In the latest edition of Agrinews, the Post Bulletin's farm publication, Brownton horse-dealer Keith Tongen compares the proposed wall along the United States Mexican border with fences that farmers use to control livestock--while suggesting that there's "DFL logic" about fences.
Indeed, we have to wonder why the Agrinews editors chose to run this letter, since it's about border policy, not farming in Minnesota. In Letter: Farmer's logic says build the wall Tongen tells the editors and readers:
Having grown up and currently living in an agricultural area with livestock (farm animals), I can relate to “the wall.”
In my world, it is very simple — if we want to keep the bull from the cows, the boar pig away from the sows, horses apart from the sheep, or the young animals away from their mothers at weaning time, we use a fence to keep them apart. The fence has gates strategically placed so I can regulate when I want them to intermingle or transfer which pasture a specific animal is placed to live. I refer to this method as “farmer’s logic.”
Now let’s look at “DFL logic” and what seems to be their point of view. It seems to me they are offended by “my fence” and feel it is immoral. They seem to think it is wiser for me to hire shepherds or cowboys to herd and patrol my animals, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for eternity. It seems to me this is not very fiscally responsible. But we should not be surprised by this point of view. I will say this view does create more U.S. government jobs, so that those of us who pay taxes can support. Is this really “DFL logic?”
I am happy to say that my representative in the House, Collin Peterson, has come to the front, crossing party lines and calls for fellow representatives and senators to give in to President Trump, build the wall with some strings attached and end this shut down!
Keith O. Tongen, Brownton, Minn.
While the faulty analogy (livestock farming and ranching is enough like border security to compare strategies) and the dehumanizing comparison between humans and farm animals are unfortunate enough, Bluestem sincerely hopes Tongen doesn't extend it to encompass a fate for humans that has faced some of the real horses in his care.
Indeed, we hope those reading about Tongen's business are able to see how it illsutrates just how faulty the "farmer's logic" is. In 2006, the Waverly, Iowa, Courier reported in Spring tradition resumes with Waverly horse sale:
Auctioneer John VanMaanen of Waverly keeps a close eye on Keith Tongen of Brownton, Minn. And with reason. In three days, he has already spent more than $100,000.
"I buy and sell any horse that makes money," Tongen says.
Within the hour, he is on his cell phone, arranging transportation for shipments to Japan, a growing kill market.
Yes, Tongen has been in the business of buying and selling horses for slaughter. We wouldn't want anyone to use the farmer's logic (analogy) of confining and selling horses to confining and selling people--or even herding and selling them.There are many contrasts between farm animals and people, especially for Mr. Tongen, so it's unfortunate that he is unable to see just how weak the comparison he makes is.
As far as DFL fences goes, we hope readers will support legislation for real fences offered by Roseville DFL state representative Jamie Becker-Finn, HF0229, which would require additional fencing for Farmed Cervidae (captive deer and elk), a measure intended to slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota's wild whitetail deer herd. That, friends, is a real DFL fence for a solution that should actually be nonpartisan.
Bonus: We applaud the poptarts at WCCO for carrying on about Tongen's farmstead being Pretty In Pink, truly drive-by reporting on rural Minnesota if there ever were.
Photo: One farm animal welfare group captured an image of some of Tongen's fences in 2012.
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