so I’m really an entrepreneur who thought that age 45 it’d be a great time
thought that age 45 it’d be a great time
thought that age 45 it’d be a great time to go from 20 years of white-collar work
to go from 20 years of white-collar work
to go from 20 years of white-collar work sitting at a desk to farming in the
sitting at a desk to farming in the
sitting at a desk to farming in the Texas heat the Hurricanes that we have
Texas heat the Hurricanes that we have
Texas heat the Hurricanes that we have the storms that we have before we get
the storms that we have before we get
the storms that we have before we get started
started
started did did everybody here eat breakfast
did did everybody here eat breakfast
did did everybody here eat breakfast this morning okay did anybody have any
this morning okay did anybody have any
this morning okay did anybody have any nutritious breakfast not the Shipley
nutritious breakfast not the Shipley
nutritious breakfast not the Shipley doughnuts or the jack-in-the-box do you
doughnuts or the jack-in-the-box do you
doughnuts or the jack-in-the-box do you buddy have nutritious breakfasts that’s
buddy have nutritious breakfasts that’s
buddy have nutritious breakfasts that’s good good anybody have eggs eggs
good good anybody have eggs eggs
good good anybody have eggs eggs wholesome eggs milk milk okay yeah if
wholesome eggs milk milk okay yeah if
wholesome eggs milk milk okay yeah if you’re like most people you probably
you’re like most people you probably
you’re like most people you probably went to Kroger or h-e-b or maybe you’re
went to Kroger or h-e-b or maybe you’re
went to Kroger or h-e-b or maybe you’re out of eggs so you ran down to the
out of eggs so you ran down to the
out of eggs so you ran down to the Valero and because we’re we always want
Valero and because we’re we always want
Valero and because we’re we always want to do the right thing you know we might
to do the right thing you know we might
to do the right thing you know we might have picked up the carton of eggs that
have picked up the carton of eggs that
have picked up the carton of eggs that said cage-free hens because who wants
said cage-free hens because who wants
said cage-free hens because who wants chickens in cages that’s crazy we want
chickens in cages that’s crazy we want
chickens in cages that’s crazy we want cage free happy chickens because there’s
cage free happy chickens because there’s
cage free happy chickens because there’s nothing better than a happy chicken
nothing better than a happy chicken
nothing better than a happy chicken because we don’t want our chickens
because we don’t want our chickens
because we don’t want our chickens harming any other animals in the process
harming any other animals in the process
harming any other animals in the process of eating you might have been led to buy
of eating you might have been led to buy
of eating you might have been led to buy the eggs that said vegetarian fed who
the eggs that said vegetarian fed who
the eggs that said vegetarian fed who buys the vegetarian fed eggs it raise
buys the vegetarian fed eggs it raise
buys the vegetarian fed eggs it raise your hand again you do that okay okay
your hand again you do that okay okay
your hand again you do that okay okay you know if you were if you’re gonna
you know if you were if you’re gonna
you know if you were if you’re gonna upgrade your game on your your eggs you
upgrade your game on your your eggs you
upgrade your game on your your eggs you might have picked the one that said
might have picked the one that said
might have picked the one that said organic okay and if you’re you’re like
organic okay and if you’re you’re like
organic okay and if you’re you’re like me and most other people we all have bad
me and most other people we all have bad
me and most other people we all have bad things that we eat and we know we’re
things that we eat and we know we’re
things that we eat and we know we’re eating them and that’s okay we want to
eating them and that’s okay we want to
eating them and that’s okay we want to try to do the right thing and balance
try to do the right thing and balance
try to do the right thing and balance out what we’re eating was something
out what we’re eating was something
out what we’re eating was something healthy every now and then so if you
healthy every now and then so if you
healthy every now and then so if you were like me I’d go to the store and I’d
were like me I’d go to the store and I’d
were like me I’d go to the store and I’d say oh look at all these vitamins and
say oh look at all these vitamins and
say oh look at all these vitamins and all this fancy stuff that I’ve heard of
all this fancy stuff that I’ve heard of
all this fancy stuff that I’ve heard of but I don’t really know exactly what
but I don’t really know exactly what
but I don’t really know exactly what but it sounds good this carton says that
but it sounds good this carton says that
but it sounds good this carton says that they are most trusted by shoppers so
they are most trusted by shoppers so
they are most trusted by shoppers so somewhere you took a poll and you voted
somewhere you took a poll and you voted
somewhere you took a poll and you voted these guys the best most trusted eggs
these guys the best most trusted eggs
these guys the best most trusted eggs and then maybe you saw this fancy carton
and then maybe you saw this fancy carton
and then maybe you saw this fancy carton says ethical eggs chickens living in
says ethical eggs chickens living in
