VIDEO: Teenager fights back after school looks to reduce meat consumption

When Elsie-May Dancys school suggested the class eat less meat to help the environment, the youngster decided to do her own research.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJGtAPpfEEM

For most 13-year-olds, creating a viral video to champion British farming would not be on their list of things to do in their spare time, but for Elsie-May Dancy that is exactly what she has done.

Elsie-May, from Barbon, a small village in Cumbria, is a pupil at Sedbergh School and upon hearing that her teacher had asked her class to reduce the amount of meat that they eat, she wanted to do her own research on whether giving up meat is really beneficial to the environment.

Elsie-May says: I really cannot stop eating meat. I love it, I cannot go without it. I thought I should look into it more and ask the question, why should we stop?

Her idea was to create a video about the subject and after a few days of research, she wrote her script, filmed and edited it and recorded a voiceover, all of which was done solely by Elsie-May.

She chose a well-known British meal shepherds pie and syrup sponge - and set about showcasing where the ingredients used are sourced from and how local they are. She then dissects the sustainable aspects of a vegan meal alternative of Tofu nuggets with an almond crust and avocado dip.

Air miles were key, such as soya shipped from South America and the increased amount of water used in growing avocados.

In the video, Elsie-May also interviews farmers from her village, including Richard Pedley, a beef and poultry farmer.

Elsie-May is not from an agricultural background but, has always loved the countryside and has a keen passion for it. She also helps Richard during her favourite time - lambing time.

Walking around his farm, it is clear she has a fondness for this place and the rural way of life, feeding the animals and checking the lambs en route.

Once the video was finished, she sent it to her teacher. My teacher was happy that I had gone and done my own research but did not say much more than that about the issue, she says.

I found it really interesting and learned a lot about the topic, especially how eating locally sourced meat is better than giving up meat, compared to eating something like Tofu. There are far fewer air miles and, it tastes a lot fresher.

Lee Dancy, Elsie-Mays mum is, of course, really proud of her.

She says: I was quite shocked actually when it was suggested she should be eating less meat because it would help the environment. We always try and buy locally where possible.

I think Elsie-May tackled the whole question of whether she should be eating meat or not really well. She was very practical in her approach. I think it is very important for children to do their own research and question suggestions and opinions that might be put to them.

Viral Farming Video

Within hours the video got 5,000 views and, as it stands, it has now had more than 37,000 views and more than a thousand shares.

When Philip Halhead, a wellknown dairy farmer and advocate for British farming from Lancaster, came across it, he shared it on his social media platforms and encouraged people to watch the video with its concise message about food production.

Philip says: It is a very well put together video that clearly and simply promotes the message that we as farmers are trying to put across to the public - that buying locally produced food is better for the environment.

People really engaged with the video and it is our responsibility, as farmers, to educate our consumers and the wider general public about where our food comes from.

When launching her video, Elsie-May remembers sitting in her lounge with her mum watching the number of views go up and reading the comments.

Impact

I have always loved making videos and researching topics that interest me. I never would have thought the video would have reached so many people in so many different countries, she says.

My key message from my video is that if you are choosing not to eat meat to help the environment, then you are actually not, you may as well just eat locally.

She is certainly a determined soul and ends the video by concluding that no matter what you choose to eat, choose wisely, meat or not. Eating locally, Elsie-May feels, is the answer, be it vegan alternatives or animal produce.

With the industry under constant pressure it is a collective effort to push farmings story, and to inspire the next generation, especially those from non-farming backgrounds is quite something, says Philip.

Philip adds: For a non-farming person to put across this message so effectively is really great. She is a fantastic advocate for British agriculture.

Elsie-Mays long-term dream is to become an actress or television presenter, but for now she plans to create more videos around agriculture.

She is particularly interested in milk and how much fat is really in full-fat milk, as well as the price of food and how subsidies ending mean that food prices for consumers will go up.

Her aim is to educate the general public on farming related matters and continue to champion British food. And if this is anything to go by, then watch this space.