Mankind owes a lot to the cow. The first animal to be domesticated, humans began capturing the large and aggressive auroch 10,000 years ago and selectively breeding it for more docile behavior.

At one point in the tour, the owner of the property stopped at a small shack. He pulled back the curtain to reveal a toilet made from a plastic bucket. He held up a finger and said something stern in Spanish. My wife leaned in to translate.

Whatever else about the world, there’s one advantage to being alive now: Travel is easier than ever before. All the faraway places one heard about on TV as a child are now within reach after spending 10 minutes online to buy a flight.

Biologist Allan Savory made an international stir nine years ago with this provocative statement:
“Only livestock can save us.” 

In July, I had an event with Leslie Danks Burke, a state senate candidate for the 52nd District in New York state. Held in Ithaca, New York, we discussed agriculture, climate change and literature in front of an engaged crowd. Before we were about to take our last question from the audience, Leslie leans over and whispers into my ear.

The couple stood in front of the counter. “Are you Frankie Manning, the dancer?”
“No sir,” he said. “I’m Frankie Manning, the postman.”

The efforts of five organizations suggest that American agriculture is at a crossroads. These organizations decided to do something about it. If you agree with what any of them are doing, you may want to take a closer look and consider getting involved.