Today, we visited a wonderful farm with old-fashioned ideals. Located roughly an hour away, we saw some of the most expensive farmland in Iowa en route to the Ubben farm. On the Tom and Sharon Ubben farm, the expectations were established fifty years ago. Absolutely no antibiotics are added to their animals’ feed and the couple abides by fresh air practices. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the cutest assortment of sheep and goats. The lambs and kids were so precious, and we got to hold and pet them! Next we visited the Ubben’s cattle and hogs. Their hog practices were totally different from what we saw earlier this week as the Ubbens sell pork in the Niman Ranch system, which promotes animal welfare standards. A seemingly small business is actually thriving in the current animal rights eating fad. The Ubbens discussed adding more and more families wanting animals that are allowed to see the light of day. We walked down and saw the gestation area for the hogs: a beautiful long lawn for three hogs and their babies – an idyllic setting. Many people prefer free range because they think the animals are happier in that setting. It is hard to tell what an animal is thinking; but, if I were a pig, I would want to live at the Ubben farm. No gestation crates are allowed; no antibiotics are allowed in the feed – producing smaller hogs with more marbled fat (succulent). Conventional to traditional practices literally are night and day. Earlier this week we saw pigs in confined spaces and experienced horrible odor. Traditional hog farming had the pigs roaming outside and they got to keep their tails (cut off in conventional practices because other pigs bite each other’s off)! It is hard to sway in either direction: both practices have pros and cons. Conventional feeds the masses, but traditional seems like it provides a much healthier, happier environment for the animals. I completely understand why people have a side for which they pull whole-heartedly. If I had a farm, the traditional way is romantic and comforting, but I would still promote conventional for the world.