Our county has been having much debate the past few months over CFOs and CAFOs, more specifically hog facilities. This evening we had a public hearing for a proposed 180-day moratorium against all new CFOs and CAFOs in our county. The debate the past few months has been very interesting with many facts and mistruths presented to our county officials. There definitely has been a lot of emotion on both sides; however, as most of us know in agriculture, we tend to stay away from the emotional side and only use our facts and science to back up our top notch operations. Thankfully, more recently, we have started to talk about the importance of telling our own personal stories.

I have told "my story" more in the past few months than I can count as I have spoken at the past two area plan commission meetings and sent several letters to our county commissioners and area plan commission members. Based on my past efforts, my original plan was to not speak at tonight's public hearing, because I really didn't know what more I could add. Additionally, our attorney wanted to try a facts approach at the hearing, but told us to be prepared for anything. Thankfully, my Farm Bureau experiences along with other life experiences have taught me to tell "my story" and be prepared for anything. After the attorney that proposed the moratorium on behalf of his clients spoke, a mother from our community talked from the emotional side. In fact, she said that was all she had to add. She talked about being a good citizen that had done nothing wrong and now her family's safety was being attacked in addition to her property values. She encouraged the area plan commission to look at the faces of the audience before they voted tonight and questioned the integrity of hog farmers. She talked as if as a hog producer, we weren't also a community member that valued our families' safety and our property values. I knew when she finished talking that my plan to not talk was not going to work. I had to stand up for my family and other hog producer families in our community. I had to show emotion for agriculture and tell "my story" one more time. I kept my part very brief, but just reminded the commission members that my most important job was being a mother and that there was no better place to raise my children. I also reminded them that we too were members of the community, paid taxes, and cared about our community. I asked them to look at our faces when they voted as well.

This situation just showed me once again how we can never tell our story too much and must always be prepared to explain why we do what we do and why we do it. I can't think of another business that is already worried about the next generation when they are only 5 and 2, but I can tell you that my 5 and 2 year old were the reason I knew I had to tell my story tonight. I hope that all of you continue to tell your story too. It is the best tool we have, even if we don't realize it.

The commission voted 7-1 tonight to recommend to the commissioners that a moratorium not be established. The commissioners will hear this topic on Monday morning and make the final decision in regards to the moratorium. I would like to think we are at the end of this issue, but I am afraid, it might only be the beginning which makes "my story" and "your story" even more important.