Not too long ago, there was a man named Paul Harvey. He hosted a popular talk show that entertained millions of Americans. People of my generation will not know him, but I would be willing to bet that you've heard his voice.

Around Super Bowl time, Dodge always airs a commercial featuring one of his most famous works, "So God Made a Farmer". If you've ever heard it, it probably inspired you; driving a deeply embedded spirit within you to tend the Earth. It takes more than spirit to be one of God's caretakers, and that is why I am fed up with people questioning my choice to ranch and treat animals for a living. I'm sick and tired of people sneering at me because of my choice to major in agriculture and spend more time outside on a horse than in a city. There's something about a farmer, and you need to understand it.

There's something about a rancher. We rise before the sun comes up every morning, returning to our beds long after it has set. We layer clothes often, finishing with wild rags and hats to hold off the wind and biting cold that will set in on your bones faster than greased lightening. We own a million pairs of boots, each one possessing a hole here and a rip there.There's a million pairs of jeans and shirts in our closets, each one identical to the last. We own coveralls, overalls and muck boots. Our most prized possessions sit out in a pasture or in a barn and rise and rest when we do. We've spend more time talking to our horses than we do talking to people. We feed and care for our animals before we ever think about ourselves. We spend more money on what goes in and on their bodies than us. We've accidentally injected ourselves with medication. We've sliced fingers, toes, arms and legs. There's just something about a rancher.

We've watched life be brought into the world and had the unfortunate responsibility of taking it. We've held newborn calves and cried, praying to God that they'd hang on. We've watched mothers reject babies, and with a small sigh, collect the young and bring them inside. We've lost calves, colts and cows due to weather, animals and sickness. We've fought to save our lands and fought even harder to save our animals. We've plowed fields, processed corn, and cleaned cow crap off of our faces. There's just something about a rancher.

Yet, for my life choices, I have been crucified. I have been called "simple-minded" just because of my accent. I've been stared at for my spurs clanking on a floor in a restaurant. I've been ridiculed for wearing my hat out to lunch. I've been called an "ignorant redneck" for doing what I love. I've had God-fearing Christians tell me I'm going to hell for not being in church every single Sunday because I've been at the operation, feeding and sorting cattle.

I'll tell y'all what though, I've heard the voice of God more in the field than I ever had in the fellowship hall. I've had my breath taken away by more sunrises and sunsets than I ever have by beautiful people or clothes. I've talked to God more on the back of a horse than I ever have in a church.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my Church and I do everything I can to be there every Sunday, but sometimes duty calls. Hungry cattle have to be fed and colts have to be taken care of. Fences must be fixed and water lines replaced. While everyone else stops work on a Friday, we smile softly, shake our heads and keep on working. We will put in more hours by Wednesday than the majority of people will have at the end of the week. We are the salt of this Earth. We are the workers. We are the ones intended to feed the world, so don't come crying to me about the way we do things.

Don't yell at me for having feeder cattle when there are people in this world starving from the lack of food. Don't comment on my pictures and tell me that GMO's are terrible, because honey, the first true GMO was created to stave off blindness in Asian children because of the lack of iodine in rice. We are working tirelessly to answer the calls of the world. We are trying to feed people, save lives. We are trying to make our products safer and more affordable and you're crying because it is not organic. If it's that big of a deal to you, fine, buy your organic soy milk and eat that tofu turkey, but leave my way of life alone.

We are the salt of this Earth and we are fighting for you.