Muck Up to Their Necks: The Rest of the Story

Earlier this week farmers, ranchers, hunters and agriculture enthusiasts took to social media to enlighten The Original Muck Boots Company about the true intentions of HSUS and express their displeasure with the 'charity' of choice. You can read the original post here. After many upset voices were heard, some light was shown on the actual situation. The events of the entire debacle are outlined below in summary.

• Muck Boots posted a picture announcing a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the United States and that a donation had been made to the 'charity.'

• Farmers and ranchers are upset and react by sharing their thoughts about the donation on Facebook, Twitter and many blog posts.

• Realizing an error has been made and that they're in trouble, Muck Boots issues the following statement:

• This adds a completely different rationale to the issue. A donation to HSUS, however misguided, may have been the wishes of a recently passed employee. I want my wishes carried out after I am gone but how does a social media manager confuse HSUS and the HANRI - they aren't similar to type (other than the word 'humane'). I think someone is in deep trouble at Muck Boots. 
• But wait! The Humane Association of Northwestern Rhode Island made the following statement on their page a few hours later (page has since been taken down so no screenshot).
• "Okay folks to clear things up -- WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DONATION FROM MUCK BOOTS! WE ARE NOT AFILIATED [sic] WITH THE HSUS. Although a $2000 donation would be very nice. But please stop calling us to ask, we have enough to do caring for the animals in our shelter and taking care of out [sic] patients."
• At this point, the waters are very muddy. It appeared that Muck Boots, seeing that they were in hot water for supporting HSUS, has changed their story to make amends. But that seemed to be a lie!
• Towards the end of the debacle, HANRI issued another Facebook post (again, no screenshot):
• "Okay everybody, let's clear the air here... Not sure what all the controversy was about today but I do not want our organization to be misrepresented. I got a call from Muck Boots and they are donating to our organization in honor of one of their employees who recently passed away. And while we're not affiliated with the HSUS we do NOT condemn them and actually share many of their values, (only I don't make $200,000 a year). I just found it interesting that this donation caused so much controversy when there are so many other issues to be concerned with. I also wonder why so many people who are obviously partake in activities that are contrary to our beliefs "liked" our page."

As you can see, these past few days have been quite heated. So to tie this all up with a bow, here are the takeaways and, of course, my opinion.

• A memorial is a private, bittersweet, yet beautiful act meant to honor the deceased. I would not deny someone their last wishes or a memorial donation, even to HSUS. Had the memorial donation been clear from the very start, I don't think such a reaction would have occurred and, if so, I would not have endorsed it. I would have been disappointed at the choice but I would not have been so vocal and I think it's important to reflect on that piece of information.
• Muck Boots needs to conduct some extensive training with their social media managers about what is and isn't appropriate for corporate social media updates. Not only did the manager mistakenly say the donation was made to HSUS, I believe they lessened the brevity of the memorial donation by posting it on a very visible social media outlet. Thoroughly investigate the details of posts before updating a page - the outcomes could be disastrous if this simple rule isn't followed closely.
• There have been quite a few people in the agriculture community who are not proud of the reaction that took place but I have to say that I disagree. Four years ago, a community of farmers and ranchers voiced their disdain at Yellow Tail's decision to donate to HSUS and the wine company sat up and took notice. While they are still in business, I know that I have not purchased their wine in four years and I would dare to bet that they never consider donating to HSUS again. The goal of speaking up is not necessarily to run a business into the ground but to bring to light the grotesque nature of HSUS' business practices and expose them for the lobbyist organization they truly are. In both the case of Yellow Tail and Muck Boots, exposure was achieved and if nothing else, that is a great accomplishment.
• Do I think the ag community did the right thing? Absolutely. Advocates and the collective agriculture community have grown larger, stronger and more vocal over the past few years. To expect a very public donation to HSUS [in the beginning] not to induce a response from farmers and ranchers is absurd, at best. If tomorrow I were to see another company, who is very largely supported by farmers, ranchers and agriculture customers in general, donate to HSUS I would react the same way. I am a consumer and I have a right to voice my opinion and expect to see change. We have worked long and hard to have a voice in the game and to see these kind of results, and I'm proud of my contemporaries and colleagues for speaking up.

