Both of the hats in the picture above were given to me as gifts in 2019. They are not the first hats I ever have received as gifts, but they have special significance to me because they relate to two things I care a lot about: agriculture and bridging divides.

For much of my life I did not think much about agriculture and food production. I bought most of my food from grocery stores, corner stores, restaurants, and cafes, and I did not give it much thought. As a child I depended on my parents and other adults to feed me or provide food for me to eat. I was taught to be grateful for all the food I was blessed to receive, but I wasn’t encouraged to question where it came from or what was in it. So long as it came from a trusted place, packaged in satisfactory packaging, tasted okay, and it didn’t make me sick I was simply grateful to have and eat it. I am still grateful for food today, but I also feel that where my food comes from and what is in it are important considerations for many reasons.

Before I turned 30 years old I began to take a closer look at the food I was eating. Why? Frankly, I was unhappy and unhealthy and I wanted to change that. I was not severely obese, but I was obese. As I am today I was about 5 foot 8 inches (1.72 meters) tall, but my heaviest body weight was around 220 pounds (100 kilograms). That is about 65 pounds (29 kg) more or about 42% heavier than recommended for my height and body build. At that time the most severe health problems I had were sometimes very painful cystic acne, aches and pains in my body, digestive irregularity, and intense bouts of depression, but I knew that if I didn’t make any changes things would only get worse.

Today I look at food and life very differently, I eat and live very differently, and I am much healthier and happier. I weigh around 145 pounds (65 kg), and I’ve been at about that weight for over 5 years. Some people know me or actually call me by such monikers as “local food Frank”, “farmer Frank”, or “master gardener Frank”. I’d happily claim the nickname “local food Frank” even though I am not a locavore in the strictest sense. As to “farmer Frank”, I have spent some time working on farms but I wouldn’t say that makes me a real farmer. I’ve only gotten a small taste of what farmers actually do to run their farms. As of about two weeks ago I can proudly say that I am a “Colorado Master Gardener” (CMG). That title is bestowed upon people who successfully complete coursework in the study of horticulture and a minimum number of hours volunteering in their community. The CMG program is facilitated by the Colorado State University Extension (CSU-E) office for residents of the state of Colorado.

I don’t share all this to brag about my accomplishments. I have some pride in what I’ve accomplished, but my intention is to help people be healthier and contribute to a more beautiful world. One of the ways we all can do that is by producing and eating food and disposing of food waste in healthier ways. However, there’s another component to improving health and creating more beauty in the world that has little to do with the food we eat. That is healing the immense divides between people in the world today.

Human beings divide themselves from one another in too many ways to list here. Often people separate themselves from others by attaching a particular identity to oneself deemed “good”, and categorizing others into opposing identities that are supposedly “bad” (or vice versa). Many years ago I considered myself politically “liberal” or “progressive”, and I looked down upon many politically “conservative” people. While I did not consider all political conservatives bad, I did not think of them as being “on my team.” That opinion significantly broke down for me after learning about genetically engineered foods or what commonly are called “Genetically Modified Organisms” or GMOs.

For those who do not know what GMOs are, they are organisms (living things)—usually plants, animals, and insects—that have had their genetic material (DNA and such) modified in very specific and direct ways in order for those organisms to exhibit specific traits. For instance, one common GMO crop called Bt corn produces a substance that can kill many types of insects that feed on that corn. Other GMO crops are created to be immune to particular herbicides or “weed killers” like Roundup so that all other plants growing among the crops will die but the crops (like soy or corn) will survive. There are other issues around GMOs like the fact that many of them are patented and therefore cannot be produced by anyone but the owner of the patent. The patent owner controls the seed market, increases costs for farmers, and reduces farmers’ ability to sustain their work and survive financially.

The more I learned about GMOs the more I took the stance that they should be eliminated. Many people literally have rallied over many years against a company named Monsanto which produced many GMOs and chemicals used in conjunction with GMO crops. Monsanto was acquired by Bayer in 2018. I observed the “March Against Monsanto” in San Diego, California in the spring of 2013 and joined or led rallies in Colorado from 2013 to 2015. Since GMOs would not be banned in the US, I joined the Colorado “Right to Know” campaign in 2014 in an effort to require labeling of foods made with GMOs. That year the resulting Proposition 105 did not pass. During this time I learned that labeling GMOs was not simply a liberal issue. Some people even claimed that labeling GMOs was a conservative cause because it gave consumers more choice. Today some packaged foods are labeled as “Produced with genetic engineering”, but a large and growing number of food products include the voluntary “Non-GMO Project Verified” logo on their packaging. Some of those products also are certified “Organic”, which is generally considered a step up from non-GMO.

