I had the opportunity to meet Trent Loos at the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. convention last March. Trent is a true American, a cowboy and a fellow Nebraskan. The school lunch program and its requirements have been in the news lately. Trent’s interview with Secretary Of Ag, Tom Vilsack, was very interesting to me. Thank you, Trent, for asking the hard questions and challenging the Secretary with the USDA’s requirements and nonsense regulations! The recorded conversation can be found here: http://www.rodeoattitude.com/facesofag/2012/08/20/vegan-culture-alive-and-well-at-usda-secretary-vilsack-answers-question/
First of all, let me say that I am a relatively new follower of your blog and that I love it. I am learning about a way of life very different from my own in an honest, heartfelt and direct way (not translated but a human interest reporter of some kind).
This one caught my eye and prompted me to respond because I know many people who complain bitterly about government regulation and government interference, and while I know that many examples can be found of government regulation and interference in our lives that are misguided at best, the suggestion seems to be from many quarters that we’d be better of with no government regulation. I hope thats not the feeling of most people, but sometimes I think it is based on what I hear people say.
I read the transcript of the interview you link here and as I was reading attempted to fact check. I can’t say I did a thorough job, and a number of USDA links to information on the guidelines seemed to be shut down (a result of the interview?). But what I could find seemed to support Sec. Vilsack’s representation of the facts more than Mr. Loos’s. Are you able to find the documents that Mr. Loos was referring to and link them to your blog? Also the European study that suggests low fat dairy is not the way to go? I’d really like to understand where Mr. Loos is coming from.
My interest is three fold, I tend to believe the USDA guidelines are an improvement, not a step backwards. I am also deeply involved in a local CSA that provides food to pantries around our city and educates the community on food issues. Its certainly not farming like the farming that surrounds you, but its farming none the less. And finally, I am an avid cook. I have been moving my own diet in the direction of the USDA guidelines for school meals. My perception is that its overall a better diet for health.
Would appreciate anything additional you can provide.
Not sure what happened to my lengthy reply. I will attempt to re-create.
Thank you for reaching out with your comments. I am in no way a reporter. I’ve never even been to college. My writings come directly from the heart and tells of the job I love. I hope you will continue following and to learn more about where your food comes from.
As far as regulations. I believe we must have boundaries or our world would be a free for all. However, when someone who knows nothing about the job I do decides he/she knows how to do it better and makes it a rule then it affects me. What was so wrong with the previous guidelines? My kids are not overweight and they are coming home hungry. My option…send a sack lunch. But what about the kids who don’t have that option. What about the kids who count on that one meal a day. “Oh, sorry but you’ve had all you can have today. Now run along back to class”. Their bodies are growing. Maybe they should require more exercise during the day.
As far as Trent’s references to information to support his questions, I will see what I can do. I guarantee, though, knowing his character they were right there in front of him.
Thanks, again, for following my blog. I hope it’s opened your eyes to the work it takes to get that loaf of bread on your table!
Hot item overthere.? I would say skip the fizzy drinks……Use dairy products [butter cheese fruit-milk etc.]bread and bit of meat…..change the monday in a traditional friday- fishday ……whats usally donne overhere…?
Yeah, it’s a little bit of an issue. Just one more regulation added to our lives.
I enjoy reading his articles in the HPJ.
If you ever have the opportunity to see him in person…GO! Very interesting – a genuine guy!