By MELISSA HART
Truth in the Trenches 

Did you see all the pink last month? Gloves, socks, wristbands, all the paraphernalia that goes with football … it was pink.

At any given sporting event in October you were bound to see something pink on the athletes, to bring about awareness of finding a cure for breast cancer. This awareness has caught on like wildfire and I think it’s great that so many, men and women alike, are willing to put on the pink to remind us of the thousands of people who suffer from this disease and the need for a cure.

But October is over, so now it’s time to grow some hair!

Movember is here, and that means men have a good reason to let their mustaches grow: To support prostate cancer awareness. No, this isn’t some crazy idea I came up with – there is actually an organization called the Movember Foundation and it’s a national group committed to raising awareness of men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.

The foundation uses the mustache as a symbol and suggests men grow mustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues. And the dairy industry has taken it a step further in introducing the MoDairy Campaign.

MoDairy will once again be hosting the "Show Us Your ‘Stache" contest to start conversations about men’s health. If you currently have facial hair, consider shaving and growing a new mustache throughout November; then, post pictures of your mustache at www.facebook.com/MoDairy

For every image posted, MoDairy will donate $5 to the Movember Foundation. The photo with the most likes at the end of Movember will win its person the choice of a 20- by 20-inch Steel Cow print!

This is a great way to not only raise awareness but to raise money for a cure.

I’m so proud of the dairy industry for jumping into this and taking a lead role.

There isn’t one of us who hasn’t been affected by cancer in one way or another. It’s a disease that does not respect anyone. Everyone is susceptible to it, and it changes entire families.

And now the toughest part of all – getting the men in your family to actually get an annual health screening to make sure they have a clean bill of health. I know it’s tough, but losing him would be tougher.

For those of you who can’t grow a mustache (me), you can still get in on the fundraising efforts. Donate to the Movember USA campaign to fund prostate cancer research by visiting https://us.movember.com/team/2014073

Celebrate Movember, and save a life!

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.