I cannot say I worked with many openly politically conservative people on the campaign in 2014, but I did work with some politically conservative people. There is another critical agricultural issue affecting honey bees called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Bees are an incredibly important pollinator of around 30% of our food. For many, CCD is an even greater concern than GMOs. According to widely known and highly respected mycologist (fungi scientist) Paul Stamets, CCD is the number one bridge issue between liberals and conservatives. Even if that is the case, there is disagreement about how to effectively address the issue. One online article claims that, “The only way to protect yourself is to buy organic. The only way to protect the bees is to encourage Congress to ban… pesticides.” Studies conducted by a team led by Paul Stamets suggest that a special mushroom mycelium extract can boost bee immunity so much that they will survive the onslaught of various environmental factors like parasites and pesticides that cause CCD. The extract along with the trademarked BeeMushroomed Feeder (BMF) looks promising for that purpose, but it does not address the many environmental factors that cause CCD which also could be contributing to other ecological crises that we do not know about yet.

I suspect some readers are saying, “All of this is interesting, but what’s it got to do with the hats?” Before I get to that, I must clarify that I am personally opposed (not as a CMG or representative of CSU or any affiliated organizations) to GMOs and the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture and horticulture. Additionally, I know that many people including urban homeowners and farmers alike depend on possibly very toxic synthetic chemicals and/or GMOs to make a living or meet legal requirements or social expectations. I do not consider myself “good” for opposing GMOs, synthetic chemicals, and other similar practices nor do I consider the people who use such products and practices as “bad”. I feel that most people simply do whatever they perceive is the best they can do at any moment.

I received the “Western Farm Service” hat in September at a family reunion. Prior to this reunion I had not met the man who gave away the hat. I will call him “Rob” because I haven’t asked permission to publish his name. I did not pick the hat myself; another family member selected it and gave it to me. When I learned where the hat came from I wanted to meet Rob and learn more about him and the hat. As it turns out, Rob spent many years working for one or more companies that sold farm chemicals. The hat was one of several old hats he was giving away. At one point his company or an affiliated company was named “Western Farm Service”. Rob and I got to talking and at some point I mentioned that I learned about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in my CMG coursework. Somewhat to my surprise he knew what I was talking about. IPM is a scientifically backed set of guidelines that are used to manage what are commonly considered agricultural (and horticultural) pests. Such pests include invasive insects (“bugs”), plants (“weeds”), fungi (mushrooms, molds, and yeasts), and more. The basic idea behind IPM is that chemicals are one of many possible approaches for preventing and managing pests that can invade farms and gardens and decrease crop yields. The way I understand it is that chemical substances ought to be the last line of defense rather than the first. I don’t know a lot about Rob, but I know that he seemed like a good man. I definitely didn’t see him as bad or evil. Also, it seems like at least some of the companies that produce and sell agricultural chemicals care about the environment and the health of people. The company formally known as “Western Farm Service” and others have morphed into a company now called “Nutrien Ag Solutions”. Nutrien claims on their website that they are “recognized as innovative leaders promoting and advancing sustainable farming practices.” While much of Rob’s work was in opposition to what I believe is optimal, he and I found some common ground and treated one another with respect and kindness.

When I learned such details about the hat I admit that part of me was a bit hesitant to wear it, but much like food I appreciate the gift. So I decided to wear the hat and did so regularly for several weeks. I don’t think most people gave it much thought. How often do people pay (or give) attention to such things anyway? I do, but I’m a bit of an oddball. I even wore it the day that I went with my partner and a friend to see one of my favorite authors, Charles Eisenstein, speak about his new book, Climate: A New Story. As I write this I haven’t read his new book yet, but one of my favorite essays by Charles and one of his most widely read is titled, The Election: Of Hate, Grief, and a New Story (written in late 2016). I feel like this blog post or essay parallels that one in some respects, but I digress.

