Over my brief twenty years on this earth, I have had the bittersweet blessing of both enjoying and losing the unique companionship of animals. There isn't a love in this world like the love of an animal and their person. They love us on our best days, and our worst. Nothing we can do hinders their affection. If you don't believe me, lock both your significant other and your dog in a car trunk for a day- I promise you the dog will be more enthusiastic to see you!
Recently, I lost my pet goose Bruce. I was grief-stricken to say the least. Everyone who knows me knew about Bruce the Goose and how much he was a part of my life. In the days after his death it was with a heavy heart I walked into a newly empty goose pen, glancing over at his favorite rock he so proudly stood on days before. In reflection, the hurt I felt stood to the testament that this small curly feathered ball of fluff made such an impact on my life.
As agriculture teachers, we are in a position of educating students who have varied experiences and companionships a wide variety of animals. Students often work in a range of capacities with these animals, ranging from everything from pets to slaughter animals, to service animals, to production animals and everything in between. As agriculture teachers, our job is to not only teach students about agriculture, but also show them how to be rational and moral agents. I think one of the best ways to teach students to obtain these virtues and lead a life of leadership that is balanced with empathy and compassion is to allow for them to work with animals.
When students learn to care for something other than themselves, they learn to be reliable and compassionate servant-leaders. It is my hope that through their work with animals students can begin to care about the living world around them. Working with animals allows them to develop a sense of stewardship and self awareness of their place in the world.
When I was showing my dairy heifer this year at Dairy Expo, I learned real quick that my heifer didn't take orders from me, and that I needed some degree of tact to train her. Although we use livestock for food and fiber, it is important that we cultivate an appreciation and supreme respect for the privilege of exploiting these sentinel beings for our own gain. Ultimately, the price of life comes at the cost of another living being, either directly or indirectly. One cannot appreciate the gift of life without understanding the complex relationship we have with the creatures we share our world with. You have nothing to gain from exercising compassion towards animals, and that is why your true colors are ultimately reflected in how you treat the livestock you work with. If I can teach a student to love the least of beings the cross paths with, I know they can go on to do great things.
