Farm to Fridge Tour

Farm to Fridge Tour, a Resounding Success for Farmed Animals

2011-06-14T23:45:28Z

The Farm to Fridge Tour ended with a bang in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Tribune printed a terrific story on our events there and the City Weekly will also be running an article in the next issue of the magazine. I was really excited to see both events go so well, especially the evening Video Event. We parked the truck right at an outdoor mall area. Lots of people were doing some Saturday night shopping and tons of people stopped to watch Farm to Fridge. People were gathered around, with some even watching from across the street. It was awesome to see quite a few parents stop with their young children. I am thrilled that the last event of the tour was so amazing!

While I am rather sad to see the Farm to Fridge Tour come to an end, I am more than happy with how successful it was. In the last three months, the tour covered nearly 12,000 miles, stopped in 42 cities, generated massive amounts of mainstream media coverage, and opened the hearts and minds of countless Americans to the plight of farmed animals. This tour has made me very optimistic about the future. After speaking with people all over the country, I have come to realize that almost everyone cares about animals and does not want to cause them suffering. People really are going vegan in droves.

I want to thank Vic Sjodin for joining me these last twelve weeks of the tour. Vic is one of the most selfless people I know and I do not think I could have shared this experience with a better person. Thank you to Nathan Runkle for giving me this opportunity and for always being so encouraging. It has been a privilege representing such an effective organization. I also want to thank everyone who volunteered with the tour when it came through their cities. It was great meeting all of you. I would like to send a special thanks to everyone who housed us along the way on the tour. And last but not least, I want to thank everyone who has ever made a monetary donation to Mercy For Animals. This amazingly successful tour would not have been possible if it weren't for generous donations like yours.

I look forward to everything Mercy For Animals will accomplish in the future!

Farm to Fridge Opens Hearts and Minds in San Jose

2011-06-11T21:54:35Z

San Jose was the second-to-last stop for the Farm to Fridge Tour. We held the Outreach Event in downtown San Jose and had a fantastic turnout of volunteers. We handed out tons of leaflets and received lots of honks from drivers in support of our message signs.

For the evening Video Event, we set up in Palo Alto, which is a city about 20 minutes outside of San Jose. Palo Alto is more of a college town and has a lot of people still out and about later at night. We parked the truck right near a square where people like to come and just hang out with friends. While many were hanging out, they were shown the horrific realities of factory farming. Many in the audience stayed and watched Farm to Fridge multiple times. I still love seeing the impact this film has on people! It is so powerful!

I spoke with a couple of people who told me the local NPR radio station discussed our events and Farm to Fridge. I also spoke to a radio host at the People's Radio, a local FM radio station, who told me he had brought up the events and Farm to Fridge on the air repeatedly for a couple of weeks. What an amazing success in San Jose!

Sacramento Embraces Vegan Diet

2011-06-11T03:30:49Z

The dedicated activists of Sacramento were very excited to be a part of the Farm to Fridge Tour. We held the evening Video Event in Old Town Sacramento, where the atmosphere was very laid back. A lot of activists had one-on-one conversations with the many people who stopped to watch Farm to Fridge. Vic spoke with one middle-aged couple for about twenty minutes after they viewed the film, and they both committed to moving toward a vegan diet. They were deeply moved by the film. Vic gave them both MFA Vegetarian Starter Kits before they got on their way. I am thrilled with the outcome of our day in Sacramento!

San Francisco's Eyes Opened to the Cruelty of the Meat Industry

2011-06-09T00:48:56Z

San Francisco is such an amazing city! It was my first time there and I had a fantastic stay. We received some great media coverage from The World Reporter. A crew from News21 also filmed our events for part of their documentary on the recent ag-gag bills that have been popping up in various parts of the country.

We parked the truck at an intersection bustling with restaurants and bars. During the evening Video Event, the foot traffic really picked up. Lots of people were out and about and were given an eye-opening look at how farmed animals are treated before making it to our plates. At all four corners of the intersection people watched Farm to Fridge on the truck as they waited for the green light to cross the street. Many people stopped to watch the film all the way through and left with an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit.

The tour is winding down but I am excited for the events that will be held in the final stretch!

People in Eugene, Oregon, Encouraged to Boycott Cruelty and Adopt a Vegan Diet

2011-06-06T12:23:27Z

It was wonderful to spend a couple of days in Eugene. I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, and making some new ones as well. The Farm to Fridge Tour received some fantastic media coverage in Eugene. The newspaper at the University of Oregon, the Daily Emerald, printed a great story on the front page! The local affiliate of ABC also provided some coverage.

