Is it worth it? Is it worth going head to head with animal activists? Are they worth the time it takes to have a conversation with them?
Many people believe that the time spent talking with activists is time that you will never get back and is poorly spent on individuals who do not care. However, conversing with activists is not for their benefit but for the benefit of others.
Many people in the dairy community feel alone when it comes to handling animal activists. More often than not, dairies and supporters of dairies who are attacked by activists find themselves under a barrage of harsh, threatening language that would be enough to make a sailor blush. In these circumstances, many feel more comfortable avoiding the confrontation, which is absolutely understandable. With that being said, nobody should feel alone.
We are entering June, which is National Dairy Month, and you better believe the activists know about it. They have currently started an anti-dairy campaign that runs all of May and June in opposition of dairy month. Recently, they have made it their “quarantine” goal to attack everyone who is remotely engaged in the dairy industry. We will not be deterred. Even though they have gotten very clever with name calling and threats, they are gaining no ground.
Every scare tactic is being used, and every curse word has run its course, but the dairy community is holding strong because we have people who will stand up and defend the truth. Recently I, like many others with social pages, have been attacked by activists, but what I witnessed afterwards was amazing. We in the dairy industry are not alone.
For the last few days, I have seen more and more people defend the truth about dairy than I ever imagined. From people who have cows to those who are city dwelling lactose intolerant “dairy patriots” who know the truth and will not stand to see activists slander our names or spread lies about dairy. We are not alone, and they want us all to know it.
As we enter into June Dairy Month, please remember that you are not alone. The activists that you see attacking dairy pages are not the majority, yet those that they are attacking may feel like the minority. Be sure to keep an eye on your favorite dairy social media pages and show them some love and encouragement.
June Dairy Month is always a fun time of year and we intend to keep it that way! Please continue to share your love for dairy, cows, and what you do! The majority of people are genuinely interested in what we do — don’t let a few squeaky activists deter you!
Tyler Ribeiro is a fourth-generation dairy farmer born and raised in California. He is currently partners with his father at Rib-Arrow Dairy in Tulare where they proudly ship their milk to Land O’Lakes. Tyler is actively involved in the dairy industry, holding leadership roles in various organizations locally and across the United States.
