Pardeeville corn and beef farmer Cal Dalton said he believes the empty plates distributed to state legislators Feb. 24 were a fitting symbol to represent the lobbying efforts of the Humane Society of the United States.

Dalton was one of 10 Wisconsin farmers who participated in the empty plate campaign in the Capitol. Members of the Wisconsin Pork Association, Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau visited every state legislative office to drop off an empty plate with a sticker that said: "An empty plate. That's what the Humane Society agenda promises. HSUS deceptively uses this name to fund a PETA-inspired anti-meat campaign. Don't be fooled. HSUS isn't your local animal shelter. HSUS cares about fundraising. Wisconsin farmers care about animals. Get the facts at www.humanewatch.org."

Dalton said the farm group leaders weren't sure when HSUS lobbyists were going to make their first lobbying appearance at the Capitol to work against animal agriculture, but the groups wanted to get their message to legislators too. "We have to be advocates for agriculture," Dalton said. "There are so many people who don't live on farms as compared to 20 or 30 years ago. We wanted to give this message to the legislators and invite them to our farms to show them how we care for our land and livestock."