Julie Turner-Crawford More petitions to come

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just a thought Across The Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

Back in May, I wrote of a ballot initiative petition circulating in Colorado that would devastate the livestock industry in that state. Initiative 16, a section referred to as “Wilbur’s Law,” would have added livestock and Julie Turner-Crawford fish to the state’s animal cruelty law and redefined what is a native of Dallas constituted a “sexual act with an animal,” including County, Mo., where practices used in breeding and animal husbandry. It she grew up on her would have also banned the processing of any animal family’s farm. She is a until it had reached a quarter of its natural lifespan. graduate of Missouri

Luckily, the question never got on the ballot. The Col- State University. To orado Supreme Court rejected the measure, ruling that contact Julie, call 1-866Initiative 16 violates the state’s single-subject require- 532-1960 or by email at ment. Colorado law requires a single subject, and by editor@ozarksfn.com. combining the treatment of livestock and changing the laws relating to sexual abuse of all animals, it was rendered invalid.

The ruling may have been a sigh of relief for livestock producers in that state, but it could mean two initiative petitions in the future.

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Irish Beef Stew

OFN Staff Favorite

Main Dish

• 1 1/2 pounds roast beef cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 2 large onions, cut into eighths • 4 large carrots, diced • 1 1/2 pounds chunked red or

Yukon Gold potatoes • 1 tsp thyme • 2 C water

Preheat a large skillet over high heat. Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper and add to the hot pan. Sear the meat on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer meat pieces to slow cooker. Add the onion pieces to the skillet. Sear them over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until they start to develop dark, golden marks. Add the onions to the slow cooker along with the carrots, potatoes and thyme.

Pour 1 cup of water into the hot skillet to deglaze. Scrape the bottom of the skillet with a spatula to pick up any stuck bits. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker along with the remaining water. Cook the stew on high heat for 4 to 5 hours or low for 6 to 7 hours. Taste before serving and adjust salt and pepper as desired.

Know a Good Recipe? Send in your favorite recipe to share with our readers. Mail them to: PO Box 1319, Lebanon, MO 65536; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

just a thought

Across the Fence

Continued from Previous Page

A similar measure in Oregon could still make that state’s November election. Initiative Petition 13 organizers are currently gathering signatures. The petition would turn breeding an animal into “sexual assault.” It would only allow animals being raised for meat to be processed after they die of natural causes, such as old age.

Oregon is not the only state where animal rights groups are gathering signatures. Oregon is not the only state where animal rights groups are gathering signatures.

In Arizona, the Arizona Farm Animal Confinement Initiative needs to gather 237,645 valid signatures to qualify an initiated state statute. According to some media reports, a group sponsored by World Animal Protection called Arizonans Against Farm Animal Cruelty filed the petition to “prevent animal cruelty by phasing out extreme methods of farm animal confinement.”

The measure would establish minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens. It also bans the sale of veal from calves, pork from breeding pigs, and eggs from hens when the animals are confined to areas below minimum squarefeet requirements.

As I have warned, it’s only a matter of time before we start to see more of these measures make their way to the Ozarks.

Farrowing crates, for example, are illegal in 10 states. Nine states have banned veal crates and require all eggs sold to be from cage-free facilities. Unfortunately, it’s cases of those few doing things inhumanely that have impacted everyone else.

Many say these petitions and laws are to protect and improve animal welfare. Still, I see them as was to eliminate animal agriculture a little bit at a time by trying to give non-farming folks a warm, fuzzy feeling by saying they are “helping animals” by signing a petition or casting their vote.

Millions are spent in the name of “animal welfare” every year, yet when it comes down to physically caring for animals, the organizers of these petitions are nowhere to be found. I’m sure everyone could have used an extra hand or two during our recent winter weather.

Every animal should be treated in a humane way, I agree, but it should not be up to those who have never raised livestock to dictate what is “required” for proper health and care.

When it becomes illegal to help a cow during birth, keep a sow from squishing her babies or keeping birds safe from predators, how is that better for the animals?

Today, more than ever, it’s critical for farmers and ranchers to be advocates for agriculture and keep abreast of things that could impact the industry. Your livelihood depends on it.

Life Is Simple

Continued from Page 3

age had arrived at my home and had set up camp for the duration. Now, I finally have the proof to back up what I’ve been trying to tell my wife and sons for the past couple of decades: I have so much knowledge, locked away in my huge cranium, that I have to distill billions of bytes of details, directions and documents before I can answer even the most basic of questions. What has appeared to be confusion is, in fact, my brain working to perfection.

Just the other day, I asked my wife to hand me the tool... that pinches the wire, and she asked, “You mean the pliers?”

The next day, I asked my youngest son if he wanted to go… to the city with the big arch, and he asked, “You talking about St. Louis?”

As per Harvard, my brain is working to perfection. I will admit, though, they both seem a tad confused.