written by: trev, veganunderground.com

 

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing vegan former cattle rancher Howard Lyman this past weekend at the Vancouver Taste of Health conference.   I had seen his talks on youtube before, but there is something very captivating about seeing the guy speak in person. 

It’s a rare opportunity in the vegan community to have someone from the other side, the agribusiness side, take up the cause.  It is even more rare for it to be taken up with the kind of verve that Lyman has.  Maybe it’s because his former life almost killed him, but he has more genuine passion than most of the vegans I have met.  He fearlessly points out all of the problems with the agriculture and food industries, although not in a finger-pointing kind of way.  He has firsthand knowledge to impart and he cares about the future for farmers, animals and even other humans.  More than just preaching the end being nigh, he gives hope for the solution being realized before it’s too late.

 

What is, perhaps, most appealing about Howard Lyman’s approach is his humility.  He is unabashedly human, unapologetically flawed.  His vulnerability is mine, yours and everyone’s.  He’s just a guy.  His celebrity would seem to have come about accidentally if one believes in accidents.  As he paced back and forth on the stage in his black suit, punctuating his deliberately paced phrases with sweeping arm movements, I thought him a vegan Johnny Cash.  Preacher, prophet, outlaw.  Lyman has that kind of charisma.  I have met a lot of celebrities, musicians, actors, athletes, but Howard Lyman has a presence that would overpower and envelope them all.  He’s the booming voice that the vegan community needs, especially in times as dark as these.  He is the wild-west hero in the black hat, riding the plains, speaking the truth.  He is the mad cowboy.