How John Boehner Betrayed American Farmers
The Story of ‘Country of Origin Labeling’
Leave it Better
Nov 04, 2025
Farmers are pissed.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Beohner, orchestrated the repeal of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) – Cattle markets crashed, while Big Food laundered imported beef into Product of the USA.
Full video: How the Federal Government Betrayed American Farmers
Longtime libertarian farming leader Joel Salatin wrote this scathing rebuke of the current administration for its forty billion dollar bailout of Argentina, and its promise to import massive amounts of Argentine beef~ which will flood the market and decimate America’s cattle ranchers.
This recent farmer backlash has awakened a decades-old fight around Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). To combat the influx of foreign beef, representatives Harriet Hageman of Wyoming (R), and Ro Khanna of California (D) have re-introduced Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef.
The idea is simple, this imported beef will have to be labeled with “Country of Origin: Argentina” or “Country of Origin: Brazil” or “Country of Origin: U.S.A” directly on the package. And while that may seem like a minor detail, studies have shown we are far more likely to buy something if we know it is raised, slaughtered and packaged in America. This uptick in sales for US grown beef will work wonders for our farmers this holiday season and next year.
As usual, past is prologue. At the turn of this past year, President Trump received a five million dollar donation from JBS which paid the way for this recent betrayal of America First. But Trump is far from alone~ our politicians have a long track record of selling out our farmers. More on that later.
Mike Callicrate is a true American hero. He’s devoted his life to strengthening rural America, and has incredible guts. As a cattleman, he sued the big meatpackers in the 1990s for market manipulation. Shortly thereafter, he got blackballed by the aforementioned cartel- and nearly lost everything. He’s since recovered and runs a thriving local meat business based in St. Francis, Kansas- Ranch Foods Direct. Mike stands up for what he believes in, puts his money where his mouth is, and doesn’t mince words. When he sees corruption, he calls it out. And he not only talks about it, he tries to stop it.
A few years back, had the pleasure to visit Mike and film with him for our upcoming documentary who will feed us? (note: the film will premiere right here on Substack on December 30th). Vividly remember when he first shared the story of COOL’s unraveling. Sitting there on a five gallon bucket, seething with anger. How could someone whose job it is to represent Americans, so blatantly betray them?
In retrospect, the answer is simple. He did it for the 400K annual payoff from JBS.
Today~ years later, hearing of a similar betrayal by our current president, the anger is fresh again. How did we get to this point? How can we be represented by people who are so easily bought and paid for? Who put only blatant self-interest first?
The sad answer is our leaders are a reflection of who we are, individually~ and collectively. We have become a blatantly selfish and money-focused culture. How many of us knowingly go to a Costco to buy products a few dollars cheaper even though we know it puts our local grocer out of business? How many of us buy a trinket at Amazon because it’s a few cents cheaper, instead of seeking out a local shop or artisan? We have the economy we have pay for each day.
Let’s take inspiration from our founders. When Bostonians ransacked the boats during the Boston Tea Party, it was because a monopoly- the British East India Company (BEIC)- had been contracted by the English government to be the sole provider of tea to America. This was actually going to provide colonists with much cheaper tea. But because we were savvy, we knew that initial cheaper prices in exchange for a monopoly overlord was a terrible idea. And we’d rather pay more for non-BEIC imported tea. Liberty above all.
About a hundred and fifty years later, when monopolists and a lax populous once again threatened our liberty, people chose to break up the offending companies, and make the market free from predatory pricing. Louis Brandeis wrote this in 1913:
Americans should be under no illusions as to the value or effect of price-cutting. It has been the most potent weapon of monopoly- a means of killing the small rival to which the great trusts have resorted most frequently. It is so simple, so effective. Far seeing organized capital secures by this means the cooperation of the short-sighted unorganized consumer to his own undoing. Thoughtless or weak, he yields to the temptation of trifling immediate gain, and, selling his birthright for a mess of pottage becomes himself an instrument of monopoly.
How vital it is that our nation once again wakes up. Getting the best short term deal is quite literally destroying our nation’s agriculture. Flooding the beef market with cheap Argentine beef will put American ranchers out of business. Eventually, if we continue down this path- we will lose the ability to feed ourselves. We get the agriculture we eat each day.
So let’s change our behaviors:
- Let’s stop eating fast food.
- Let’s stop shopping at Wal-Mart.
- Let’s buy our food directly from farmers.
- Let’s pass MCOOL legislation.
- Let’s only buy beef from American ranchers.
In conclusion, it is deeply inspiring to know there are millions of us. People who make the extra effort. Who shop at the farmers market. Who raise chickens in the backyard. Who read labels. Who invite friends over for a home cooked meal. Who farm. Who support independent small business owners…
Speaking of which, I put my blood and sweat into creating a short film every week. If you find this work valuable, pay for it. If it’s too expensive, cancel your subscription to monopolists Netflix, Apple, Disney and/or Amazon, and put that money towards a subscription here. You’ll be grateful you did.
Anyhoos, back to the main point- there are millions of us who care, and who are taking action to create a healthier American agriculture, and in turn a healthier America. For us, this is not a fad. It is our life’s work. Godspeed.
best thoughts,
graham