personal response to Wendell Berry

I think that the poem is very powerful and gets the message across. I liked the direct tone and the hint that there might be failure and that's okay. It tells the reader that you should do what you need to make your life more fulfilling. I felt a connection to the essay as well because of the visuals that he used. It worked very well.

Things that I already do to premote change

I buy a lot of products from local producers from farmers markets and when I go home I buy meat from the local meat market. The meat market does not purchase from farmers that confine animals to feedlots so the meat is pretty close to organic but not certified. I am also a member of the FFA, am an Alumni member of 4-H, involved the National Farmers Organization, Iowa Pork Producers, and many other farming organizations. On campus I have been involved with the Block and Bridle club and the Agriculture Education Club. I have a passion for bringing power back the everyday, small farmer.
The tobacco industry was once much like the food industry. It had power in the economy, the politics, and the courtroom but with enough people fighting against this unbalance of power, the tobacco industry fell and lost the power it once held. This is possible to do in the food industry as well. Every time you are in the grocery store, you make the choice of what you are going to buy. You can choose the local producers. Cost may be higher, but with a growing number of people supporting local farmers and more healthy food, prices can go down.

"Having Faith" by Sandra Steingraber

What is her purpose/audience in writing this? How does she get her message across? Would you consider this writing-as-activism? Why or why not?

I felt that the essay was about the food chain and how it always ends with people at the top of it. She gets the message across with using different examples and logic. You know that it is logical because her background and education is present in the essay. I would consider is writing as activism because she is thought provoking to get you to listen to what she is bringing to the table.

Personal Reaction to Sociology and Social Change

I thought that the article was very simple in the topics it discussed but was still thought provoking. I found it easy to read and interesting. It got the wheels turning in my brain a little more than they were on social issues and got me more heated on ones that I am already passionate about.

Mission Statement

I am passionate about bringing power back the small farmers and educating those who are unaware of the issues that face the world of agriculture. So many people do not know where their food comes from and what is in it and I would like to change that. With major corporations control politic and the food industry, the battle will be a long and hard one but it is possible with enough people willing to follow along. One person can change the world if they just give it a shot; so why not start here and bring power back to the everyday farmer?

"Silent Spring" Rhetorical Analysis Question

Substance--What kinds of evidence does the author use? How does the selection of supporting evidence help fulfill the purpose of the text? How does the writer use supporting evidence or examples to appeal to the audience? Are these appeals logical and rational? Emotional? A combination of the two?

Throughout this selection, there was several parts of that are extensive in supporting evidence to get the point across that DDT is a terrible thing. I think that although this article isn't 100% justifiable today there are situations that are still similar to it. There are third world farmers still using this and were never properly informed of its harmfulness or the proper way to handle chemicals like this in the first place. I feel that the author draws you in the with the picture she paints in the beginning by explaining how beautiful everything is and then she lays down the facts. Her story is very logical and accurately portrays what happened during the time period.

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

I believe this piece of writing is very interesting but was a little confused but do not believe that it was the writers fault, but how the makers of "American Earth" decided to break up his writing. The organization started out great and was easy to read but when they stopped talking about the alligators and moved onto more about the Creator I got a little confused. I had to slow down and reread because it seemed like there was no transition between the two ideas. Again, I don't think that was due to John Muir though, but the people who compiled "American Earth".