Erin Jeffs Erdiakoff ENGL 134-29 18 October 2017 Profile Essay (Creative Title Will Go Here When I Think of One) ‘There are more farm animals in the United States than there are people in the world. Despite this, people are inereasingly becoming less connected with agriculture directly, with a mere 1.6% of Americans engaged in agriculture (Huzzey). The number of farms in the United States are significantly decreasing; however, meat consumption is on the rise, with our country producing 150 billion pounds of meat in 2014 (Huzzey). You may be wondering why this is happening, why the number of farms are decreasing if meat consumption is increasing. The answer is a simple one: farming is now an extremely industrialized, technologically advanced discipline (Huzzey), Farms are no longer quaint, family-owned operations with a small herd of ten cows and a little homemade chicken coop. Instead, they have herds of over five hundred cattle and chicken coops are now massive buildings that house tens of thousands of birds. Since this rise in factory farming, many have critiqued the industry, arguing that this style is inhumane and a form of animal cruelty. Though I could go down the rabbit hole of this extremely heated debate, it has birthed a movement that began in Berkeley— the hippie, pretentious hipster, and tree hugger-filled town, The Farm-to-Table movernent is one that I, growing up in the Bay Area, got to watch and be a part of. For those of you who didn’t have the privilege of growing up in the NorCal region so weird that seeing a guy wearing a green tutu, clown makeup, and space pants on your commute to work is normal, the Farr-to-Table movement promotes serving, locally sourced food in restaurants and schools. The movement is calling for us to support thesmall, family-owned farms that are being phased cut; to get back to our Agrarian roots of farming; and to have more human farming practices (Huzzey). So, when I made my visit to the Avila Valley Bam a few Saturdays ago, I quickly got a sense of how and why this place is so special to the locals of San Luis Obispo. After thanking my Uber driver and getting out of the car, the excitement of the Avila Valley Barn was what hit me immediately. The people there were so lively, and it was a nice change of pace from the tired, sluggish college students I'm typically surrounded by. It seemed like here was a family-friendly niche, where everyone could unwind and enjoy themselves and each other. Asan Animal Science major, the animals were what caught my eye immediately. 1 purchased a bag of feed (at the extremely affordable price of one dollar), and made my rounds, visiting each pen. 1 was able to feed and pet a plethora of farm animals, and it honestly brought out my inner child. I was probably just as excited, if not more, petting and feeding the new baby goats as the five-year-olds next to me. However, I think that is part of what makes the Avila Valley Barn such a highlight in the San Luis Obispo community, it allows you to connect with agriculture even in the simplest of ways, like feeding some adorable animals. Moreover, it exposes children to the agricultural community and gets them excited about it at a young age. “I think (coming here is] how I found out I really like animals,” reflects eight-year-old Mason. “My mom probably takes me three or four times a month,” he continues, emphasizing that feeding the animals his is favorite activity to do here. This connection that Mason gets to experience at a young age is one that would be commended among the Farm-to-Table movement. It’s encouraging the next generation to get involved with their local agriculturalcommunity. Ina sense, it’s almost like time traveling to the past, when farms were set up like the Avila Valley Barn, instead of a streamlined, factory farm. Once my bag of feed ran out, I decided to make my way inside, where I found a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, farm-themed toys, and a variety of plants to start a farm of your own from carrot seeds to small tomato plants to even some succulents to spruce up your house. It's here where I met Angela, whose appearance embodies the soccer mom archetype to the fullest extent. Making a quick stop here to buy one of the Avila Valley Barn’s home-cooked pies, Angela notes that she takes her kids here once a week. “And I’m happy to take them,” she adds. “I like it here, and it’s such a great atmosphere... everyone in the San Luis community ean find something here they'll enjoy. I think an atmosphere like that is very special, you know? It’s rare, I guess.” She went onto explain the U-Pick program, with berry picking being a favorite among her two kids. U-Pick operations are perfec: examples of ways consumers can relate back to the “old ways” of farming. Here, farmers are able to sell their produce directly to the consumer. The general public is then able to deve'op a direct relationship between their food and the outer farming community. Angela also noted that it made her connection with the food she eats stronger— another goal of the Farm-to-Table movement. Per Angela’s suggestion, I grabbed a bite to eat at the “Sweet Roasted Corn Shack” and then went to enjoy my snack at one of the adjacent picnic tables. It's at one of these picnic tables where Jerry and Diane, a married couple probably in their mid-sixties, noted my Cal Poly shirt engaged in conversation with me, asking about the university. Our conversation shifted, and the couple was more than willing to be interviewed for my project, where they quickly went on about their grandkids and their love for the tractor rides and animals. They felt that they have gained a sense of community here with Diane noting, “Jerry and I come here so often that weknow a few [staff members] by name, and they know us.” From my own visit, I would add the friendliness to that statement. The staff were friendly of course, but so were the visitors. Everyone I talked to was happy to be interviewed and share their thoughts on this farm. People seemed to take their time here, enjoying every moment. I truly believe that it’s this slower-pace thet helps foster a sense of community among the Avila Valley Barn regulars. It’s a place where people can visit and take a break from their fast- paced, nine to five lives they lead during the weekdays. People are able to spend time with their friends and family, enjoy great food, and experience traditional agriculture. I think part of what makes this farm so special is its novelty. ‘There aren’t very many of these small farms left, and as such it’s a unique experience to able to visit one where there aren’t these massive herds of cattle and pigs aren’t squeezed into these small pens stacked next to one another. Instead, animals have ample room to stretch their legs, and get love and attention every day from the Barn’s many guests. As Jerry remarked, “It's really a special little gem, here in SLO.” ESSay provises cgond idea ok whet this place Stand fov. 