The event took place at the Patagonia store in downtown Denver on a late October evening. I enjoyed it thoroughly in part because I got to spend time with and meet some new people doing interesting things. Among them were people representing a young nonprofit organization named “Mad Agriculture” (Mad Ag). Simply stated Mad Ag’s mission is, “to reimagine and restore our relationship with Earth with good agriculture.” Essentially their goal is to help farms go beyond “sustainable agriculture” and venture into the realm of “regenerative agriculture”. I wanted to support them by purchasing a hat from them, but I didn’t have enough cash to do so and they only accepted payment via cash or Venmo—an app I don’t use. In any case, I shared my story about the “Western Farm Service” hat I was wearing. Unexpectedly I was rewarded with the red “Mad Ag” hat in the picture. Looking at their website today it appears that there are still some of those hats in stock, but it is an older version and apparently less popular than other styles. The hat I received wasn’t the exact hat I was considering buying, but because it was a gift and actually quite stylish I graciously accepted the gift and I wear it gladly.

Some readers might be suspicious or cynical and think I am an idealistic fool. Maybe there is a great irreparable divide between people in agriculture. Maybe Rob wouldn’t have wanted me to have the hat if he new what my stance was when he gave away his old hats. Maybe the Mad Ag representative (I do not remember his name) gave me a hat because it was their least popular style and they’d rather see me wear their hat than one that promoted “the enemy”. I have considered these possibilities. Maybe I’m only seeing what I want to see. I am aware of my bias. However, it’s possible that I see things more clearly than many people who are unconsciously biased. I suspect that Rob sincerely enjoyed our brief conversation and that he didn’t regret giving away the hat despite our different perspectives. On the other hand, I suspect the “Mad Ag” representative would rather see someone wearing their hat than a hat representing agricultural practices that he views as unsustainable and harmful. I doubt that, and perhaps wanting to get rid of the least popular hat they had, were the only reasons why he gave me a hat they normally sell for $30.

I do not know if Rob or anyone from the companies he’s worked with and people with Mad Ag or their associates have ever met one another. If it hasn’t happened yet it is only a matter of time. The agricultural world is shifting. Conventional agriculture is too costly both in terms of money and in the health of people and our global environment. A new documentary film series titled Farmer’s Footprint touches on the various problems facing farmers and the rest of America today and explores solutions. The free twenty-minute video titled Regeneration: The Beginning mentions that the suicide rate among farmers is higher than any other occupation. Dr. Allen Williams left academia to consult about regenerative agriculture throughout the world. In another video clip cancer researcher Zach Bush, MD talks about links between cancer and glyphosate (the main ingredient of Roundup) and ecosystem health. This isn’t about blaming anyone, though. It is about working on solutions together for the benefit of humanity and planet Earth. Humans not only depend on Earth, we are part of it.

I realize there is still resistance and hostility in the world of agriculture. I would like to see companies like Nutrien and Bayer shift toward regenerative agriculture, but maybe they won’t. The metaphorical death of heavily chemical-dependent agriculture might be necessary in order for real life—both human and otherwise—to thrive. There may be nearly 8 billion people on Earth today, but who’s to say there could not be a sort of CCD for humans? The life span of honey bees is between five and eight weeks during the most active season or several months in the off-season (if conditions are right). The queen can live for up to several years, but that’s only if she is taken care of by the colony. Considering CCD affects creatures with relatively short life spans then logic suggests it could take much longer for the human race to collapse. There already are many signs of collapse including chronic disease and economic instability. If we don’t recognize the signs collectively as a forthcoming collapse it could be too late to do anything when it becomes blatantly obvious.

I do not intend to alarm people with talk of impending doom and survival. I intend to promote experiencing a high quality life with an abundance of joy and good health. I don’t feel like it starts with fixing the outside world. For me it starts with finding joy and health first and then spreading it outward. I will not hold onto feelings of anger and frustration. Instead I choose to make connections and instill hope. This is my strategy because I don’t want to wait to be healthy and happy. If I waited until all problems were solved I’d probably live a short, miserable life and miss out on the beautiful things life has to offer. However long I live, I intend to be as happy and healthy as I can and do whatever I can to help make the world a little healthier, happier, and more beautiful. Anyone who feels the same way is welcome to join me. Please share this story or your own. I’d love to hear about your ideas or projects you’re working on. Thank you!