says ethical eggs chickens living in fresh air and sunshine there’s an
fresh air and sunshine there’s an
fresh air and sunshine there’s an important word on here though that I do
important word on here though that I do
important word on here though that I do want you to remember and that’s
want you to remember and that’s
want you to remember and that’s pasture-raised ok that’s something we’re
pasture-raised ok that’s something we’re
pasture-raised ok that’s something we’re looking for that’s good but the question
looking for that’s good but the question
looking for that’s good but the question that I would have on this carton is will
that I would have on this carton is will
that I would have on this carton is will where’s the farm like how did I see
where’s the farm like how did I see
where’s the farm like how did I see these chickens okay so to give you a
these chickens okay so to give you a
these chickens okay so to give you a little tip if you look on the back of
little tip if you look on the back of
little tip if you look on the back of any carton and this tape is here to
any carton and this tape is here to
any carton and this tape is here to protect certain people’s brands but if
protect certain people’s brands but if
protect certain people’s brands but if you look on the back of a cart it’ll
you look on the back of a cart it’ll
you look on the back of a cart it’ll tell you the locations and the plant
tell you the locations and the plant
tell you the locations and the plant numbers and the states where these eggs
numbers and the states where these eggs
numbers and the states where these eggs came from so this one has about 6 or 7
came from so this one has about 6 or 7
came from so this one has about 6 or 7 different states that the eggs could
different states that the eggs could
different states that the eggs could have come from ok I like milk
have come from ok I like milk
have come from ok I like milk my favorite milk is actually raw milk
my favorite milk is actually raw milk
my favorite milk is actually raw milk from a raw milk dairy in Northwest
from a raw milk dairy in Northwest
from a raw milk dairy in Northwest Harris County but if I run out it’s not
Harris County but if I run out it’s not
Harris County but if I run out it’s not convenient for me to drive 15 or 20
convenient for me to drive 15 or 20
convenient for me to drive 15 or 20 minutes to that raw milk dairy even
minutes to that raw milk dairy even
minutes to that raw milk dairy even though I love the milk it’s a different
though I love the milk it’s a different
though I love the milk it’s a different product than regular milk so I go to the
product than regular milk so I go to the
product than regular milk so I go to the store because I want to do the right
store because I want to do the right
store because I want to do the right thing I buy the organic milk kind of
thing I buy the organic milk kind of
thing I buy the organic milk kind of knowing what’s behind the curtain
knowing what’s behind the curtain
knowing what’s behind the curtain but ignoring it a little bit and because
but ignoring it a little bit and because
but ignoring it a little bit and because I saw this has DHA in it I thought well
I saw this has DHA in it I thought well
I saw this has DHA in it I thought well I’ve heard a DHA it looks like some
I’ve heard a DHA it looks like some
I’ve heard a DHA it looks like some vitamin things probably good for me but
vitamin things probably good for me but
vitamin things probably good for me but sure I’m gonna get the milk with the DHA
sure I’m gonna get the milk with the DHA
sure I’m gonna get the milk with the DHA now this is a month ago
now this is a month ago
now this is a month ago so I get home and I’m thinking about DHA
so I get home and I’m thinking about DHA
so I get home and I’m thinking about DHA what is DHA where does that come from so
what is DHA where does that come from so
what is DHA where does that come from so I do what you would do but google it you
I do what you would do but google it you
I do what you would do but google it you know I could have just looked on the
know I could have just looked on the
know I could have just looked on the back of the label but DHA comes from
back of the label but DHA comes from
back of the label but DHA comes from refined fish oil and I thought to myself
refined fish oil and I thought to myself
refined fish oil and I thought to myself I don’t
I don’t
I don’t want fish in my milk like in any any
want fish in my milk like in any any
want fish in my milk like in any any form or fashion I love fish fish is
form or fashion I love fish fish is
form or fashion I love fish fish is healthy fish is great I like fishing but
healthy fish is great I like fishing but
healthy fish is great I like fishing but I don’t want fish in my milk plain and
I don’t want fish in my milk plain and
I don’t want fish in my milk plain and simple and so you know if you ate fruits
simple and so you know if you ate fruits
simple and so you know if you ate fruits or berries or strawberries again you
or berries or strawberries again you
or berries or strawberries again you might have up your game and you went to
might have up your game and you went to
might have up your game and you went to Whole Foods and you got the organic
Whole Foods and you got the organic
Whole Foods and you got the organic strawberries you’re trying to do the
strawberries you’re trying to do the
strawberries you’re trying to do the right thing get the cage free chickens
right thing get the cage free chickens
