What Now?

Over the last twelve weeks, I have come to realize how far removed our society is from agriculture.  We see the end-product of food on our tables and clothing on our backs, but most people have no appreciation for the hours of work spent getting it there.  Agriculture has a rich history in our country and was vital in the survival of every civilization, but we have forgotten how vital it is to us today.  The discovery of wool changed the life of men.  “[Men] had discovered a durable fabric which gave him what nothing else could give: protection alike from heat and cold, from wind and rain…Men can never match it” (Sheepcenter). We need to remember agriculture and protect it as the vital resource it is.

After conducting research and becoming a mini-expert on the topic of wool production, I have realized we, as a community, need to do something more to protect the agricultural resources we still have.  Theories are not the answer for understanding.  We cannot fix our problems by overcompensating with good intentions. 

My research led me across many paths.  Some were filled with propaganda while others remained neutral.  Websites that were grounded and reasonable were few and far between and often only directed to a small crowd of farmers.  The available information was often not centered on ways to improve wool production and end products, but on vegan beliefs of avoiding animal products altogether.  These accusations may be partially true, but they are coming from biased individuals, not from reliable sources.  BlueBarnFiber blog states “Not everyone in the wool industry is compassionate and cruelty free.  I have seen the PETA video of an undercover Australian wool operation, and it was horrific.  I also recognize that it is not the norm, and there are evil people in every industry” (Fiber).  If we depend solely on online sources, we may be deceiving ourselves and aiding a declining wool production industry.  If we let this continue, we may lose the wool industry completely.  This would be harmful because it would destroy the livelihood of many farmers worldwide.  We would also have to start depending on manmade fibers which are toxic to our environment.    

We need to be mindful.  We must realize that our actions can affect others.  Our choices and our voices can be used for good.  Why waste them?  If we try to see agriculture in the world around us, we will become a more understanding society.  Agriculture brings people together and if we open our mouths to protest, before learning the whole story, we might starve because of our demands.  We can dig a little deeper and see where things come from, then be open to the possibility that preconceived ideas might be wrong, and learn the truth.  If we educate ourselves before we take a stand, we can become stronger advocates for the people who are working quietly on farms around America to give us a more blessed way of life.

Fiber, Blue Barn. “Blue Barn Fiber.” Cruelty Free Wool, 26 Aug. 2016, bluebarnfiber.blogspot.com/2016/08/cruelty-free-wool.html.

Sheepcentre.co.uk, www.sheepcentre.co.uk/wool.htm. Accessed 24 Sept. 2017.