Our Mission: Inform. Protect. Respond.
• INFORM and EDUCATE Americans about the activities of animal extremist groups, anti-agriculture groups and other non-governmental organizations that threaten agriculture, animal welfare, our traditions, and way of life.
• PROTECT our freedoms and way of life by supporting agriculture, land use, hunting and fishing, animal ownership, and animal welfare.
• RESPOND to laws, regulations, or misinformation that would negatively impact animal welfare, animal ownership, restrict our rights, and limit our freedoms.
Why Protect The Harvest was Founded
Protect The Harvest was created to defend and preserve American freedoms and to support farmers, ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, and animal owners.
Most Americans are unaware that there are special interest groups in America that have evolved into a wealthy and well-organized movement that is determined to change our way of life. These groups are aiming to control agriculture, land and water use, and eliminate human-animal interaction as well as hunting and fishing. Their approach is to reach their goal incrementally via influencing public opinion with misinformation and writing, funding and marketing legislation and regulations to suit their agenda. The end result is an America that is less free and less prosperous, the elimination of animal ownership and human-animal interaction, the elimination of our ability to provide affordable food for our families and the ability to enjoy traditional past times.
Why All Americans Should Be Concerned with the Activities of Special Interest NGO’s
The global population is skyrocketing, by 2050 there will be over 9 billion people on the planet. Experts estimate that in order to feed all those people, we will need to double our food production, using the same amount (if not less) of land and resources that we do today. However, the very techniques and technologies that have allowed food producers to keep up with current demand are under constant attacks from misguided activists and uninformed government bureaucrats. Their tactics range from producing misinformation to scare and manipulate the public, to pushing for legislation and regulations that have undisclosed, far-reaching consequences.
At the same time, the rights of individuals to hunt and fish, and even to own animals for entertainment or food, are being threatened. The result is an America that is increasingly hungrier, less free, and less secure. At Protect The Harvest, we work diligently to inform the public about their activities and to fight for these basic rights.
For more information follow this link to “What You Need To Know:
Why All Americans Should Be Concerned About Animal Extremist Organizations
Animal Extremist groups believe in the ideology that there is no distinction between animals and humans. Therefore, they view animal ownership as exploitation and slavery. The true goal of Animal Extremist Groups is to work for legislation and humane care only until all animals are no longer owned or utilized by human beings.
The NCRAOA (North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance) has described what Animal Extremist Groups are all about and their activities:
“Animal Rights Groups exploit our love of animals to work for various types of restrictive legislation (limit laws, breed specific legislation, mandatory spay/neuter) as well as laws that are steps toward changing the legal status of animals as property”, and “The animal rights movement is about control not animal welfare. Supporting legislation based on emotion and philosophical interpretation provides a platform in our legal system for incremental increases toward animal status changes.”
Animal Welfare vs. Animal Extremism
The difference between animal extremism and animal welfare are striking but might be confusing to some.
The American Veterinary Medical Association has taken a formal position defining the difference between the two labels, Animal Extremism vs. Animal Welfare. In their detailed Policy on Animal Welfare and Animal Rights, they state that they cannot endorse the views of Animal Extremist Groups. Here’s a quote from their policy:
“Animal rights is a philosophical view and personal value characterized by statements by various animal rights groups. Animal welfare and animal rights are not synonymous terms. The AVMA wholeheartedly endorses and adopts promotion of animal welfare as official policy; however, the AVMA cannot endorse the philosophical views and personal values of animal rights advocates when they are incompatible with the responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as food, fiber, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals.”
Let’s take a closer look at the fundamental differences between Animal Welfare and the Animal Extremist philosophy:
Animal Welfare –
Animal Welfare includes all animals, whether used for food, companionship, or sport. It is based on a principle of ownership of animals. It reflects a common-sense approach that animals should be treated well and that animal cruelty is wrong. Animal welfare standards and guidelines for animal use and management are based on sound veterinary and animal husbandry experience, research, and practices. The AVMA views Animal Welfare as a, “…human responsibility that encompasses all aspects of animal well-being, including proper housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary, humane euthanasia”. It also means animals that provide for human needs experience no unnecessary suffering
Animal Extremism –
Animal Extremism advocates and their groups believe in the ideology that there is no distinction between animals and humans. They view animal ownership as exploitation and slavery. The true goal of Animal Extremist Groups is to work for legislation and humane care only until all animals are no longer owned or utilized by human beings.
We support Animal Welfare, but we are against Animal Extremism. Taking a stand against Animal Extremism in no way means that we do not care about animals or their welfare. We do care or we would not be investing time, money and a whole lot of effort in educating the public about protecting our rights, animal ownership, agriculture, and our heritage.
Listed below is a list of major animal extremist organizations and their profiles on Activist Facts:
• Humane Society of the United States
https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/136-humane-society-of-the-united-states/
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/21-people-for-the-ethical-treatment-of-animals/
• ASPCA
https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/american-society-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-aspca/
• Direct Action Everywhere
https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/direct-action-everywhere/
Click here to navigate to our Overview of Animal Rights Organizations Section.