right thing get the cage free chickens so what is it that we’re we’re really
so what is it that we’re we’re really
so what is it that we’re we’re really eating you know what’s really going on
so when you go and you buy something
so when you go and you buy something that says USDA Organic that does not
that says USDA Organic that does not
that says USDA Organic that does not mean no pesticides no fungicides and
mean no pesticides no fungicides and
mean no pesticides no fungicides and herbicides the organic manufacturers
herbicides the organic manufacturers
herbicides the organic manufacturers review Institute will compare a
review Institute will compare a
review Institute will compare a company’s pesticide product fungicide
company’s pesticide product fungicide
company’s pesticide product fungicide whatever it is against the rules
whatever it is against the rules
whatever it is against the rules established by the USDA for organics to
established by the USDA for organics to
established by the USDA for organics to see if it meets that criteria it doesn’t
see if it meets that criteria it doesn’t
see if it meets that criteria it doesn’t represent the purity that in our brains
represent the purity that in our brains
represent the purity that in our brains we’re thinking okay because in your mind
we’re thinking okay because in your mind
we’re thinking okay because in your mind when you buy the cage-free eggs the
when you buy the cage-free eggs the
when you buy the cage-free eggs the organic eggs you’re thinking this
organic eggs you’re thinking this
organic eggs you’re thinking this chicken laid eggs out in the grass and
chicken laid eggs out in the grass and
chicken laid eggs out in the grass and Leslie went and hand-picked these eggs
Leslie went and hand-picked these eggs
Leslie went and hand-picked these eggs and she wiped off each egg and she put
and she wiped off each egg and she put
and she wiped off each egg and she put it in a carton where she conveniently
it in a carton where she conveniently
it in a carton where she conveniently delivered it to Kroger and you went and
delivered it to Kroger and you went and
delivered it to Kroger and you went and picked it up so that that’s our
picked it up so that that’s our
picked it up so that that’s our perception okay but but what is the
perception okay but but what is the
perception okay but but what is the reality well here’s the reality of
reality well here’s the reality of
reality well here’s the reality of cage-free turn to your neighbor and say
cage-free turn to your neighbor and say
cage-free turn to your neighbor and say congratulations your cage free as long
congratulations your cage free as long
congratulations your cage free as long as you never leave this room and you
as you never leave this room and you
as you never leave this room and you never see sunshine you are cage free in
never see sunshine you are cage free in
never see sunshine you are cage free in in this room so when you see these terms
in this room so when you see these terms
in this room so when you see these terms on a carton they’re just that it’s mark
on a carton they’re just that it’s mark
on a carton they’re just that it’s mark it’s food marketing it’s you know words
it’s food marketing it’s you know words
it’s food marketing it’s you know words like farm-fresh well what does that mean
like farm-fresh well what does that mean
like farm-fresh well what does that mean well I know one thing it means it means
well I know one thing it means it means
well I know one thing it means it means that if I get
that if I get
great a eggs they can at least be three
great a eggs they can at least be three weeks old okay if I get great double-a
weeks old okay if I get great double-a
weeks old okay if I get great double-a that’s zero to three weeks so what does
that’s zero to three weeks so what does
that’s zero to three weeks so what does farm-fresh means it means nothing what
farm-fresh means it means nothing what
farm-fresh means it means nothing what does natural mean absolutely nothing
does natural mean absolutely nothing
does natural mean absolutely nothing animal welfare rated okay one of these
animal welfare rated okay one of these
animal welfare rated okay one of these cartons is gonna have animal welfare
cartons is gonna have animal welfare
cartons is gonna have animal welfare rated okay what’s the welfare that we
rated okay what’s the welfare that we
rated okay what’s the welfare that we see here there’s some great people with
see here there’s some great people with
see here there’s some great people with the USDA the Farm Service Agency NRCS
the USDA the Farm Service Agency NRCS
the USDA the Farm Service Agency NRCS that really try to help farmers and I
that really try to help farmers and I
that really try to help farmers and I think genuinely their heart is in the
think genuinely their heart is in the
think genuinely their heart is in the right place they’re trying to do the
right place they’re trying to do the
right place they’re trying to do the right thing but like any system that we
right thing but like any system that we
right thing but like any system that we have in government is many businesses as
have in government is many businesses as
have in government is many businesses as many farmers it’s very difficult to
many farmers it’s very difficult to
many farmers it’s very difficult to police what’s going on
police what’s going on
police what’s going on non-gmo it’s a big movement for a non
non-gmo it’s a big movement for a non
non-gmo it’s a big movement for a non GMO but non GMO doesn’t mean no
