Faces of Agriculture Sponsors "Gotcha Mobile Media Truck" Help Educate World Pork Expo Attendees & Des Moines Consumers
By Trent Loos
Des Moines, IA – AgPRonline – May 28, 2004 – Des Moines, Iowa, consumers and World Pork Expo attendees will see the "Gotcha Mobile Media Truck" as a visual reminder that the pork industry, their state’s largest industry-- and the people responsible for feeding this country -- face serious jeopardy at the hands of their government leaders. In a recent report released in Iowa called “Threatening Iowa’s Future,” a special interest group alleged that livestock farmers put profit ahead of environmental stewardship and blamed state officials for allowing it to happen. The truth is, the threat to Iowa's future is losing the high quality standards in food production because of over-regulation.
Faces of Agriculture, a national non-profit organization, has coordinated sponsors for 12 rotating billboards on the innovative Gotcha Mobile Media Truck, which travels the streets of Des Moines reminding residents of the importance of farm families and pork production in Iowa. Other sponsors, each with their own message, include Loos Tales, Pit Remedy, Hatfield Quality Meats, John Wood Community College and the National Pork Producers Council. The truck will be driving the streets of Des Moines from June 9 -12 during the World Pork Expo.
Kendra Gilbert, a sixth-generation farmer from Nashua, Iowa says “As a livestock producer, I do everything I can to protect the health of my family and neighbors, comply with some of the nation’s most stringent regulations and take great pride in creating jobs and economic benefits for my community.” The Gilbert family represents the desire of pork producers across this country who attempt be outstanding stewards of the resources in their care. Click HERE for a profile of the Gilbert pork operation.
“My family has proudly been farming since 1852, but that may be coming to an end,” said Trent Loos, Faces of Ag founder. “Consumers need to realize the value of having their food grown right here in the United States. If we have to rely on imported food someday, the quality and safety of our food supply could be compromised.”
Loos noted that producers have traditionally passed their land, their farming operations, and their lifestyle to the next generation. "Too many times the emphasis is shifted away from the families that make a living on these farms. Today's farmer relies on technology to produce more with fewer inputs. It is human managment that has allowed this nation to lead the world in safe, healthy food production. We need the consumer to better understand the producer not the system. That is why we will be focusing on the people during the upcoming World Pork Expo."
Farmers and friends of agriculture are urged to contact their legislators and President Bush to protect an industry that is a mainstay in the state and essential for U.S. national security.
For more information, call (970) 481-1389. For more information about Gotcha Mobile Media, contact Rob Tedrow at (217) 753-2000.
