Over the course of the past few months, I have noticed an interesting discussion topic arise on several of the Internet forums in which I am a member of as well as even through some live and archived Internet based reptile radio stations I listen to. For me to come to the relatively recent realization and further consideration that this topic can, and perhaps should be applied to us seemed like the obvious had been missed given that for as long as herpetoculture has even existed thus far, it has always technically been such. It is also one which I believe follows up nicely with my previous post here on the Kingsnake.com blogs about the extent to which herps have become "domesticated" as a result of our widespread and continued efforts at keeping and producing them.
This trend, topic (or what ever you wish to call it) seems to have gained some increasing amounts of interest and curiosity among many members of the reptile community whom I have spoken to about the idea that we, as the industry of herpetoculture are technically non traditional agriculture. After all, we keep, propagate, and sell captive bred reptiles. We are in effect "reptile and amphibian farmers". While we may not typically sell our animals for consumptive or utilitarian purposes in the manner that most (if not all) traditional livestock farmers do, we are farmers nonetheless. This leads to my wanting to discuss a few benefits to this notion, as well as a few outlets in which herpetoculture can be furthered as far as being seen as "agriculture" by a wider range of the public.
An Increased Recognition of our Industry
Most states have nonprofit organizations known as "farm bureaus", which are typically large organizations (and networks of individuals and other smaller organizations) dedicated to promoting and defending the rights and interests of those within the traditional agriculture and livestock communites. There also exists a very similar organization on the federal level, the American Farm Bureau Federation, that addresses issues relating to agriculture on the federal level as well. Other similar organizations include the "Animal Agriculture Alliance" and "Family Farm Alliance". These organizations, are in essence, the USARKs and PIJACs of the livestock and agricultural communities.
One possible idea that we herpers can try utilizing (and one of which I am not aware has been utilized as of yet), would be to approach our state farm bureaus or any of these other organizations and explain our dilemna in terms that they can easily understand and sympasize with. This is precesly where I believe that referring to ourselves as "non traditional agriculture", or "reptile farmers" to these other organizations and entities just may result in our gaining of additional much needed allies in the war against the Animal rights agenda, as well as for maintaining our own rights, particularly when the flood of legislative proposals, smear campaigns, and negative press against our hobby/industry (as well as all animal use and ownership) remains on the rise.
An Increased Interest and Participation by Local Community
The second idea I would like to discuss discusses only some of the possible outlets which can be partaken upon to further "mainstream" reptile keeping and herpetoculture, which ultimately removes the shadows of fear and misunderstanding held by the public when it comes to our hobby, industry, and even reptiles and amphibians in general.
In Wisconsin, as well as most other states I am safely assuming, there are local, county, or regional fairs that take place annually (and usully in the summer months) where numerous judging and exhibition contests among many participants take place. Many of these judging contests include contests for blue ribbons and "best in show" among many traditional livestock species such as swine, goats, cattle, and poultry. Less traditional animals such as rabbits, cats, exotic cage birds, and even dogs are also occasionally seen and entered in categories of their own depending on the particular fair. With this in mind, judging categories and contests exclusively for reptiles can easily be created.
In fact, to my knowledge, the DuPage county fairgrounds in Illinois has in fact created both blue ribbon and best in show judging contests for not only reptiles, but even arachnids as well. Typically, at most county fairs I have attended and have been told of, have two main judging classes for animals entered into the fair that can be applied for through application forms. One of them was the Junior/4-H class, which is primarily intended for youth participation, and is administered/carried out by the USDA and NIFA. Most, if not all of these entrants to this class were/are involved with traditional livestock animals such as bovines, poultry, sheep and goats, and swine, etc.
The other class was what was known as "open class", and that class is typically open to nearly any other invididual/organization involved with animal keeping, propagation, or showing or otherwise intending to enter/exhibit show animals. Most of the "other livestock" and "miscellaneous animals" could be entered into this category, and I can remember there being open class judging for rabbits, some poultry, flowers and houseplants, and even for dogs. I would imagine that herps could also be entered into this category once some qualified and impartial judges could be located for judging them.
To my knowledge, these events and contests are typically only judged and awarded locally, with the yearly results being published/announced on the county/regional fair's website. Although no further hierarchy typically occurs as a result of participation in these local fairs, they nevertheless serve as a fun time for friendly competition and as an additional means of showing animals to other hobbyists and the general public alike, all with the hope that doing so helps every little bit in mainstreaming our hobby and for the public to gain a wider tolerance and acceptance of these animals.
With all of this said, what else can you all think of that we as the reptile community can do to further and reinforce that we are agriculture?