 To wind this all up: social media training is needed, transparency is warranted and the consideration of the type and kind of reaction are strenuously necessary. Also, if HSUS weren't a bunch of colossal jerks, this wouldn't have happened!

Ok - here is where YOU chime in!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

The thoughts and opinions of this blog post strictly represent that of Brandi Buzzard Frobose and are NOT representative of any other entity or organization.

What the Muck [Boots] Were They Thinking?

UPDATE: A total summary of the events that transpired of the past few days can be seen here.
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I am nothing if not loyal. Once I find a brand I like, I will purchase that brand until I am no longer able. For example, I've been wearing Nike sneakers for 20 years, and nothing else. I will always be a Dr. Pepper enthusiast, never Mr. Pibb and I cannot bring myself to purchase any calf rope that isn't made by Rattler. As you can see, I take loyalty very seriously.

So it saddens me to say that I will no longer be a loyal customer of The Original Muck Boot Company. Yesterday, The Original Muck Boot Company posted a photo describing a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the United States. Yes, that HSUS. Why is this appalling?


Donating any amount of money to HSUS is funding a campaign against animal agriculture.

Because H$U$ is the organization that strives to abolish animal agriculture and is a rather large opponent of hunting and fishing. I find it asinine that a company who markets to rural Americans - hunters, farmers, ranchers, fisherman, etc - would engage in relations with a charity lobbyist organization who is out to abolish those very industries and hobbies.

So what can you do? Visit the Muck Boots Facebook page and tell them how you feel about their decision. I did, as have many other farmers, ranchers, hunters and advocates.



Click to read my comment - countless other agriculture enthusiasts,
 farmers and ranchers have chimed in as well.

You can vow to not purchase their products anymore. You could visit a store to return a pair and make sure the manager of that store knows why you're returning the awesome boots. You could submit a comment to the parent company of Muck Boots, Honeywell. You could start purchasing boots from Bogs, a company that doesn't donate to HSUS (thanks for the comment, Terryn).

What are your thoughts? Do you agree with a boycott of Muck Boots? Do you think an outcry from the agriculture community will open their eyes in a similar fashion to the #YellowFail events of 2010?

Shout out your comments!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

The thoughts and opinions of this blog post strictly represent that of Brandi Buzzard Frobose and are NOT representative of any other entity or organization.

Wine Fed Beef

Another niche market has popped up in the beef industry - wine fed beef.  Canada is trying to produce the equivalent of Japanese Kobe beef by supplementing red wine from the Okanagan valley to the normal feedlot ration.  Cattle are fed this combination for the last 90 days before being harvested - feedlot owner Bill Freding says that the meat doesn't have the flavor of wine to it but it is darker red and has a sweeter taste.  Freding said that representatives from the British Columbian meat industry are very excited about the product and have been requesting steaks and ribs a lot.

Makes me wonder what is next?  Champagne fed pork?  Boone's Farm (Wild Island) chicken?  What about using a white wine? Would that make the meat too bitter?  Anything is possible in the agricultural industry but one thing is for certain..... Yellowtail won't be used in any livestock diets.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Yellow Tail Wine will NOT donate again to HSUS!

After a huge nation-wide response by Kansas Farm Bureau, American Farm Bureau, other state Farm Bureaus, numerous individual farmers and ranchers, ag groups, associations and more through social media and blogging venues, Yellow Tail Wine announced today they will NOT again donate to the Humane Society of the United States.
The $100,000 donation by Yellow Tail Wines to the Humane Society of the United States' (HSUS) animal rescue program prompted a flurry of angry online postings in the U.S. calling for people to boycott the wine.
In response to the donation, a page Yellow Fail has been set up on the Facebook social networking site and has attracted more than 3,000 fans.

Looks like they wisened up and listened to their customer base!
 
Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Despite consumer protests, Yellow Tail follows through with HSUS Donation

If you checked on either my blog, Agropinion or Advocates for Agriculture, you would have seen the cry for action from agriculturalists.  Yellow Tail wines pledged $100,000 to HSUS to help 'save puppies and kittens'.  Upon hearing this, agriculturalists from across the nation posted on Yellow Tail's page their disgust with the decision and supposedly Yellow Tail was 'listening.'  Their facebook status yesterday, "Hi all, lots of conversation here today – we’re listening. Check back soon, as we’ll be announcing news shortly on our Tails for Tails program", presented that they were going to listen to their consumers and not support HSUS.

Unfortunately, just a few hours later this was the new Yellow Tail status, "Okay, there’s been good feedback here recently. Here’s an update on where our donation will be directed to celebrate animals: We've decided to use all of our $100K gift to aid animal rescue: http://www.discoveryellowtail.com/#/news/year-of-the-tails/"  Obviously, they still haven't done their research about the true destination of funds that are donated to HSUS.  All day yesterday and today, people have continued to post their comments.  Some are economical and state the true value of Yellow Tail's decision - take this one for example:

"Wow!!! Looks like someone in marketing committed an expensive $100,000 mistake. You not only blew 100 grand, but lost more than that in sales. Me alone, 2 bottles per week @ $7.00 per bottle = $728.00 in one year( for just me) If this was my company, I'd have heads rolling, make an apology, and hope my sales isn't ruined forever!"

Others chose to cite how well wine and steak go together or offered suggestions of other organizations that could use a $100,000 donation.  The bottom line is; if you want to help animal shelters, donate directly to the shelter. Also, don't tick off your main customer base - hard working Americans who produce the nation's food supply.

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Yellow Tail wine to support HSUS!

I read this on Troy Hadrick's Advocates for Agriculture blog - Yellow Tail wines is pledging $100,000 to HSUS in order to help save puppies and kittens etc.  The news was released in an article by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance yesterday. I have cut and pasted the entire article below for your reading displeasure. 

U.S. Sportmen's Alliance
Yellow Tail Wine Gives Money to HSUS
Sportsmen Urged to Voice Protest
The Australian maker of Yellow Tail Wine has pledged $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization. This partnership offers further proof of HSUS’ work to spin its animal rights message in a way as to seem mainstream.

As HSUS states on its website:
“… the HSUS has paired with [yellow tail] for the "tails for tails" program. Through the end of March, you'll see special [yellow tail] displays bearing The HSUS name and logo in stores across the country.

Through "tails for tails," [yellow tail] is donating $100,000 to support us and our programs to help animals, including our Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest.”
Alerted to this relationship, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) immediately contacted the American distributor of the wine, W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd., and urged them to ask Yellow Tail to sever its relationship with HSUS."
A copy of the letter the USSA sent to management can be found by clicking here. Thus far, the USSA has not heard from W.J. Deutsch regarding our request.
“This wine maker has fallen into the same trap as other companies who donate money to HSUS,” said Bud Pidgeon, president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. “They believe they are helping animals in shelters when in fact they are funding an agenda from an animal rights group that is largely divergent from the vast majority of Americans.”
Take Action! Sportsmen should contact W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. and inform them that they disapprove of Yellow Tail Wine’s relationship with the HSUS. It is important that W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd understand that each dollar given to HSUS is another dollar that can be used to attack hunting, fishing and trapping rights. Further, tell them that sportsmen will be forced to select alternative brands if the relationship with HSUS is not severed.

W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. can be contacted at:

108 Corporate Park Drive
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-251-9463
Email: info@wjdeutsch.com
Ask to speak to Bill Deutsch, W.J. Deutsch’s chairman or Peter Deutsch, the company’s chief executive officer.

You can also voice your opinion by becoming a fan of Yellow Tail on facebook.  Then post your thoughts on their donation to HSUS.  Hundreds of people have already done so, and Yellow Tail's status says they'll be announcing news soon on the recent decision.

Until next time,
~Buzzard~