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Paris Hilton helping pork producersThe final tally is in 34,656 pork enthusiasts converged on Des Moines, Iowa, last week for the 19th annual World Pork Expo. Attitudes were as good. Obviously I heard some voiced concern about the impact of ethanol to the price of feed for pigs but interestingly enough I heard more about the disconnect with our consumers. The disconnect leads to state bans on gestation crates--in fact, any type of confined animal facilities. Truly I am even concerned about the lack of the scientific community standing up a little more aggressively educating our nation about the importance of confined animal feeding facilities. Understandably though if you have not been in one of these sow gestation barns it is virtually impossible to comprehend how well off the sow is. However, suddenly we have a potential spokesman in the last place any of us would ever look. Paris Hilton in jail. The modern livestock facility provides food and water and protection from predators and the environment for food animals. Paris Hilton has proven she cannot protect herself from the environment risking other human lives by driving under the influence of alcohol. Honestly though who could imagine what it must be like for Paris Hilton to simply walk into a gas station or the grocery store to buy bread. There were paparazzi everywhere taking photos with every breath, much like a coyote stalking a new litter of piglets born outdoors waiting for the right moment to snap. Furthermore like one of the sows that would be picked on by all of the other sows Hilton is placed in solitary confinement certainly giving her the understanding how mean other sows can be in group housing. It is no accident we commonly hear the sentiments that prison provides all of the essentials of life without one thought about where the meal is coming from. Obviously, I am making some large assumptions here but how many other high profile people have not made good life choices and leave this earth prematurely? Just consider: Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, James Dean, John Belushi, Keith Whitley, Janis Joplin, River Phoenix, Phil Hartman, Margaux Hemingway. How many would still be with us today if they were confined? Evidently Hilton had a rough initial adjustment but the worm has turned. Just this past week she told Barbara Walters, "I feel as if I'm a different person. I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference. God has given me this new chance. Even though I'm in jail I feel God has released me." Walters revealed Paris has found a spiritual adviser and is reading self-help books, which have inspired her to use her fame for good purposes. Paris said she wanted to do charity work--serving breast cancer or multiple sclerosis foundations -and suggested she'd like to possibly open a Paris Hilton Playhouse for sick children. Would any of these life-changing thoughts have come to her as she went through life partying and living every day simply to see herself on television? I doubt it. In fact it is pretty clear the confinement has given Hilton time to reflect on her actions and she realizes that she has been living her life to benefit herself, now removing all outside pressures she can see she has a great opportunity to use her talents to benefit others. I will not for moment attempt to tell you that a sow or pig of any kind has the intelligence or reasoning abilities that rival even Paris Hilton but I will tell you we have proof that confinement can be a good thing for a person or a sow. A sow in a gestation crate is certainly improving the world by converting resources into human consumable products. When she can do that without worrying about outside forces it allows her to do what she does best--eat feed and make babies that feed and clothe people. Editor's note: Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com, or e-mail Trent at trent@loostales.com. 6/18/07
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