<b>By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER<br>
Assistant Editor</b> </p><p>

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In an effort to revitalize Indiana’s animal agriculture industry, Hoosier livestock producers and industry leaders alike united in Indianapolis for the first annual Indiana Livestock Forum on Dec. 6.</p><p>
With a full-day schedule, the event, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Farm Bureau served as the premier event for the agriculture awareness group: Growing IN Agriculture (GINA). A newly sprouted project, GINA works to increase soybean meal demand by developing Indiana’s livestock industry in a manner that is environmentally safe, socially responsible and economically viable for farmers.</p><p>
“It helps when we work together as a team to expand agriculture, and this is just one example of Indiana producers uniting for that one single goal,” said Jane Ade Stevens, GINA project co-coordinator for the Indiana Soybean Alliance.</p><p>
Doting orange animal eartags as nametags, nearly 300 Hoosiers attended the animal agriculture focused event called a “success” by its organizers Stevens and Greg Slipher of the Indiana Farm Bureau.</p><p>
“We are so glad you are interested in joining our pack,” said Slipher motioning to the bustling crowd of livestock producers. “We have the ability to show our teeth and still have respect in this industry.</p><p>
“Keep us informed and we will do our best to ensure that livestock agriculture continues to grow and succeed in Indiana.”</p><p>
Highlights of the forum included an overview of current government and livestock activities, “Living in harmony with our neighbors,” by Mike Veenhuizen of Livestock Engineering Solutions, Inc.; “Where’s the animal rights movement heading” with Wes Jamison of the University of Florida in Gainesville; Beyond the Fence Awards to honor outstanding livestock producers and others who support the growth of Indiana livestock agriculture and; “Through the eyes of one crazy Brazilian” by Osler Desouzart, of OD Consulting.
Animal rights movement</p><p>

A particular feature of the event focused squarely on the animal rights and welfare movement not only in Indiana but across the country.</p><p>
According to Jamison, a professor of public relations with a focus on issues concerning the urban-rural divide and the delegitimization of animal use, “there is a divide the size of the Grand Canyon between agriculture and non-agriculture, and agriculture is getting lost in translation.”</p><p>
Jamison pointed out the continuing transition of pets such as dogs, cats and horses as becoming “part of the family,” and consumers are having a tough time distinguishing between the animal on their plate and the animal by there side.”</p><p>
“Houston, we have a problem,” he stated. “What in the world is pet ownership have to do with you raising animals for food.”</p><p>
With nearly 12 years of faculty experience researching animal rights and welfare issues, Jamison detailed four specific reasons why more and more consumers are easing towards joining the animals activism movement everyday.</p><p>
The first of the four factors is urbanization. Jamision explained that more and more animals are living inside the home, such as pot-bellied pigs.</p><p>
“What happens when people move to the city, the barnyard moves too,” he added. “You view that animal (pointing to a photo of a baby pig) as a unit of production or a pork chop and they view it as part of their family.”</p><p>
Secondly, anthropomorphism indicates that consumers are projecting human qualities in their pets, dressing them up in clothes and taking them trick or treating.</p><p>
Thirdly, the factor of evolution contributes significantly to the vitality of the animal rights movement.</p><p>
“In 1854, Darwin came up with evolution,” he noted. “So we went from a culture thinking we were unique to a culture that says we’re scientifically close to animals. So animals are living inside the home as part of the family, then we find out we’re a lot like them.”</p><p>
Finally, Jamison explained the fourth and final factor, equality.
“Well if they are like us, they we should give them there rightful political rights,” he joked. “No, wrong, these are pork chops people.
But Jamison said that it’s really not even about the animals, “it’s a conflict over what’s an animal and what’s a human.”</p><p>
“We treat our animals like humans, but you treat yours like a Nazi refugee camp,” he said motioning to an image of a downer cow strung up by front-end unloader. “We have a society of people who love animals.”</p><p>
Channeling the mindset of an animal rights activist, he asked “How can you eat this when you love those animals so much, pigs are just as beautiful and deserving. See we have conflicting images here.”</p><p>
“No society has ended animal agriculture, but you are under fire and threatened closer than ever,” Jamison warned the eager-eared crowd.</p><p>
Following a question of “Where do we go from here,” Jamison said that “animal agriculture has been ashamed too long.”
“We’ve continued to sanitize agriculture for consumers, we need to show and tell them that it’s ok to slaughter a cow or pig and quit hiding it.”</p><p>
“Allow the processors and food retailers to help you or it’s over,” he warned.</p><p>
“You better own this or you’re going to see to see livestock production going offshore.”</p><p>
For more information on GINA or the Indiana Livestock Forum, visit www.growinginagriculture.com</p><p>