North Americans are proud of our ranchers as they have worked tirelessly to feed us for generations. Before CAFOs, cattle grazed and poultry was raised in much less concentrated settings. For many American’s eating meat is ‘American.’ The hunter-gather society, pre-dating the present society by thousands of years, ate meat for sustinence. Our quest to eliminate all meat removes both the economic benefits of family-owned ranches that have been around for generations, and a protein source as imperative to us as it was to our ancestors. To shift from a meat-focused culture, we need to acknowledge the benefits of ranching done right and focus on the destruction caused by CAFOs done wrong, in a way that educates society into wanting to make better choices, rather than simply telling them to go meatless. Education could also include portion sizing, as Americans have been marketed to believe ‘more is better,’ and our waistlines (and health) reflect our decisions. We can start shifting away from so much meat by helping people understand that by paying more for meat raised responsibly, and eating less, they are helping the family farmer, their own health, and the health of our Earth. We can also help our local farmers and our health by shifting to more of a plant-based diet, again, educating consumers on the importance of responsible farming that is protective of the farmer and our Earth.
