I spent yesterday helping my dad get ready for the big blizzard that hit last night. We moved some cow/calf pairs into another lot, fed hay, bedded the bulls and checked over the cattle to pick out the ones that could be close to calving. Getting prepared for a blizzard is always stressful, but we were lucky to miss the worst of it. However, with the winds blowing today, it was a near whiteout when I went outside to check on the cattle. When I got back in the house to prepare another issue of
BEEF Daily, I found an article that chilled me more than the cold Dakota weather.
Many of you might remember my run-in with Carrie Underwood in 2006. Underwood is a member of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), PETA's 2006 Sexiest Vegetarian and guest show host on PBS kids to talk about vegetarianism. When Underwood sang at the National FFA Convention, thousands of FFA members walked out on her concert to speak out against Carrie's ideals and stand up for animal agriculture. Without a doubt, Underwood's rise to fame has been incredibly successful, but I just can't get past her association with HSUS. Apparently, neither can she, and she is raising money for HSUS with American Idol.
According to CMT News, Carrie Underwood has recorded a version of Mötley Crüe's "Home Sweet Home" for American Idol. Starting on Wednesday (March 11), the song will be played when contestants are voted off the show and will be available as a digital single on iTunes on March 16. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). "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," Underwood said. "So we felt it was important to tie the release into an amazing animal charity like the HSUS." Underwood won American Idol in 2005.
What do you think about these celebrities endorsing organizations like HSUS and PETA? Which celebrity will stand up and endorse our industry? Who can we reach out to? Why do you think people buy into the lies these organizations are built on? What can we do to stop them? I'm sick and tired of livestock producers being unfairly targeted for society's problems. How about you?
