Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, is best known as a friend to animals. After reading his new book, family farmers and steak-and-chop lovers may see Baur as their friend too.
"Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food"
"Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food" is no radical diatribe about animal rights. It's a reasoned, three-pronged plea for compassion toward cows, pigs and other farm animals; a reaffirmation of the role of the small farmer in the food chain; and a call for enforcement of laws enacted to make food safe for consumers.
Of course, Baur's descriptions of filthy factory farms where cruelty is standard operating procedure and his affectionate portraits of companionable farm animals could lead some to adopt a vegan lifestyle. But that's the risk readers take.
For more than 20 years, Baur has advocated for humane conditions for farm animals and rescued those abused by the system. And he started his national movement right here, dropping in on the New Holland Sales Stables and in the former Lancaster Stockyards. Initially, he sheltered sick and injured animals on a farm in nearby Avondale.
Baur, well-known though not always well-loved by area farmers, livestock dealers and veterinarians in the 1980s, will return to the area Saturday, Aug. 9. He will be signing his book at 2 p.m., then discussing it at 2:30 p.m., then signing more books at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1700-H Fruitville Pike.
• The book's first chapter is "The Road to Lancaster." It describes how Baur, who grew up in Los Angeles eating meat and even appearing in a McDonald's restaurant commercial, came to be influenced by the ideals of Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, Ralph Nader — and the Amish.
"The Amish intrigued me in those years," he writes. "Amish life is defined by values deeper than simply the acquisition of material foods. The goal is to live with integrity, connected to the community and to the earth."
"I need to pay them a call," he says about his first visit to Lancaster County, where he would soon "meet a sheep who would change my life forever."
Chapter 2, "Saving Hilda" (the "downer" sheep taken from Lancaster Stockyards' dead pile), describes Baur's experiences in Lancaster County that galvanized his commitment to farm animals.
Baur doesn't view the local stockyards' demise as victory, but rather another symptom of agribusiness run amok, squeezing out the little guy, establishing corporate "buying stations" for animals, and setting prices.
Succeeding chapters deal with the politics involved in regulation of and food production and humane law enforcement and the abuses common in producing veal, beef, milk, pork, poultry and eggs that endanger consumers. Interspersed are the stories and photos of animals saved by Farm Sanctuary.
Along the way, the reader gleans some interesting tidbits: Baur funded his early work by following the Grateful Dead concert itinerary and selling tofu hot dogs to fans; the undergraduate sociology major was so determined to understand the issues that he earned a master's degree in agricultural economics at Cornell University.
Baur's book stresses his approach is less about drama and more about engagement. Though his focus is defending animals, he says he works within the law, advocates for better laws and explains to food producers why a different approach may be beneficial to all concerned. His most persuasive tool may be the sanctuaries themselves, where visitors are welcome to visit and meet the many "personable" animals in residence at two large farms in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif.
In an era of increasing food contamination alerts, people may be starting to embrace at least part of Farm Sanctuary's message. The increasing trend toward organic foods and local farm markets may owe something to Baur, who supports both.
Baur's 286-page hardcover, published by Touchstone, a division of Simon & Schuster, is priced at $25. The book includes end notes, an index and an appendix listing such resources as community-supported agricultural programs, animal advocacy and environmental groups and even vegan cookbooks.
Jo-Ann Greene is editor of the books section. Her e-mail address is jgreene@lnpnews.com.
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