Ever wonder what it’s like to travel cross-country advocating for farmed animals? We caught up with Nick Wallerstedt, who’s currently on the road with our national campaign coordinator, Phil Letten, on MFA’s Walmart Cruelty Tour.
Nick’s decision to go vegan came after learning of the plight farmed animals face in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. His veganism soon propelled him into grassroots activism, eventually leading him to advocate for farmed animals full-time. When Nick’s not on the road, he enjoys a career as a vegan tattoo artist in Boise, Idaho.
What first inspired you to become a vegan?
I became vegan because I love animals and I hate to see them suffer. When I saw undercover footage from a factory farm and learned about the terrible abuse that animals endure to produce the food I was eating, I was sickened and vowed to never eat animal products again.
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Why did you choose to intern with MFA?
After becoming vegan I felt that I had done my part to eliminate the animal suffering caused by my lifestyle, but I felt compelled to do more. I wanted to get involved with the most effective animal advocacy organization around so I applied for an internship with MFA.
Can you tell us about what you do as a national campaign intern?
As a national campaign intern, I travel with Phil Letten, the national campaign coordinator, across the country to advocate for the protection of farmed animals. We travel to five cities every week and set up eye-catching demonstrations to raise awareness about how animals are treated on factory farms, to promote a compassionate vegan diet, and to spread our message through media coverage. So far, the tour has taken me to 59 American cities, including quaint towns like Beaumont, TX, and Columbia, SC, and major metropolises like New York City and Los Angeles. It’s my job to help plan events, set up demonstrations, coordinate volunteers, manage social media, and assist in any other way that comes up while we’re on the road.
What do you like most about interning with MFA?
Touring for MFA has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. Not only have I had the opportunity to travel across the entire country, but I’ve been able to do it while also doing what I care the most about.
What do you hope to gain from your experiences interning with MFA?
Before my first internship with MFA I was very inexperienced in animal advocacy and had almost no idea how to go about helping animals. Through my internships I have become exponentially more effective as an activist and my desire to dedicate time to helping farmed animals has been strongly reinforced.
What is the key to your success as an activist?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, upset, and angry about the horrific way that animals are treated on factory farms, but by acting on these emotions we often end up doing more harm than good. I do my best to make sure that no matter how I feel on the inside, I act in ways that make helping animals look easy, fun, and rewarding.
Inspired? Click here to learn about MFA’s internship program and apply today for an exciting internship in one of our campaigns offices.