The morning Outreach Event was amazing. We held the event right on the edge of the University of Oregon, at the location with the most foot traffic. We handed out lots of leaflets, heard from many who were already vegan, and heard from many others who were interested in moving toward a vegan diet. Right after the event, a group of grade school children walked by the truck with their teacher. After seeing the billboard-sized banners on the truck, asking, "How much cruelty can you swallow?" and encouraging them to "Boycott animal abuse" and "Choose Vegetarian," a lot of them jumped up and down with excitement, and gave us thumbs up.

For the Video Event, we parked the truck right across the street from a super-busy nightspot. Many people watched Farm to Fridge on the truck while they were just hanging out with their friends. We noticed that this sparked many conversations about factory farming. We kept the film playing for over two hours before wrapping it up. What a great day for farmed animals.

Countless Portlanders Exposed to Horrific Reality of Factory Farming

2011-06-03T02:40:52Z

The time spent in Portland was fantastic! Right when we arrived in the city on Sunday, I gave an interview for Supreme Master Television, an international, non-profit channel. Supreme Master also covered both the Outreach Event and Video Event in Portland. I also gave an interview for KXL, a local community radio station.

Both Portland events went tremendously well. We parked the truck in an ideal spot for the Video Event, right across the street from a main public transit hub. People were able to watch Farm to Fridge while they waited for their trains. Many expressed interest in adopting a vegan diet. A police officer stopped to watch the film and was so moved that at the end he personally asked for an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit. It was inspiring to see how much people in Portland care about farmed animals.

Bringing Compassion to Seattle

2011-06-01T00:53:20Z

I spent a lot of time in Seattle last fall and it was great to be back. We held the morning Outreach Event right in front of the Pike Place Market, one of Seattle's most famous landmarks. Lots of people were out and about and either received a leaflet about factory farming or saw our signs declaring that "meat = animal cruelty." Numerous volunteers showed up for the evening Video Event. Afterward it was nice to hang out with everyone at Highline Bar, a local vegan bar.

The Farm to Fridge Tour received quite a bit of media attention while in Seattle. The local affiliate of FOX ran a two-minute pre-story and then also came out and covered the events themselves. We also received coverage from KING, a Seattle TV news station. It was great to receive this media attention in such a large city. Countless people were exposed to the horrific realities of factory farming.

Farm to Fridge Inspires Many in Spokane to Move toward a Vegan Diet

2011-05-31T02:10:13Z

The Farm to Fridge Tour really made an impact in Spokane. The Spokesman Review ran a nice story on the events there. Vic, many of the activists, and I all had quite a few one-on-one conversations with people after they watched Farm to Fridge on the truck. I spoke with one man for about ten minutes and he was holding back tears nearly the entire time. He was deeply moved by the film and had a lot of questions. As he was leaving, he thanked us for being there and said, "I can't do this anymore. I am never eating meat again." I gave him an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit as he went on his way.

I spoke with another man who was horrified to learn that most of the abuses shown in Farm to Fridge are considered standard practice and legal. He said he wanted to move toward a vegan diet. I ran into this man again the next morning in downtown Spokane. He said after watching the film he walked to a burrito shop and ordered a vegan burrito. He excitedly remarked, "It was really good!" I want to thank all the activists for helping make this such a wonderful event.

The Farm to Fridge Tour Gives a Voice to Farmed Animals in Montana

2011-05-26T23:30:54Z

The Farm to Fridge Tour hit two cities in one day! We held an Outreach Event in the morning in Billings and then hustled over to Bozeman for another Outreach Event in the evening. Both events were awesome. The Billings event elicited more reactions than any other city we have been to. The first person to drive by got so excited she did a u-turn and pulled over to give us words of encouragement before getting on her way. We received many honks, thumbs up, and waves from people driving by.

We decided to add the stop in Bozeman about a week or so before the event. I am so glad we did. Even on such short notice, volunteers showed up to help out with leafleting and holding signs. And yet again, we received media attention. NBC Montana provided some great coverage and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle ran a story as well.

I am thrilled with all the media attention the Farm to Fridge tour has been consistently getting. The tour is awakening people all over the country to the cruel realities of factory farming and I feel very blessed to be a part of it.

The Farm to Fridge Tour Has Great Success in Minneapolis

2011-05-25T05:25:34Z

Minneapolis was yet another great stop for the Farm to Fridge Tour. We teamed up with Compassionate Action For Animals there, and although it was a little rainy, we held two fantastic events. Volunteer turnout for both was wonderful. The local affiliate of ABC covered the events. The Star Tribune provided some nice coverage as well!

We held the Outreach Event in downtown Minneapolis and reached lots of people on their lunch breaks with leaflets and signs. I spoke extensively to one woman about factory farming, veganism, and farmed animals in general. I handed her an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit and before she walked away, she made a commitment to move toward a vegan diet. I want to thank all the volunteers in Minneapolis for making it such a memorable stop!

