As someone who spends a lot of time traveling for work, I find myself in the drive through lane at the “Golden Arches” on a fairly regular basis.

Though I’ve always been a chicken nugget fan, I found myself admiring McDonald’s from a different perspective this week.

The company recently released three new commercials highlighting some of the family farmers who produce their beef, lettuce and potatoes.

This was definitely not something I expected from the fast food giant.

Let’s face it, McDonald’s is a fast food restaurant that specializes in quick, affordable food that tastes good.

They aren’t in the “health food” business because though their customers want to feel healthy, they aren’t willing to pay Whole Foods prices for their double cheeseburgers.

So what motivation does McDonald’s have for these commercials?

At the end of the day McDonald’s is a business that would not produce these videos if they didn’t think they would be profitable somehow.

So many companies, celebrities and special interest groups have made the conventionally produced food that McDonald’s serves taboo.

My family farm is considered by many of these types of folks to be a “factory farm” because we give our cattle grain feed along with their grass and give sick animals antibiotics so that they won’t suffer.

If you’ve ever read my blog or looked at any of the photos I’ve posted of my farm, I’m sure you’ve noticed that it doesn’t look at all like the “factory farm” imagery these groups publicize.

In fact, I’ve had people email me and ask if we sell freezer beef because they want to experience, even if only virtually, the farm that produces their food.

I’m always proud to respond that while we don’t sell beef directly to consumers, the beef you pick up at your local grocery store or fast food restaurant could have come from our farm and likely came from a family farm very similar to ours.

Essentially, that’s the same message McDonald’s is portraying in these ads.

McDonald’s has found value in promoting the family farmers who raise the food they serve.

McDonald’s has decided that family farms like mine are not something to be embarrassed of but instead something to showcase.

I couldn’t agree more.

It will be interesting to see how these videos go over with the general public.

I sincerely hope that they will encourage consumers to get to know family farmers, even if only via the internet, and continue learning the truth about where their food comes from.

So kudos to cattle rancher Steve Foglesong, potato grower Frank Martinez and lettuce producer Dirk Giannini for taking the time to share your farm story with the world.

We need more family farmers to tell their stories, otherwise people who have never seen a farm will tell it for us.