There you will find more information about:
• Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Grey2k
• NonHuman Rights Project
Animal Extremists and Other NGO’s Are Interconnected
NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) are tightly interconnected with animal extremism. Their goal is to end all types of animal use; making no distinctions between pet ownership and livestock. NGO’s strive to push over-reaching regulatory burdens on animal owners. They accomplish this by introducing governmental legislation meant to hurt animal industries. For example, Prop 13 in Florida and Prop 12 in California. Prop 13 essentially ended all greyhound racing in Florida and Prop 12 impacts the pork, veal, and egg industries, not only in California but outside states as well. NGO’s were behind the push for both and showcase their determination to end all animal use.
NGO’s are also interconnected with each other and join together to appear stronger when it comes to major campaigns and lawsuits. For example, PETA, Direct Action Everywhere, and other extremist groups worked together to gain more signatures to attempt to end mutton-busting during the National Western Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2018. Additionally, they commonly rotate staff between organizations and have similar practices.
Below, you can compare two Animal Extremist Activist Webs, published in 2016 and 2014 respectively, displaying how each organization connects to the other in years’ past and going forward:
How We Inform. Protect. Respond.
Social Media
Protect The Harvest has a presence on a variety of social outlets. We consistently provide information in order to help ensure the public and key stakeholders are aware of current issues.
We can be found on all major platforms;
Twitter,
Facebook,
Instagram,
LinkedIn, and
YouTube.
Articles and Educational Materials
Our communications team along with guest authors consistently publish articles and create educational materials to inform and educate the public about current issues and how we can all work together to support agriculture and protect our way of life.
Click here to visit our educational resources section
Newsletter
We send out a monthly e-mail newsletter to our supporters to provide updates.
Click here to sign up for our newsletter
Major Events
We attend numerous events around the nation to connect with the public and key stakeholders and to spread the word about the activities of NGO’s and how their activities impact our way of life. Check out our upcoming events under the
“Events” tab.
Volunteers
Protect The Harvest has a team of people working hard every day to protect our American heritage and way of life. Our volunteers play an important role as well. They engage with us over social media, write guest articles, and assist with events. To find out how you can become a part of Protect The Harvest’s Volunteer program:
Click Here to Volunteer
Click Here to Download our Social Media Guide
Initiatives
Protect The Harvest fights for your right to own and use animals. We work diligently to educate and inform the public about issues impacting the animal industry. We have an on-going list of initiatives in order to protect animal ownership and production. We have listed some of our major initiatives below.
For more information, click here to visit our Initiatives tab
Protect California Families & Ag Producers – Prop 12
We put together an educational campaign called “Protect California Families & Ag Producers” in response to an initiative funded by the Humane Society of the United States called “Prevent Cruelty California,” otherwise known as Prop 12. This ballot initiative, unfortunately, passed in November 2018, and will impact animal welfare and interstate commerce by mandating that egg, pork and veal products sold in California comply with standards outlined by the Humane Society of the United States and their affiliated groups.
It is our goal to continue to educate and launch educational initiatives to inform the public about the negative effects these types of laws will have. The more we educate, the better we can fight against legislation and prevent its passing in the future.
Supreme Court Case
Attorney Generals from 13 states filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against California in response to similar legislation that was passed in the state in 2008, called Proposition 2.
Article – States file Supreme Court Lawsuits Against California and Massachusetts
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity
The population level of horses on American rangelands is at a crisis level. This is impacting the health and very survival of the horses, native wildlife, and the rangelands ecosystem itself. It is also impacting ranchers that provide food for our nation and who own grazing and water rights on the rangelands. For years the BLM has been unable to manage the horse population numbers as mandated by the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971, due to constant roadblocks from NGO’s.
In the last number of years, the BLM has proposed studies on specific herd management areas in order to establish the standing surgical spay for use as a method of population control. Unfortunately, the BLM has been stopped from conducting these studies due to lawsuits filed by animal extremist groups. These lawsuits were the catalyst for Protect The Harvest’s launch of the Wild Spayed Filly Futurity. The goal of the Wild Spayed Filly Futurity is to demonstrate that the standing surgical spay is a viable, humane option for population control and to also help encourage adoptions.
The Wild Spayed Filly Futurity was an event that showcased fillies selected from the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Management Facility in Burns, Oregon. The first group of fillies were spayed and sold at the 2017 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity with an invitation to compete in their own division at the 2018 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity. During the 2018 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, 11 more wild spayed fillies were auctioned off to horse-enthusiasts with a dream to show during the 2019 Wild Spayed Filly Futurity.
