Season 2 Episode 34
What happens when 400 vegan activists storm your chicken houses? How do you rally an entire county to defeat a ballot measure designed to eliminate family farming? And what drives someone to keep producing food when faced with one existential threat after another?
Mike Weber, fourth-generation California egg farmer, doesn't just survive challenges—he transforms them into opportunities for community building and innovation. From the moment his family decided to "bet the farm" and modernize their century-old operation, they've faced a gauntlet of trials that would have broken most businesses: activist invasions, politically-motivated ballot initiatives, and devastating avian influenza outbreaks.
"We've been tested by fire and flame and everything there possibly is in the last few years—and it's kind of made us stronger for it," Weber explains. His story reveals the remarkable resilience at the heart of American agriculture and the complex reality of farming just 35 miles from San Francisco. When vegan activists orchestrated what Weber calls a "vegan insurrection" on their property, the farm responded not with anger but with transparency. When a ballot initiative threatened all animal agriculture in their county, the Webers helped unite an entire community around their agricultural heritage, eventually winning by an astonishing 85% to 15% margin.
Most powerfully, Weber's account challenges simplistic narratives about modern farming. His operation pioneers environmental sustainability with 2,500 solar panels, innovative manure processing systems, and organic fertilizer production. When neighboring farms faced avian influenza outbreaks, Weber and his team suited up in protective gear to help contain the spread—putting community welfare above competitive advantage.
"Someone's got to feed America," Weber says when asked why he persists despite these extraordinary challenges. His philosophy of stewardship speaks to a deeper purpose: "This isn't our farm. We're just taking care of it until our dad comes back...and we want him to be really proud about where we're at."
Ready to understand what really happens behind the scenes in American agriculture? Listen now to this eye-opening conversation that will forever change how you think about the people who produce your food.
Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
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