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Illinois Farm Bureau Invites Oprah to Tour Livestock Farm
USAgNet - 10/15/2008

The president of the state's largest general farm organization says daytime talk show icon Oprah Winfrey has a standing offer to travel downstate, strap on some boots and visit a livestock farm in her backyard.

"Oprah is obviously interested in the subject of animal welfare, and we have a great story to tell," said Illinois Farm Bureau president Philip Nelson, a LaSalle County grain and livestock producer.

Winfrey's show Tuesday was devoted entirely to the debate over Proposition 2, an initiative that will appear on next month's California ballot which would severely regulate poultry, veal, and pork production.

"If Oprah is willing to take some time out of her busy schedule to visit a farm, she would discover that modern livestock producers are ethically committed to the well being of their animals. Our livelihoods depend on the production of healthy animals. No one understands better than a livestock producer that well cared for animals mean healthy food for Americans and the rest of the world."

Winfrey sent her special investigative correspondent Lisa Ling to the Kellogg family farm in Yorkville, a well managed grain and hog operation that hosts hundreds of visitors every year. California livestock producers were also interviewed on the program, but the discussion was dominated by the leader of the national animal rights group that put the measure on the California ballot.

Illinois Farm Bureau's Board of Directors voted last month to make a $7,000 contribution to the campaign opposed to Proposition 2.

"We appreciate Oprah's willingness to give Illinois and California livestock producers a few minutes to make a case for production methods which are designed to protect food animals from each other, predators, and the elements," Nelson said. "If she still has any questions about how we raise food animals, we would be glad to arrange a farm visit."

"Our members are very concerned that short sighted emotional appeals like Prop 2 ultimately have the potential of driving the livestock industry out of the country and driving up prices for American consumers," Nelson said. "In these tough economic times, not every American has the means to buy expensive niche products like cage-free eggs or free range ham."