I first met Temple Grandin more than 25 years ago, at a Livestock Conservation Institute meeting. She definitely stood out in the crowd: western-cut brown jeans topped with a brown-and-white plaid western shirt adorned with pearl snaps, cowboy boots, and the signature bandana-type scarf tied in a knot around her neck. Her unruly brown hair was shorter than shoulder-length and she walked with purpose, thinking about each step. Her eyes were intense and she seemed to look right through you.
I’m embarrassed to admit my initial reaction, which discounted her intellect based on physical appearance, unconventional dress and odd mannerisms, even though it was probably typical of many upon meeting Grandin. It wasn’t until several years later that I learned this remarkable woman is autistic, making her life story that much more incredible.
For the complete picture, one must go back to the beginning. Grandin was born August 29, 1947 to Richard Grandin and Eustacia Cutler. Having been labeled and diagnosed with brain damage (autism) at age two, she was placed in a structured nursery school with what she considers to have been good teachers. Grandin's mother spoke to a doctor who suggested speech therapy, and she hired a nanny who spent hours playing turn-based games with Grandin and her sister.
At age four, Grandin began talking and making developmental progress. However, in middle school and high school she was considered the "nerdy kid," the one whom everyone teased. She would be walking down the street and people would say "tape recorder," because she would repeat things over and over again. "I can laugh about it now, but back then it really hurt," says Grandin.
After graduating from Hampshire Country School, a boarding school for gifted children in Rindge, New Hampshire, Grandin went on to earn her bachelor's degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College, her master's degree in animal science from Arizona State University, and her doctoral degree in animal science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She became well known after being described by Oliver Sacks in the title narrative of his book An Anthropologist on Mars (1995). The title is derived from Grandin's description of how she feels around neuro-typical people. A follow-up article in The New Yorker further expanded her visibility.
Grandin is considered a philosophical leader of both the animal welfare and autism advocacy movements, both of which cite her work regarding animal welfare, neurology and philosophy. She knows all too well the anxiety of feeling threatened by everything in her surroundings, and of being dismissed and feared, which motivates her in her quest to promote humane livestock handling processes. Her business web site has entire sections on how to improve standards in slaughter plants and livestock farms.
In the early ‘70s – when Grandin began studying animal behavior – she got right down in the chutes to see what cattle were seeing. She put herself in a squeeze-chute to feel what cattle were feeling. She is also widely noted for her work in autism advocacy and is the inventor of the hug machine (think “squeeze chute”) designed to calm hypersensitive persons.
HBO’s biopic “Temple Grandin” swept the Emmys earlier this week, capturing some of the top awards including Best Picture, Best Actress for Clare Danes who portrayed Grandin, Best Supporting Actress for Julia Ormond who portrayed Grandin’s mother, Best Supporting Actor for David Strathairn who portrayed Grandin’s favorite teacher and Best Director for Mick Jackson.
Grandin has attended many livestock and animal health meetings over the years, and is often a featured presenter. She speaks in a loud, somewhat abrasive voice seemingly devoid of emotion, but impressions are often far from the truth. Her inability to connect emotionally with humans is transferred to a unique, innate ability to connect with animals.
“Temple Grandin has done remarkable things for our industry and for people with autism,” says J. Patrick Boyle, President of the American Meat Institute. “She has transformed the way we handle livestock and measure welfare. She has been a gift to so many people including those in our industry. And, of course, she has helped to enhance animal welfare dramatically.”
Temple Grandin is one of many influencers in animal agriculture. Our industry has been blessed with thought leaders who possessed foresight and vision throughout the years. I hope and believe young men and women of similar character are ready, willing and waiting to take their places. If the North American livestock industry is to survive and thrive in the challenging times ahead, they must.
Editor’s Note: This commentary is for informational purposes only. Some of the information was gathered from news releases and Wikipedia. The opinions and comments expressed herein represent the opinions of the author--they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Farms.com. This commentary is not intended to provide individual advice to anyone. Farms.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information, or for any damages or losses in any way related to this commentary.