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Aaron Bratys
ENG 101.07
Rhetorical Essay Rough Draft
11/7/2010
Locally Grown Prosperity
“State on Your Plate” is an article written by Jan Collins that addresses the topic of
locally grown items in South Carolina and the benefits it has for the state. Published in the
Business and Economic Review, Collins’ article is aimed towards people with business, as well
as agricultural, backgrounds. Collins discusses three different stories, each of which supports her
thesis, which is that locally grown livestock and crops have environmental, social, and economic
benefits. Some critics may argue that Collins lack of proof deems her argument feeble, but after
reading this article, Collins was indeed successful with her argument and this can be seen in her
ethos, which is strengthened by her logos; pathos, which pulls at the heartstrings of the reader;
and her kind tone, which makes the reader feel like they are having a conversation with the
woman, Jan, rather than Jan Collins, the reporter.
Jan Collins is a well-established writer. She has been featured in such magazines as
Newsweek and the Economist and written for the likes of the New York Times and Washington
Post. And earning her B.S. from Georgetown in Foreign Service, a Masters from the University
of Michigan and current member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Collins has
already developed a strong ethos (Collins par. 5-7).
The first few paragraphs are about the creation of the phrase “State on Your Plate.” The
phrase was created by Emile DeFelice, a hog farmer running for the S.C. Department of
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Agriculture Commissioner. Even though DeFelice lost the election, the idea of transitioning
South Carolina’s agriculture to all home-grown products stuck. The end of the section then
discusses the domesticating of S.C.’s agriculture into locally grown crops and livestock. The
next segment is about Emile DeFelice and his hog farming. DeFelice has 350 hogs that are able
“to roam” about his 200 acre farm (Collins 4). They are not given any growth hormones and are
gassed when it is that time, which is more humane and causes less stress for the animal.
DeFelice also discusses why local-grown food is essential in a society. DeFelice believes that
people need to have a choice in what is on their place. The final story talks about a dairy farmer
named Tom Trantham. Trantham used to be a “conventional” dairy farmer until one day, his
cows got out and grazed on grass that was not yet sprayed with chemicals. After seeing the
results, He converted to the “natural” method of farming and has not looked back. Trantham’s
cows produce more milk than “conventional” cows and his business is on the incline. These
stories all support Collins’ thesis that transitioning S.C.’s agriculture to all locally-grown can do
nothing but benefit the state.
Collins’ first use of logos sets her off on the right foot. She uses a government institution
to pull from for her first facts. Hugh Weather of the S.C. Department of Agriculture says, “Our
research shows that nearly 80 percent of South Carolinians will pick a South Carolina product if
you show it to them on a grocery aisle” (Collins 3). Collins uses the United States government
as a source. Although many people have distrust in the government, it is hard to deny that a lot
of money has been spent on this project. Collins’ next example of logos is Trantham’s cows
compared to “industrialized” cows. Collins reports that “Trantham’s happy cows produce, on
average, 21,000 pounds of milk per 305-day lactation cycle; the average for conventional dairy
farming is just 16,000 pounds” (4). Trantham’s cows are proven to produce more milk than
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conventional cows, and Collins lets this fact be known. Her use of logos improves her already
strong character. Collins presents a logical argument that local farming, in addition to being
more resourceful, is environmentally friendly and economically pleasing.
Collins uses her modest writing style to insert her pathos into the paper. With her pathos,
Collins uses emotionally fueled words to aim for the hearts of the reader. After an interview
with DeFelice, the hog farmer that created the term “State on Your Plate,” Collins chooses his
most powerful sentence to include in the article: DeFelice mentions, “Every creative capital in
the world – Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Washington, D.C., Atlanta,
New York City, London, Paris – has a rocking local food system” (Collins 3). Collins uses
DeFelice’s line to create a bandwagon-like atmosphere with the reader. This is good pathos
because it pushes the reader to think about where they live. To think about how they could better
their own community to become like Paris or London. Collins puts feelings of prosperity and
uniting together for a common cause; emotions that are very hard to suppress. She then thrusts
the thought, if some of the world’s most popular, as well as prosperous, cities have a great local
market, why doesn’t my city follow this model? Collins is tugging at every citizen’s civic duty
to their community. As citizens of different societies and communities, we feel like we need to
contribute to society. Collins taps into this feeling and exposes it. Since we all want to be a
better community, perhaps one that others can look up to, and then maybe local farmers markets
is the way. Many citizens, but not all, want the status of cities like D.C. or New York City.
