Cheese Louise!

Here in Wisconsin, dairy is a pretty big deal. I mean, we are America's Dairyland! Over 1.2 million dairy cows call Wisconsin home, including some of the world's biggest! Whether it be Sissy in DeForest, Bessie in Janesville, or Bernice in Manitowoc, no cow compares to the ever-famous Chatty Belle. Let me tell you, she is not a regular Holstein, she advocates!

Chatty Belle is kind of a celebrity here. She is the world's largest talking cow from the 1964 World’s Fair. In fact, she is seven times larger than the average cow! But then again, the average Holstein does not talk. The story goes that she was the main entrant from the state of Wisconsin. They also had a pavilion building that sat right next to her. The building looks like a spaceship, to be honest with you. The architect who designed the building studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. It is very midwest and way ahead of its time for back in the 1960s.

If you’re going to chat with a cow, why not pick one who chats back? So here is how it works. You go up to Chatty Belle and put a quarter in. Then a voice comes on and says, “Hi, my name is Chatty Belle and I’m the world’s largest talking cow! I’m 16 feet high at the shoulders and 20 feet long.” Then Chatty Belle provides a welcome to the pavilion, a good starter base of information about Wisconsin cheese and her hometown of Neillsville, WI.

Even before Chatty Belle could chat, she was an advocate for Wisconsin agriculture. Yes, this fiberglass cow told the story of the Wisconsin dairy industry. At the World's Fair, people gathered to see the World's Largest Cow and learn why Wisconsin cheese is simply the best. And to this day, Wisconsinites and travelers alike still stop and drop a quarter to hear Chatty Belle's moo and more.

You have a voice. I have a voice. We all have voices, even Chatty Belle. And it is important to use those voices to advocate for the things we are passionate about. For myself and probably many of you, that’s agriculture. But why are we so concerned with agricultural advocacy? Well, it is an important concept because many Americans are far removed from farming and ranching. Today, less than 2 percent of the nation's population come from a farm or ranch family.

But there’s a larger, much more vocal component of the population mistakenly spreading misconceptions like wildfire. It’s easy to get confused or misled. We need to tell the true and inclusive story of agriculture. We need support now more than ever. Our future literally depends on our nation’s ability to produce its own food supply efficiently, safely, and profitably.

Helping others understand why and how farmers and ranchers make decisions when raising crops and animals is the basis of agricultural advocacy. But what does agricultural advocacy look like in the real world? Sometimes, it is a farmer posting a photo to social media of a crop in the field explaining its growth stage and what happens next. People racing to move livestock out of harm's way never fails to engage on social media. And a photo of a farmer caring for their livestock on a frigid winter day helps connect you to a real person.

Agricultural advocacy takes on different forms, but blogs like this and many others are a form of agricultural advocacy. Writing about farm and ranch practices is one way to spread the message about modern agriculture’s effectiveness and sustainability. Parents and teachers can show children videos about different points in agriculture. There are tons of hands-on activities to connect students to agricultural concepts. Making a recipe together is a good opening point to talk to students about where our food comes from and how it’s grown.

And, of course, joining an agricultural organization like the FFA is another way to show your support as well as find your path in agriculture. The FFA is an agriculturally-based, student leadership organization dedicated to developing a student's potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success while emerging them into agriculture!

FFA members everywhere share the struggles agriculturalists face when it comes to regulatory reform, weather challenges, and more, and make an effort to help raise awareness of those who work hard to provide food, fiber, and fuel to their communities. Because together, we are stronger. Together, we are unstoppable.

However, advocating for agriculture brings attention to not only the issues faced by modern agriculturalists but also to their accomplishments. The success stories about growing more while using less. The achievements in keeping a family legacy alive while facing adversaries both old and new.

So add your voice in advocating for agriculture. Post a photo, write a blog, or share a video. Visit a farm and tell others about your trip and the people you met there. Ask an agriculturalist about her livestock. She will be glad to share all the ways she cares for them daily while ensuring they produce the highest-quality products for your table. Maybe even drive on over to Neillsville and drop a quarter to chat with Chatty Belle.

However you say it, and however you do it, let others know how important agriculture is to all of us. And join us to #SpeakAg.

Stay Golden,

Katrina