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How I Handle Vegan Activists

When I started sharing our story online several years ago, I wasn’t quite prepared for where it would lead. From traveling to NYC to talk about our farm to millions of folks across the country to participating in local food drives in my community. It has been an incredible adventure.

I have had countless conversations with folks wanting to know what we do on our farm, why and how. Not everyone agrees with what we do and that is fine. I didn’t start sharing our story to gain anyone’s approval. I did it to make sure we were available for those seeking out how their food is grown/raised.

As I began reaching a larger audience, I also started reaching the vegan community. What an experience I was in for. When one person believes it’s okay to eat animals and the other doesn’t there is bound to be conflict. I spent the first couple years allowing activist to share their side and taking time to converse with them. Honestly, out of the hundreds (possibly thousands) of conversations I came to one very simple conclusion. Well there just isn’t any common ground with the majority of vegan activists. I know, I am a slow learner. Or maybe I was too much of an optimist.

Let me repeat. There is just no common ground with the majority of vegans. Why? Because most are activists set out to end animal agriculture (me) and well as you can imagine… That just doesn’t sit well with me. It doesn’t matter what I do or say as long as I am a dairy farmer, I am wrong.

So in recent years I have taken a very simple method to dealing with vegan activists when the come to my page and/or social media channels. I ban/delete them. I know, why would I do that if I don’t have anything to hide? Sigh. Honestly, it’s because I just don’t have the time or patience to deal with them. I spent countless hours in the past trying to have conversations and that is simply wasted time I will never get back.

I would venture to guess that I am about as transparent as they come with sharing what we do on our farm. I share the good days, the bad days and I tackle the tough topics. We raise animals for food. We do a damn good job of caring for them and making sure they have the best life possible on our farm. You either agree with raising animals for food or you do not.

So when I share what we do on our farm on my blog and social media, it is my story, my first-hand account and my platform. I do it in my spare time. I have a family, a farm and an off the farm job. I take time to share because people want to see what we do. So when activists come to my page and post their copy/paste vegan rhetoric, I just don’t allow it. I am not going to sit there and talk in circles. I am not going to allow them to respond to any and everyone that comments on my posts especially when many comments are rude (perfect example here) or tacky one liners.

If people are doing research on dairy farming and want to look at both sides, there is far more information online from activists than there is from farmers. I don’t need to allow them to share what they have read or watched online when I am sharing first hand what we do every day.

What is it that they like to say? Oh yes, “Google it”. You know because Google University knows much more about what a farmer does than a actual farmer.

So with all that said, I want to make something very clear. I do not share what we do to receive anyone’s approval. I share because folks want to know how their food is grown/raised. I share because I think it is important for farmers to have a voice in the growing conversation about food. I share because I want to be transparent about what happens on our farm.

So if you ever wonder where that crazy comment you just read went, now you know. It was filed under “I don’t have time for this kind of crazy in my life and have more important things to do with my time. Like take a nap”.

 

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Krista Stauffer

Owner at Stauffer Dairy
Krista didn't grow up on a farm but fell in love with a dairy farmer and now works alongside her husband on their family dairy farm, raising five children. Despite her non-farm upbringing, she embraces farm life, enjoys gardening, and remodeling their farmhouse. She also runs a successful women's boutique, manages social media for local businesses, and serves on the board of a non-profit creamery, showcasing her dedication to entrepreneurship and community service.

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