When I came to work at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor a little over a year ago, I knew I had found my “dream job.”
I get to talk about livestock just about everyday, I get to talk to farmers just about everyday, and I have the opportunity to be an advocate for agriculture with every stroke of the keyboard. What farmer’s daughter wouldn’t love it?
I recently, however, discovered a new calling – an agriculture technical advisor for television and/or movies. Now, I don’t know if this is a real job or not, but I think Hollywood can use my help.
One recent evening at the Crawford Ranch, Bill and I were settled in and opted to watch a movie. It was a comedy, our favorite movie genre, and we had no idea that there would be any tie to agriculture, but there were a couple.
Of course, a “rancher” in the movie was all decked out in his very best Roy Rogers outfit and said the word “shucks” several times, and there were a few “yee-haws,” all of which I’m sure were part of the comedic aspect of the movie – at least I hope so anyway. It was pretty comical to watch the “rancher” strut around like a proud little show pony while rambling on in a horrible fake accent, but as I said, it was a comedy.
As the movie progressed, the “rancher” showed his city-dwelling kinfolk his pride and joy, calling it his “100 percent certified Angus” steer.
Bill and I looked at each, shook our heads and let out a very boisterous, “No, it’s not!”
The prized “Angus” steer looked more to me like a big ol’ Hereford-cross with its red body and white face, complete with a red ring around one eye and a huge set of horns. There might have been a little Longhorn in him with the look of those curves in his horns.
The “rancher” gave the steer a chunk of meat from the table and sent him on his way. Yes, the steer ate meat.
The agriculture misconceptions continued for a few scenes, but thankfully there weren’t many more.
It isn’t the first time the studio executives have been wrong when it comes to livestock and agriculture. In the early 1990s, a movie hit the silver screen that was billed as a “Western comedy.” It had all kinds of issues, but perhaps the one that stuck out to me the most was the “birthing scene.”
The one of the main charterers assisted a cow/heifer in the delivery of a steer calf. Please correct me if I am wrong, but don’t they have to be bulls first?
Also, the calf, a pretty little Jersey with big brown eyes, was born to a little Hereford momma. I wonder if she was a recip?
For a large portion of this nation’s population, unfortunately, movies are the closest they get to a cow or any other livestock. It’s just too bad they aren’t getting the right information.
Getting the right information out to the general public is something farmers and ranchers have struggled with for generations – and TV and movies aren’t giving an accurate depiction of our industry.
So at this time, I am officially declaring my agricultural knowledge available to Hollywood. It might take the producers and directors a while to realize that they really do need me, so in the meantime, I plan on staying right here at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor – where the real stars shine in each and every issue.
Julie
