Jackson Long is a passionate outdoor adventurer and world traveler. He is also co-host of the podcast Thought For Food, which aims to help people adopt a healthy and adventurous plant-based lifestyle. This summer, Jackson will embark on a cycling adventure across Europe to raise awareness about the benefits of a vegan diet for athletics while raising money for Mercy For Animals. Jackson has raced bikes at the elite level for the past 10 years, competing in countries including Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Belgium.
To follow Jackson’s adventure, subscribe to his podcast and YouTube channel.
To raise money on behalf of MFA like Jackson, click here.
Q – What part of MFA’s work is closest to your heart?
A – Educating the masses about the realities of factory farming and the use of animals for various industries. I’m a firm believer in using education to persuade behavior change, as that is how I came to adopt a plant-based lifestyle and grow more aware and passionate about these issues. I think MFA does an incredible job at sharing information to a wide audience and leveraging social media to spread information to catalyze positive change. Saving animals requires many forms of activism, and I’m very excited about the way MFA approaches education.
Q – What inspired you to support MFA in this way?
A – In general, I tend to focus on the nutrition and health aspect of eating a vegan diet. With my background in science and athletics, it’s what I’m most comfortable talking about to inspire others. I wanted to support an organization that directly fights for animal rights and welfare by raising awareness of the fact that you can have the best of both worlds: be a strong, healthy athlete while at the same time living in a way that aligns your morals and values with action.
Q – What changes for farmed animals do you most want to see?
A – I want animals, from pigs to chickens to fish, to be viewed as individuals, with individual character traits and behaviors and desires. We live in such a disconnected world, and I deeply desire a society more educated on the ethology of farmed animals and beyond so that we can gain a higher level of compassion and respect for all beings. Combining this with an awareness of how unnecessary it is to eat animals, I believe this could make an enormous difference in the world of farmed animals.
Q – Which of MFA’s successes do you feel happiest about?
A – MFA’s undercover investigations into Perdue found illegal activity and absolutely horrifying practices and treatment of animals. Widespread outrage stimulated Perdue to significantly improve the welfare standards at their facilities. This seismic shift is becoming more and more common, and while not a perfect end to factory farming, it’s a step in the right direction for reducing suffering for millions of animals. I think this is a clear sign of what’s to come—changes in society’s awareness about the realities of factory farming and realizing that there is an alternative to this madness.
Q – What part of your biking adventure are you most looking forward to?
A – I’m incredibly excited to push my body to its limits up some of the most historical, most epic, and biggest mountains in Europe while sharing how I’m fueling as a plant-based athlete. I’m probably most excited to ride one of the toughest stages of this year’s Tour de France the day before the pros race—from Nantua to Chambery. At 111 miles with over 15,000 feet of elevation gain, it’s going to be an absolutely EPIC day that will certainly test our strength as athletes. But overall, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to travel and adventure in such a beautiful part of the world, share my experiences through video and social media, and raise awareness for vegan athletics by expressing how easy it is to fuel yourself without contributing to animal suffering.
To support Jackson’s fundraising efforts on behalf of MFA, please click here.