Howard Lyman
Encyclopedia
Howard F. Lyman - American farmer and animal welfare
activist who is known for his actions promoting vegetarian (and vegan) nutrition and organic farming
.
He was raised as a fourth generation rancher on a farm that produced dairy and meat commodities. He attended Montana State University
and was graduated with a B.S. degree in general agriculture in 1961. Upon graduation, he spent two years in the United States Army before returning to work on the farm.
From 1963 to 1983 he was actively engaged in animal and grain production. The areas in which he was involved were dairy, pork, registered Hereford, chicken, range cattle, feedlot beef production, veal, grain, silage, and hay production.
In 1979 Lyman was diagnosed with a tumor
in his spine. Faced with the prospect of paralysis
, he vowed to return to non-chemical means of farming if he beat the cancer
. He survived an operation to remove the tumor and set out to transform his land into an organic farm.
This attempt to fly in the face of the chemical-based farming establishment led him to take a try at political office, but he lost his first contest. He became a lobbyist
instead and moved to Washington, D.C.
Circa 1990, again facing health concerns, he became a vegetarian and found his health improving. In 1989, Lyman began to investigate Mad Cow disease, which was just becoming an issue in Great Britain
.
It was not until April 1996 that Lyman became well known. In an appearance on Oprah Winfrey
's talk show
, Lyman made remarks which in turn led to Oprah renouncing hamburger
s. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association
sued Lyman and Winfrey. Both were found not guilty of any wrongdoing early in 1998.
Lyman eventually became a vegan. He has co-authored the book Mad Cowboy (1998) and co-authored No More Bull (2005) and became president of "EarthSave". Leaving that post, he became president of "Voice for a Viable Future".
Lyman also features in Franny Armstrong
's 2005 documentary "McLibel" and in Marianne Thieme
's 2007 documentary "Meat The Truth".
He has a free electronic newsletter (details at his website) and has produced four DVDs ("A Mad Cowboy Lecture," "Earth Talk: 2001", "Mad Cowboy: The Documentary", and "A Mad Cowboy Lecture: 2007").
Ethical vegetarian and fourth generation cattle rancher turned vegan for his leadership in the animal welfare movement, he was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn, MA on April 12, 1997.
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
activist who is known for his actions promoting vegetarian (and vegan) nutrition and organic farming
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
.
He was raised as a fourth generation rancher on a farm that produced dairy and meat commodities. He attended Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
and was graduated with a B.S. degree in general agriculture in 1961. Upon graduation, he spent two years in the United States Army before returning to work on the farm.
From 1963 to 1983 he was actively engaged in animal and grain production. The areas in which he was involved were dairy, pork, registered Hereford, chicken, range cattle, feedlot beef production, veal, grain, silage, and hay production.
In 1979 Lyman was diagnosed with a tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
in his spine. Faced with the prospect of paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
, he vowed to return to non-chemical means of farming if he beat the cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He survived an operation to remove the tumor and set out to transform his land into an organic farm.
This attempt to fly in the face of the chemical-based farming establishment led him to take a try at political office, but he lost his first contest. He became a lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
instead and moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Circa 1990, again facing health concerns, he became a vegetarian and found his health improving. In 1989, Lyman began to investigate Mad Cow disease, which was just becoming an issue in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
It was not until April 1996 that Lyman became well known. In an appearance on Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
's talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, Lyman made remarks which in turn led to Oprah renouncing hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
s. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Cattlemen's Beef Association or NCBA, an advocacy group for beef producers in the United States, reports that it works "to increase profit opportunities for cattle and beef producers by enhancing the business climate and building consumer demand."The NCBA operates the Cattle Industry...
sued Lyman and Winfrey. Both were found not guilty of any wrongdoing early in 1998.
Lyman eventually became a vegan. He has co-authored the book Mad Cowboy (1998) and co-authored No More Bull (2005) and became president of "EarthSave". Leaving that post, he became president of "Voice for a Viable Future".
Lyman also features in Franny Armstrong
Franny Armstrong
Franny Armstrong is a British documentary film director working for her own company, Spanner Films, and a former drummer with indie pop group The Band of Holy Joy...
's 2005 documentary "McLibel" and in Marianne Thieme
Marianne Thieme
Marianne Louise Thieme is a Dutch politician of the Party for the Animals . She has been Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives since November 23, 2006 and an MP since November 30, 2006....
's 2007 documentary "Meat The Truth".
He has a free electronic newsletter (details at his website) and has produced four DVDs ("A Mad Cowboy Lecture," "Earth Talk: 2001", "Mad Cowboy: The Documentary", and "A Mad Cowboy Lecture: 2007").
Ethical vegetarian and fourth generation cattle rancher turned vegan for his leadership in the animal welfare movement, he was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn, MA on April 12, 1997.
Honors and awards
- 1996 - Elected President of the International Vegetarian UnionInternational Vegetarian UnionThe International Vegetarian Union is an international non profit organization whose purpose is to promote vegetarianism. IVU was founded in 1908 in Dresden, Germany....
(served through 1999) - 1997 - Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn, MA on April 12, 1997
- 2002 - Vegetarian Hall of Fame, August 3, 2002, at the North American Vegetarian Society's annual Vegetarian Summerfest in Johnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
- "In Recognition Of Your Untiring Dedication To The Advancement Of Vegetarianism To Create A Saner, More Compassionate World."
External links
- http://www.madcowboy.com
- Interview with Howard F. Lyman