Collins’ next use of pathos aims straight for the throat. She gets very personal and uses
emotionally charged words to make the reader want to be where she is describing. Collins
mentions that an average day at Trantham’s Happy Cow Milk farm consists of:
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grass-fed beef, pastured pork, Amish jams and preserves and butters, pure
Vermont maple syrup, Wisconsin cheeses, South Carolina tea, local stone-ground
grits and corn meal, local potatoes just out of the ground, apples plucked from
area trees, free-range eggs and chicken, and, of course, Happy Cow Milk. (7)
Collins uses words such as “just out of the ground,” “grass-fed” and “local stone-ground” to
churn up emotions of being at grandma’s house or enjoying a nice afternoon with home-style
cooking. You would be hard-pressed to fine someone that would deny their mother or
grandmother’s fresh baked yams or sweet apple pie. Adults like to feel like children again and
Collins gives the idea that it is very possible to feel young again; that this feeling can be achieved
through farmers markets and locally grown foods. In addition, Collins uses her soft and gentle
tone to make the reader feel as though they are sitting with Jan Collins, the human being, rather
than Mrs. Collins, free-lance writer and reporter. Her first introduction paragraph sets a
welcoming scene of a small farmers market. Collins describes the scene as a place to “see
familiar faces of vendors and customers” which “make you feel you belong to a community” (3).
Every community dreams of being united, with great social ties and a sense of worth. Feeling
like a sense belonging is one of human’s most basic instincts. Collins taps into this instinct with
her use of pathos Collins uses her tone, along with some pathos, to appeal to every community’s
goals. Later in the article, Collins describes the high quality food that is sold in farmers markets.
She mentions DeFelice’s pork that is very appetizing, as well as healthy. And Collins does not
forget to mention Trantham’s Happy Cow Milk, describing it as an “honest, quality product at a
fair price” (7). She can reach out to high-class businessmen that enjoy the taste of the finest pork
in the world, or interest a blue-collar farmer that is looking to find some quality milk at a great
price. Collins’ use of pathos seems almost approachable and warming. She reaffirms her thesis
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that farmers markets will socially improve South Carolina by bringing the citizens of a
community together.
Critics may argue against Collins’ article, saying it does not have enough logos. They
may argue that she does not have enough proven facts, and that her lack of facts are not made up
in her two examples mentioned in the article. Collins could strengthen her argument with more
logos. She uses the United States government as one source. This is a good source because a lot
of money was put into this research, but many people are skeptical of the government. Collins
could find more examples about how locally-grown foods are environmentally, socially, and
economically improving the state of South Carolina. Maybe find example from other countries
or small communities that bonded together and were successful. When people see examples of
others’ success, it is easier to imagine that goal being accomplished. They already have the
ground work; all they have to do is follow it. Another point she could mention is transportation.
She could talk about how much pollution it causes or where all of the foods are usually shipped
in from. This would improve her logos, while also affecting people’s pathos because many do
not like to see the environment harmed.
Collins is successful in her argument that locally-grown foods and farmers markets are
improving South Carolina environmentally, socially, and economically. Through her use of
logos, Collins strengthened her ethos. Her use of credible sources made it hard to deny any of
her fact. Her pathos used very emotional words to convey her message that S.C. will benefit
socially and economically. Collins’ tone set up a very easy read that most people would be able
to understand. She created a “homie” atmosphere that would make most clear their calendars so
they could go to the farmers market. In conclusion, all of these rhetorical devices helped Collins
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to achieve her thesis, and maybe even converted a few more people to “Put Their State on Their
Plate.”