S. Forgot to say anything about this article, could relate to it, did chores for my Dad many years ago, milked many cows, by hand. Carried the milk to the house for the mild separator ... the good ole days. The heifer having the calf, could just see it all happening. Good article, smiled through a lot of it ... keep up the good work, enjoyed it.

And another reader who could relate to a farmer’s vacation: I truly enjoyed your article on When the farmer takes a few days off. My wife relates to this experience well. Even when we went on vacations, we visited other dairy farms or cattle shows, and we did many one-day vacations with chores on both ends of the day. When I went to summer school at The Ohio State University (for 11 years) I would call home daily to see if the cows were doing alright. I about drove her crazy, and she complained about the phone bill each month. Yes, we’ve been there. -D.K., Ohio.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.