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The answer is a simple one: farming is now an extremely industrialized, technologically advanced lathos discipline (Huzzey). Farms are no longer quaint, family-owned operations with a small herd of ten cows and a little homemade chicken coop. Instead, they have herds of over five hundred cattle and chicken coops are now massive buildings that house tens of thousands of birds. Since this rise in factory farming, many have critiqued the industry, arguing that this style is inhumane pavwor Be oe has : . g2<_ feb thas bed a movement that began in Berkeley—the hippie, pretentious hipster, and Joo 2) do > tree hugger-filled town The Farm-to- ee a ata ‘go got to watch and be a part of. For those of you who didn’t have the privilege of growing up in __ y Possihy : the NorCal region’so weird that seeing a guy wearing a green tutu, clown makeup, and space and a form of animal cruelty. Though I could go down the rabbit hole of this extremely heated able movement is one that I, growing up in the Bay Area, pants on your commute to work is normal, the Farm-to-Table movement promotes serving locally sourced food in restaurants and schools. The movement is calling for us to support theJeffs 2 small, family-owned farms that are being phased out; to get back to our Agrarian roots of farming; and to have more human farming practices (Huzzey), So, when I made my visit to the Avila Valley Bam a few Saturdays ago, I quickly got a sense of how and why this place is so special to the locals of San Luis Obispo._. Kdds ~ Wuwreneing effec After thanking my Uber driver and getting out of the car, the excitement of the Avila Valley Bam was what hit me immediatly. The people there were so lively, and it was a nice change of pace from the tired, sluggish college students I’m typically surrounded by. It seemed like here was a family-friendly niche, where everyone could unwind and enjoy themselves and each other. we ‘As an Animal Science major, the animals were what caught my eye immediately. I purchased a bag of feed (at the extremely affordable price of one dollar), and made my rounds, Yoy! SAT word visiting each pen. I was able to feed and pet a plethora of farm animals, and it honestly brought ‘out my inner child. I was probably just as excited, if not more, petting and feeding the new baby ‘goats as the five-year-olds next to me, However, I think that is part of what makes the Avila Valley Barn such a highlight in the San Luis Obispo community, it allows you to connect with agriculture even in the simplest of ways, like feeding some adorable animals. Moreover, it exposes children to the agricultural community and gets them excited about it at a young age. “I think (coming here is] how I found out I really like animals,” reflects eight-year-old Mason. “My mom probably takes me three or four times a month,” he continues, emphasizing that ip Wis favorite activity to do here. This connection that Mason gets to feeding the animal experience at a young age is one that would be commended among the Farm-to-Table movement, Its encouraging the next generation to get involved with their local agriculturalJefls 3 community. In a sense, it’s almost like time traveling to the past, when farms were set up like the Avila Valley Barn, instead of a streamlined, factory farm, Once my bag of feed ran out, I decided to make my way inside, where I found a variety , a lon, It’s here where I met Angela, whose appearance embodies the soccer mom archetype tothe | OL, % o of fresh produce, baked goods, farm-themed toys%and a variety of plants to start a farm of your ‘own from carrot seeds to small tomato plants to even some succulents to spruce up your house. fullest extent. Making a quick stop here to buy one of the Avila Valley Barn’s home-cooked pies, Angela notes that she takes her kids here once a week. “And I’m happy to take them,” she adds. “I like it here, and it’s such a great atmosphere... everyone in the San Luis community can find something here they'll enjoy. I think an atmosphere like that is very special, you know? It’s rare, I guess.” She went onto explain the U-Pick program, with berry picking being a favorite among her two kids. U-Pick operations are perfect examples of ways consumers can relate back to the “old ways” of farming. Here, farmers are able to sell their produce directly to the consumer. The general public is then able to develop a direct relationship between their food and the outer farming community. Angela also noted that it made her connection with the food eter she eats stronger— another goal of the Farm-to-Table movement. wey +o Per Angela’s suggestion, I grabbed a bite to eat at the “Sweet Roasted Com Shack” and then went to enjoy my snack at one of the adjacent picnic tables. It’s at one of these picnic tables where Jerry and Diane, a married couple probably in their mid-sixties, noted my Cal Poly shirt Doesnt read wd, Place engaged in conversation with me, asking about the university. Our conversation shifted, and the Connors couple was more than willing to be interviewed for my project, where they quickly went on Atffexerthy about their grandkids and their love for the tractor rides and animals. They felt that they have gained a sense of community here with Diane noting, “Jerry and I come here so often that weJefls 4 know a few [staff members] by name, and they know us.” From my own visit, I would add the along w/the visitors? friendliness to that statement. The staff were friendly of course, but so were the visitors. butsower: they Everyone [ talked to was happy to be interviewed and share their thoughts on this farm. People V . eae wry ro end iy me a seemed t@ take their time here, enjoying every moment. oe co “eR | truly believe that it’s this slower-pace that helps foster a sense of community among the Avila Valley Barn regulars. It’s a place where people can visit and take a break from their fast- paced, nine to five lives they lead during the weekdays. People are able to spend time with their friends and family, enjoy great food, and experience traditional agriculture. I think part of what makes this farm so special is its novelty. There aren’t very many of these small farms left, and as such it’s a unique experience to able to visit one where there@ren’ these massive herds of cattle and pigs éfen’)squeezed into these small pens stacked next to one another. Instead, animals have ample room to stretch their legs, and get love and attention every day from the Bam's many guests. As Jerry remarked, “It's really a special little gem, here in SLO.” \ Awesome ending: : / gave age Seed ond ale emotionek Good job molein Vee ONA execience - T GAs Wee T wasthere A Yeu: