This will be my last post concerning the Rogue Food Conference in Cincinnati over the weekend.  The lunch speaker was Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky and he described himself as a rogue congressman.  Though he's very conservative, he won't join the Freedom Caucus, which irritates his fellow conservatives but it maintains his autonomy.

             I really appreciate that because I've done the same thing.  You have to be careful what you join.  I've been asked to be on countless boards, both non-profit and for-profit, and I have one answer:  "No."  I like being unaffiliated, unstereotyped, a truly free agent.  I've had recruiters contact me to run for political office from the Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, and Socialists.  In fact, in May I'm speaking several times at the Libertarian National Convention in Austin, Texas, but I'm not a Libertarian Party member.  I'd be just as happy to speak at the Democratic National Convention, which is why I won't join the Libertarian Party.  You just never know.

             Anyway, Massie is a true rogue and as I listened to him, the refrain in my head was "How does a guy like this get elected?"  By profession, he's a cracker jack engineer; he and his wife are both MIT grads; he holds 30 patents.  The guy is a whiz at building and designing things.  He lives in a self-made off-grid house and made a self-propelled chicken shelter for his pastured chickens.  His first big foray into politics was to stop zoning in his county; he succeeded and it still doesn't exist there.

             He talked about 3 pieces of legislation.  He was instrumental in getting the hemp bill passed as part of the 2014 farm bill and last year, the Kentucky hemp industry generated $100 million.  Very cool.

             The other two bills are ones he's submitted but have not yet passed and he needs help on.  The first is the PRIME ACT, which would allow meat processed in custom plants to be sold by the cut within the state.  These packages currently must be stamped "Not For Sale."  But anyone can buy an animal live, or even a piece of an animal, and take it to the custom abattoir and have it cut into pieces, sight unseen.  If someone wants to buy a T-bone and not a whole quarter, why should she be denied that freedom?  Same animal, same facility, same level of engagement; the only difference is that one is a single piece and the other is a quarter.  The difference in price is 30 percent processing costs (between custom and federal inspection).

             Nothing is more reasonable and would do more to lower the cost of local meat than this simple act, but the biggest opponent is the National Cattleman's Beef Association (NCBA).  Another opponent is White Oak Pastures, darling of the Savory Institute and everything environmental, in Bluffton, Georgia.  This is not a food safety issue; it is an affordable access issue.  It's time to quit putting on platitudes about safety when the real issue is "I got mine and you can't get yours."   People who have invested in federal inspected abattoirs oppose this, including grocery stores and retailers.  They love their protected access to markets and hate the idea of competition and freedom.  So call your congressman and tell him or her to support the PRIME ACT.  So far, Massie has about 40 signatories, but he needs more.

             The  second one is the Milk Freedom Act.  Again, very simple.  It simply says that if raw milk sales are allowed in two adjoining states, you can sell it across the state line.  Right now a farmer in a state that allows raw milk sales cannot sell it in another state that allows raw milk sales.  This is ridiculous and of course shows federal government overreach in almost a malicious attitude.  Again, Massie has numerous signatories and needs more.  Call your congressional representative and tell him or her to sign onto the MILK FREEDOM ACT.

             Massie said there are 4 ways to get things done:

1.  Face to face with your elected official is the best way.

2.  Go to a fund raiser--your elected official will never forget that you showed up.

3.  Phone calls

4.  Personal visits--go see them.

             Emails are the least effective because they can be generated robotically so they pretty much get dismissed.  Now go out there and make a difference.

             Do you know who your congressional representative is?