DAILY Bites
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Protect The Harvest announced on social media that it will cease operations on October 31, 2024.
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Executive Director Dr. Mike Siemens highlights the frustration of diminishing resources amid growing issues.
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Founded in 2011, the organization focused on defending farmers’ rights, ensuring food security, and promoting animal welfare.
DAILY Discussion
Protect The Harvest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for American farmers, ranchers, and outdoor sports, has announced it will cease operations effective October 31, 2024. The organization cites ongoing funding challenges that began during the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary reason for this difficult decision.
Founded in 2011, Protect The Harvest emerged as a voice for promoting food security, defending property rights, ensuring animal welfare, and supporting outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. Over the years, it has worked to inform stakeholders about important issues facing agriculture and the rights of individuals, responding to various threats as they arose.
Their stated mission is to Inform, Protect and Respond — and to do so through facts, science, subject experts, litigation, communications and other resources.
Dr. Mike Siemens, executive director of Protect The Harvest, expressed his disappointment in the organization’s closure.
“Over the past two-and-a-half years, we’ve been diligently working to secure funding that would allow Protect The Harvest to continue operations going forward,” he stated. “But the current economy has made it challenging for many individuals and organizations that have supported us in the past. It’s been frustrating and disappointing to see the number of issues we confront multiply while our resources to address them have diminished. It’s also heartbreaking because we hear from so many stakeholders about how much they value Protect The Harvest and the work we do. Now, other organizations will need to step up to fill the void.”
Forrest Lucas, the founder and chairman of the board, reflected on the organization’s impact since its inception.
“Since Charlotte and I created Protect The Harvest, we’ve helped many people, some who have become good friends, and we’ve accomplished a lot,” he said. “We’ve fought and won a considerable number of important battles that threatened property rights, restricted freedoms, made it more difficult to produce food or own animals, curtailed hunting and fishing, and resulted in greater food insecurity. We have made many friends, enlightened many Americans, and fought the good fights to preserve the nation’s principles and values. But the time has come to pass the torch to others who will promote and defend A Free and Fed America.”
Forrest Lucas is the founder of Lucas Oil Products Inc. and is the namesake of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where the Indianapolis Colts play and where many National FFA Convention events are held annually. Lucas was awarded American Agri-Women’s 2022 Veritas Award, an honor given to people who have publicly supported agriculture through the “pursuit of truth.”
As Protect The Harvest prepares to shut down, the Lucas family said it is committed to continuing its support for various groups within the agricultural sector to address pressing issues. Protect The Harvest’s website and social media platforms will be deactivated by December 31, 2024.
