Cowboy Culture Clash: How Animal Rights Initiatives Are Rattling the Industry | Rising Anxieties

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into how the animal agriculture industry is getting increasingly nervous about the accelerating momentum of animal rights activism. From Wyoming rodeo defenders panicking over a proposed NYC rodeo ban to Oregon’s groundbreaking ballot initiative that would remove exemptions from animal cruelty laws, the industry’s anxieties are on full display. Meanwhile, dairy farmers’ self-congratulatory comparisons to NFL athletes and the beef industry’s concerns about dwindling cattle numbers reveal an industry desperately clinging to relevance, even as California’s Prop 12 continues to reshape the market despite industry resistance.

This episode explores:

• How a proposed NYC rodeo ban has Wyoming cowboys claiming their “culture” is under attack, revealing the industry’s defensive posture against urban animal protection measures
• Oregon’s third attempt at a comprehensive ballot initiative that would remove exemptions to animal cruelty laws, potentially transforming animal agriculture in the state
• The dairy industry’s bizarre self-congratulatory comparisons between dairy farming and professional football, highlighting their struggle for positive public perception
• Former agricultural leaders’ dramatic warnings about the “collapse” of American agriculture, while simultaneously receiving billions in government subsidies
• How California’s Prop 12 is creating market opportunities for farmers willing to adopt higher welfare standards despite industry opposition

We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview.

_____________________________________________

Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. 

Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.