This week, one of the midwest’s mega-dairies was in the news after a group from the Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) went undercover on one of Fair Oaks Farms (FOF) and uncovered several instances of animal abuse. The video released is… terrible.
There’s no other way to describe that kind of treatment of animals.
And while you may want to boycott any FOF products, or dairy products as a rule, I will not.
I will stand with FOF.
And I urge you to do the same.
This is not to say that I agree with what happened in the video. I absolutely do not.
Every animal should be treated humanely with high regard to animal comfort and care.
…but there are two sides to every story. And in this instance, I’m going to listen to the farmer.
And I will not ignore the statement given by FOF owner, Dr. Mike McCloskey.
The entire statement can be viewed and read here.
- Of the four FOF employees caught in the ARM video, three of them had been terminated prior to the video being released. Those three employees had been caught abusing animals by other FOF employees, following the FOF procedures of “see something, say something”.
- The fourth employee’s animal abuse was not previously known by management, and has been terminated.
- It is not in FOF practice to sell calves for veal, however:
“due to a lack of communication between the general manager in charge of livestock sales and myself, I was unaware that we were selling our calves to the veal industry and apologize for the unintended false claim made previously. Our bull calves will no longer go to veal.”
Dr. Mike Mccloskey, owner
FOF has not tried to pass the blame off on to anyone else. They take complete responsibility for their employees actions, although the majority of the problem had already been dealt with.
From the mission statement of FOF:
No one cares for the land, animals, and the safety and affordability of the food they produce as much as a farmer. Fair Oaks Farms is a place where our guests can have their questions or concerns answered with complete transparency, where they can make the connection between a farmer and the food on their tables.
fair oaks farms
And from the statement given following the release of ARM’s video:
“As a veterinarian whose life and work is dedicated to the care, comfort and safety of all animals, this has affected me deeply. I am disappointed for not being aware of this kind of awful treatment occurring and I take full responsibility for what has happened. I also take full responsibility to correct and ensure that every employee understands, embraces and practices the core values on which our organization stands.”
Dr. mike mccloskey
I have visited FOF as part of an FFA trip to National Conventional. Transparency is definately a word that I would use to describe their farm.
Throughout the entire tour there were signs explaining the farm and farming practices to visitors.
Windows were placed throughout all the barns so that the care given to their cows was evident to visitors.
I’m going to listen to the farmer in this instance.
Just like I would I would listen to a doctor about a health concern.
A banker on a financial concern.
And a mechanic on an issue with my car.
The farmer is the expert in this case. Not ARM who took months to release the video instead of bringing concerns and findings to FOF management right away.