Many in Madison, Wisconsin, Deeply Affected by Farm to Fridge Tour

2011-05-24T02:57:00Z

Our stop in Madison, Wisconsin, was fantastic! We reached lots of people with the message of compassion for all animals. Some very dedicated activists came out to the event. A few of them drove from as far as two hours away! We handed out hundreds of leaflets to the lunchtime crowd, as well as the late-night crowd. Many people expressed interest in adopting a plant-based diet. One man asked lots of questions, took an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit and read it for about thirty minutes before asking more questions, and then finally getting on his way. We also received some great coverage from the major newspaper in Madison, The Capital Times. Vic and I really enjoyed our time in Madison.

About a month ago, I gave an extensive interview with All Things Vegan Radio, which airs on Bend Community Radio in Bend, Oregon. I spoke about the amazing experiences we have had on the Farm to Fridge Tour. The interview was recently aired and can be listened to here.

The Farm to Fridge Tour Arrives in Chicago

2011-05-20T01:39:28Z

The Farm to Fridge Tour received more international media attention while in Chicago. South Korean TV station, MBC, is filming a documentary about factory farming and veganism, and will feature the Farm to Fridge Tour in their film. They covered both events and spent over an hour talking to me in the truck between the events. I am excited to see how the documentary turns out!

It was thrilling to be in Chicago, the headquarters of Mercy For Animals. A record number of volunteers showed up to both events there. We held the Outreach Event in downtown Chicago, near the Chicago Public Library. Numerous people leafleted on the various nearby street corners, while lots more held signs for both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Thousands of people either witnessed the signs or received a leaflet at this event.

Although it was quite cold, I felt warm on the inside because there was such an outpouring of support from the activist community in Chicago for the Video Event, even on a Tuesday night. It was awesome meeting so many new people. We parked the truck at a busy intersection right near the Mercy For Animals office. I saw several people sitting in their cars at the stoplight, aghast at the routine abuse farmed animals face during their lives. Thank you, Chicago!

Racing to Plant Seeds of Compassion in Indianapolis

2011-05-18T05:43:01Z

Indianapolis was amazing! We met a tremendous number of vegans during our events. Our outreach there also impacted many people. The local affiliate of NBC covered our events, running a nice two-minute live story during the twelve o'clock news, and another great two-and-a-half-minute story during the five o'clock news. They even showed some footage from Farm to Fridge!

During the Video Event, I spoke to a man and a woman who came to watch Farm to Fridge on the truck after seeing one of the news stories. The film had a powerful impact on both of them. The woman began crying. They both had lots of questions at the end. We spoke for quite a while and they both left with an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit.

After the Video Event, Vic and I did some bonus outreach on Broad Ripple Ave., a bustling street with lots of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. While the video was playing on the truck, we slowly traveled up and down the street. Hundreds of people stared at the video as we drove by. Sometimes when we stopped at a red light we looked out the window and saw everyone at the restaurant next to us mesmerized by the video. I feel this late-night outreach had a drama and power different from the daytime outreach. We could tell that this started numerous conversations among the diners. All the outreach combined with the great media coverage made for a banner day for the Farm to Fridge Tour!

Farm to Fridge Has On-the-Spot Impact in Cincinnati

2011-05-14T18:01:43Z

Vic and I had a really great time in Cincinnati. The Farm to Fridge Tour received some nice coverage from the local FOX affiliate. There was a great turnout of volunteers for both the Outreach and Video Events. We set up right in the heart of downtown at the bustling cultural hub, Fountain Square. During the Outreach Event, one man, who was just walking by, was inspired to stop and volunteer.

During the Video Event another man, after watching Farm to Fridge, incredulously asked, "Is this real?" After I explained to him that most of the abuses in the film are standard practice and legal, he told me he would never eat meat again. The friend he was with echoed his sentiment and said they would both move toward a vegan diet together. It is greatly inspiring to meet so many people who care about animals and resolve to switch to a cruelty-free lifestyle, once Farm to Fridge awakens them to the mistreatment of animals on factory farms.

Media Bonanza in Columbus!

2011-05-12T17:50:30Z

The events in Columbus were fantastic! During the Outreach Event, a group of us held signs for the vehicle traffic, while some of us leafleted the pedestrians. I heard from quite a few people who were already vegan. I am forever inspired meeting so many different vegans on the streets in each city we visit. A few people also stopped to ask questions and left the conversation with an MFA Vegetarian Starter Kit.

In Columbus the Farm to Fridge Tour garnered lots of media coverage, exposing tens of thousands of people to the horrors farmed animals endure. Local affiliates of FOX, ABC, CBS, and NBC covered the events. NBC ran two stories! The Columbus Dispatch, the U Weekly of Ohio State University, and the Examiner also ran stories. What an amazing day!