GMO but non GMO doesn’t mean no
GMO but non GMO doesn’t mean no pesticides it just means it can’t test
pesticides it just means it can’t test
pesticides it just means it can’t test positive for pesticide residue when they
positive for pesticide residue when they
positive for pesticide residue when they test it so whether I’m by an animal feed
test it so whether I’m by an animal feed
test it so whether I’m by an animal feed or you’re by and human feed you know you
or you’re by and human feed you know you
or you’re by and human feed you know you have to take these terms with a grain of
have to take these terms with a grain of
have to take these terms with a grain of salt okay because it’s not it’s not
salt okay because it’s not it’s not
salt okay because it’s not it’s not clear you know what are we supporting in
clear you know what are we supporting in
clear you know what are we supporting in America when we eat chicken we eat a lot
America when we eat chicken we eat a lot
America when we eat chicken we eat a lot of chicken everywhere you go chicken
of chicken everywhere you go chicken
of chicken everywhere you go chicken Taco Bell restaurants wherever store
Taco Bell restaurants wherever store
Taco Bell restaurants wherever store when we are buying organic milk what
when we are buying organic milk what
when we are buying organic milk what does that mean okay if you go to
does that mean okay if you go to
does that mean okay if you go to cornucopia org cornucopia org they
cornucopia org cornucopia org they
cornucopia org cornucopia org they attempt to list and kind of police and
attempt to list and kind of police and
attempt to list and kind of police and to establish an independent rating on
to establish an independent rating on
to establish an independent rating on brand names whether it be you know
brand names whether it be you know
brand names whether it be you know Costco Borden whoever it is to give it
Costco Borden whoever it is to give it
Costco Borden whoever it is to give it an actual animal welfare rating and then
an actual animal welfare rating and then
an actual animal welfare rating and then to you know open up and display any
to you know open up and display any
to you know open up and display any problems or practices that may be going
problems or practices that may be going
problems or practices that may be going on in my mind when I think of an organic
on in my mind when I think of an organic
on in my mind when I think of an organic dairy I think of cows on grass but
dairy I think of cows on grass but
dairy I think of cows on grass but that’s not necessarily what we’re
that’s not necessarily what we’re
that’s not necessarily what we’re getting when I think of Turkey I try not
getting when I think of Turkey I try not
getting when I think of Turkey I try not to think of this picture or the American
to think of this picture or the American
to think of this picture or the American meat
meat
meat you know we grow chickens in America in
you know we grow chickens in America in
you know we grow chickens in America in a warehouse and we have 50,000 at a time
a warehouse and we have 50,000 at a time
a warehouse and we have 50,000 at a time every eight weeks 50,000 chickens is
every eight weeks 50,000 chickens is
every eight weeks 50,000 chickens is rotating from chick to finish through
rotating from chick to finish through
rotating from chick to finish through this this process you know the
this this process you know the
this this process you know the environmental disaster is the runoff the
environmental disaster is the runoff the
environmental disaster is the runoff the manure you know what are we supporting
manure you know what are we supporting
manure you know what are we supporting and what’s the problem the problem is
and what’s the problem the problem is
and what’s the problem the problem is it’s so easy it’s easy to go to the
it’s so easy it’s easy to go to the
it’s so easy it’s easy to go to the Valero to the Kroger to the h-e-b you
Valero to the Kroger to the h-e-b you
Valero to the Kroger to the h-e-b you want a lime go to any of those places
want a lime go to any of those places
want a lime go to any of those places you can get one food-like substances
you can get one food-like substances
you can get one food-like substances we’ve become so used to just taking for
we’ve become so used to just taking for
we’ve become so used to just taking for granted wherever we go that someone’s
granted wherever we go that someone’s
granted wherever we go that someone’s gonna give us food that we don’t think
gonna give us food that we don’t think
gonna give us food that we don’t think about is it healthy is it doesn’t even
about is it healthy is it doesn’t even
about is it healthy is it doesn’t even taste like food is it is it real and
taste like food is it is it real and
taste like food is it is it real and most important that there’s a there’s a
most important that there’s a there’s a
most important that there’s a there’s a lack and a detachment of us from our
lack and a detachment of us from our
lack and a detachment of us from our farmers okay which is the big key of
farmers okay which is the big key of
farmers okay which is the big key of what’s missing everybody needs a farmer
what’s missing everybody needs a farmer
what’s missing everybody needs a farmer you got a doctor you got a lawyer
you got a doctor you got a lawyer
you got a doctor you got a lawyer you got a plumber you got a childcare
you got a plumber you got a childcare