Click Here For More Information About The Wild Spayed Filly Futurity
Meet the 2018 Fillies
Meet the 2019 Fillies
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Television Episodes and Social Media
Our communication team followed the Wild Spayed Fillies. Their progress was chronicled on social media and as of November 2020 six television episodes were produced, which were aired on the television networks, RFDTV and Farm and Ranch TV. These television episodes and the Wild Spayed Filly Futurity fillies have reached millions of people with information about the overpopulation crisis on American rangelands. It has also informed the public about the impact on native wildlife, the horses themselves, the ecosystem, and American ranchers. Via our efforts, we have been able to inform and educate people who were unaware of the rangelands crisis. We were also able to help garner support for a spay study from the public and major groups, including the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).
Watch all 6 episodes here:
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Episode 1
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Episode 2
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Episode 3
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Episode 4
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Episode 5
Wild Spayed Filly Futurity Episode 6
Electronic Logging Device Mandate
Protect The Harvest has been key in providing information and support to the agricultural, equestrian, livestock, and small trucking industries in regards to addressing the ELD Mandate. The mandate was instituted in December 2017 as a part of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21stCentury (MAP 21). We worked to reach millions of horse enthusiasts and people involved in agriculture about the implications of the mandate and mobilized key organizations in order to bring the far-reaching consequences to the attention of lawmakers.
The ELD or electronic logging device synchronizes with the engine of a vehicle and keeps track of hours of service. Protect The Harvest opposes the mandate because of its inconsistencies in interpretation and enforcement and the implications for agriculture, including livestock and insect(bee) haulers, as well as the impact on commerce.
Click here for more information about the ELD Mandate and Hours of Service
Due to the efforts of this coalition of organizations, as of December 2018, the FMCSA has decided to table ELD compliance requirements for livestock haulers indefinitely.
The Pardoning of The Hammonds
In 2001, with BLM permission, Steve Hammond started a prescribed burn on the family’s private land that accidentally spilled onto 137 acres of adjoining federal land. The BLM never cited the Hammonds for that fire.
In 2006, during a violent thunderstorm, lightning struck federal land near the Hammond’s home, barns, and stack yards of winter feed. The Hammonds started an emergency backfire on their private land to protect their home and buildings, which burned one acre of adjoining federal land before it could be contained. The BLM was notified of the burned acre of land.
The BLM pursued criminal charges for the fire against Steve & Dwight Hammond in state court (Dwight is Steve’s father). District Attorney Tim Colahan reviewed the case and dismissed all charges against the Hammonds.
In 2015, the DOJ and DOI appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Court ordered the Hammonds to be re-sentenced for a full five-year term beginning January 4, 2016. Dwight and Steve were incarcerated in federal prison in Southern California. Protect The Harvest, along with many other organizations, worked hard to inform President Trump of this issue.
On July 10, 2018, President Trump pardoned and released Dwight and Steve Hammond.
Click here to read more about the Hammond’s ordeal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTFCjaUjo44&t=2s
Support of Performing Animals
Protect The Harvest supports performing animal industries as an important part of education and conservation of exotic species. Animals in the wild are in danger of habitat loss, poaching, predation, and lack of resources. In human care, for example, zoos or aquariums, the animals are given food, shelter, enrichment, and veterinary medical treatment.
Performance animals include:
- Show dogs, horses, and even animals, like birds, that have appeared on talent search shows
- Rodeo animal athletes; Horses, sheep, goats, broncs, bulls, calves and steers
- Zoo animals
- Circus animals
Performing Animals Tab
Support of the Horse Industry
Protect The Harvest supports the horse industry by educating those involved about the intentions of animal extremist groups to eliminate horse ownership and exhibitions. Over the years Protect The Harvest has been working hard to also find solutions to the horse over-population crises on American range lands.
Support of Animal Ownership and Animal Welfare
Protect The Harvest and our founder, Forrest Lucas, have always been steadfast supporters of animal welfare. Our support of animal welfare includes our mission to protect the right to own and interact with animals, as well as to educate the public regarding the threats posed by animal extremist organizations to animal ownership.
Pets and livestock enrich the lives of Americans all across the country. We believe that protecting the right to own and enjoy animals is essential to preserving American traditions and heritage.
Support of Agriculture
Farming and ranching are also being threatened by extremist groups in the United States. Extremist groups have successfully written and funded legislation that have made the cost of eggs and other animal products, in states like California, skyrocket. While this legislation has been pushed through on the state level, it impacts interstate commerce as well. Protect The Harvest is working to expose and stop their plans to target other vulnerable sectors of agriculture at grass-roots local and state levels.
Range Rights and Resources Symposium
Protect The Harvest helped to launch the first Range Rights and Resources Symposium. The symposium began in 2016 and is an annual two-day event. Guest speakers at the event are well known and respected leaders in their industries. They discuss topics ranging from agriculture, water rights, and property rights, to constitutional law and how all these aspects fit into the framework of our legal system. The purpose of holding the symposium:
• Create rural and urban allies for property rights
• Create awareness of existing property rights
• Awaken recognition and respect for natural rights
A list of the topics discussed during past symposiums:
• Mining
• Timber
• Water-WOTUS
• Grazing and Wild Horses
• Water rights
• Predators’ Ecological and Environmental Impact
https://youtu.be/uIS9RA3660E
