Howard is perhaps most famously known for his contentious appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" where his comments about mad cow disease led to a lawsuit from an irate cattle rancher, who sought damages from both Howard and Oprah. Fortunately, Oprah and Howard emerged victorious in the lawsuit.
Throughout his life, Howard has been a tireless advocate for transforming the way America produces its food and how Americans perceive their relationship with food and the environment. After transforming his family's small farm into an intensive factory farm that heavily relied on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, Howard developed a tumor on his spine that left him paralyzed. Following successful surgery, Howard made a vow to dedicate his life to promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural policies and practices that would safeguard the planet's ecology, economy, and human health.
To achieve this goal, Howard has worked with the Montana Farmers Union and served as a lobbyist for the National Farmers Union. He spent five years on Capitol Hill advocating for America's family farmers and played a crucial role in the passage of the National Organic Standards Act. In 1982, Howard ran for Congress in Montana, narrowly losing to a six-term incumbent by less than 4%.
As the executive director of the International Beyond Beef Campaign, Howard organized over 2,400 teams consisting of more than 10,000 people, who distributed over 1,000,000 pieces of educational materials to inform consumers about their food choices. He has delivered his message to thousands of audiences, ranging from small gatherings to a massive crowd of over 25,000 people at the Earth Day celebration in Oakland, California.
Howard has also written a book, "Mad Cowboy," co-authored with Glen Merzer. His core message remains unchanged: for there to be a promising future for our children and grandchildren, consumers must support producers who work in harmony with nature – organically, sustainably, and humanely.