you got a plumber you got a childcare person when’s the last time your friends
person when’s the last time your friends
person when’s the last time your friends went on Facebook and said hey can you
went on Facebook and said hey can you
went on Facebook and said hey can you give me a reference for a farmer it’s
give me a reference for a farmer it’s
give me a reference for a farmer it’s crazy
crazy
crazy why who would do that there’s farmers
why who would do that there’s farmers
why who would do that there’s farmers all around here okay you may not see
all around here okay you may not see
all around here okay you may not see them you probably would never see them
them you probably would never see them
them you probably would never see them because they don’t we don’t spend money
because they don’t we don’t spend money
because they don’t we don’t spend money on advertising we don’t spend money on
on advertising we don’t spend money on
on advertising we don’t spend money on marketing there’s not gonna be any
marketing there’s not gonna be any
marketing there’s not gonna be any full-page ad there’s a lot of farmers
full-page ad there’s a lot of farmers
full-page ad there’s a lot of farmers markets down here in the Houston urban
markets down here in the Houston urban
markets down here in the Houston urban area there are farms all around here
area there are farms all around here
area there are farms all around here okay if you don’t have a relationship
okay if you don’t have a relationship
okay if you don’t have a relationship with a farmer get a relationship get a
with a farmer get a relationship get a
with a farmer get a relationship get a referral relationship okay come out and
referral relationship okay come out and
referral relationship okay come out and actually see a farm how crazy is that
actually see a farm how crazy is that
actually see a farm how crazy is that that you would actually drive to the
that you would actually drive to the
that you would actually drive to the farm to actually see what goes on to
farm to actually see what goes on to
farm to actually see what goes on to look at the ground to look at the
look at the ground to look at the
look at the ground to look at the practices of how animals are being
practices of how animals are being
practices of how animals are being raised to look in the barn if you find
raised to look in the barn if you find
raised to look in the barn if you find 10 drums 10 55-gallon drums of Roundup
10 drums 10 55-gallon drums of Roundup
10 drums 10 55-gallon drums of Roundup you might want to ask some questions
you might want to ask some questions
you might want to ask some questions okay if you know your farmer you know
okay if you know your farmer you know
okay if you know your farmer you know what you’re getting you know what you’re
what you’re getting you know what you’re
what you’re getting you know what you’re eating you know what you’re putting in
eating you know what you’re putting in
eating you know what you’re putting in your body okay you need to literally see
your body okay you need to literally see
your body okay you need to literally see that ground with your eyes
that ground with your eyes
that ground with your eyes things that you can do in your community
things that you can do in your community
things that you can do in your community if you need organic chicken will grow
if you need organic chicken will grow
if you need organic chicken will grow your organic chicken if you need non soy
your organic chicken if you need non soy
your organic chicken if you need non soy eggs for a hundred people because you’re
eggs for a hundred people because you’re
eggs for a hundred people because you’re part of a cancer survivors group ask
part of a cancer survivors group ask
part of a cancer survivors group ask where can I get in on soy eggs they’re
where can I get in on soy eggs they’re
where can I get in on soy eggs they’re around
around
around if you eat duck eggs whatever you need
if you eat duck eggs whatever you need
if you eat duck eggs whatever you need it’s available to you again when you go
it’s available to you again when you go
it’s available to you again when you go to a farm look at the ground look at how
to a farm look at the ground look at how
to a farm look at the ground look at how the animals are raised talk to the
the animals are raised talk to the
the animals are raised talk to the farmer okay this this can make a big
farmer okay this this can make a big
farmer okay this this can make a big difference and the health of the food
difference and the health of the food
difference and the health of the food that you get your family gets to balance
that you get your family gets to balance
that you get your family gets to balance out the things that we like to do that
out the things that we like to do that
out the things that we like to do that maybe aren’t as good for us and again
maybe aren’t as good for us and again
maybe aren’t as good for us and again these farms are all around so we
these farms are all around so we
these farms are all around so we encourage you if you need a relationship
encourage you if you need a relationship
encourage you if you need a relationship contact us we’ll refer you vegetables
contact us we’ll refer you vegetables
contact us we’ll refer you vegetables eggs ducks whatever it may be my name is
eggs ducks whatever it may be my name is
eggs ducks whatever it may be my name is Mike and I’m a farmer
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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