In 1980, in her first year of high school, a farmer’s daughter from a rural Midwestern community signed up for an agriculture education class and joined the FFA. Instead of following in her brother’s footsteps and raising hogs, this young lady chose to raise dogs for her supervised occupational education project.

Flash forward 3 decades and we find that young FFA member all grown up with a family of her own, living on a farm in the agricultural community where she was raised. She owns her own business. She pays taxes and spends money in her local community. She bought into that which so many of us who grew up on family farms bought into: there is opportunity if you are willing to work hard, maintain the good ethics with which you were raised, practice animal welfare and contribute to your community. This woman, like many of the rest of us, studied agriculture in high school and thrived in the organization that teaches leadership and citizenship and encourages us to believe in the future of the agriculture industry “with a faith born not of words but of deeds”

What began as a project in FFA became her life’s work. In my universe, we celebrate this woman.

She was a high school student during the farm crisis of the 1980′s, witnessing the exodus of many families from their farms. She watched as fellow FFA members who headed off to college struggled with the decision, but ultimately had to choose a life and career outside of production agriculture because the opportunity dreamed of in the 70′s had shriveled up and died with the farm crisis.

It couldn’t have been easy for her. I don’t have to tell you about the input costs for raising animals – from housing to bedding, and from feed to veterinary services. She had to keep her pencil sharp, her facilities in ship-shape and the health and welfare of the animals she raised is a top concern.

This woman does not operate a “puppy mill,” yet there are those who have 5 pets in a 1 bedroom apartment in the city and those who raise livestock or poultry in confinement buildings who believe otherwise.

There are bad actors raising and selling dogs in less-than-desirable conditions. There are bad actors in every industry, in every community, and in every walk of life. There are laws currently on the books that if enforced, will put bad actors out of business.

I am forever telling those who read this column or listen to my commentary on the radio to work together and arm yourself with knowledge. This woman is one of you. Before you shun her, perhaps you should take some initiative and learn about her business and about other dog breeders’ kennels.

While a Washington, D.C.- based animal rights group infiltrates your rural communities with anti-”puppy mill” messages, you should know two things:

First, if you raise livestock, you are next. Secondly, and most importantly, if we all stand together we will be stronger.