Laura Jean Schneider
Laura Jean Schneider has a BA in English Language and Literature from Smith College, and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a former cattle rancher who received a grant to produce a printed booklet titled Maverick, containing short essays that follow her journey from rancher to vegan. Maverick was intended to speak to the ranching community specifically. The title “Maverick”, meaning an unbranded animal, alludes to a breaking free from ownership, and ultimately, consumption. Laura Jean writes:
As someone who previously raised and partook in the slaughter of domestic livestock and in the consumption of the resulting corpses, I know firsthand the tension between nurturing and taking the same life. Sharing Maverick with my community will create space for new dialogue surrounding animal welfare.
Maverick was published by Andante Books in 2020.
