ALERT: Wisconsin Family Food Ministries Raided for Raw Milk– Defying Orders

ARMi/4-F FUNDRAISER IS  NOW READY FOR YOU TO DONATE SOMETHING!

FACEBOOKERS ONLY–The Hershberger Family Farm Food Freedom (4-F) Fund

The Grazin’ Acres Incident 

Government raids like the one at Grazin’Acres seem to have one big factor in common. Not only are these farmers big on independence and healthy farm and food production, they usually have a belief it is their calling and mission to do so. The issue is becoming more obvious that these targeted raids are against those who are exercising  their religious beliefs. We look forward to see how the accusations of religious discrimination and even persecution will play out in the new public marketplace of ideas in regards to farm food raids and legal actions. At least that is my thought.–Augie

THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING . . .

Another family dairy farm and their  private store for their food ministry has been raided in Wisconsin by state/county health and agriculture agencies.

The State and its agents may have bitten the wrong farmer, Vernon Hershberger at Grazin’ Acres Farm in Loganville WI. He is defying the orders to cease his dairy operations; he understands he does not need permission from the government to farm and share his produce with friends and family. The Hershbergers have nine children. He understands what the right to private property is and he has the right to contract with an individual without needing a permit to do so.

The DATCP brought in the armed deputies for 6 hours to lock it up and take evidence. That does not stop Vernon.

“This is how I make a living,” Vernon Hershberger, a Loganville dairy farmer, said Thursday morning. “We are going to go right ahead and do business.”

Hershberger said roughly 100 families, including some Madison customers, purchase raw milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and ice cream from a store on his farm that is open for business Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

HERE IS THE THEME SONG AS YOU READ:

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UPDATE (Friday, June 4)

The Grazin’ Acres Incident

I spoke with Vernon Hershberger tonight and was amazed at how calm he was explaining what happened during the raid.  They came for him because he refused to answer a lengthy state survey about his dairy. When they came to inspect, he REFUSED three times, stating they had no jurisdiction over him because he was not licensed. They called the sheriff and within 90 minutes armed deputies arrived with a warrant. There were about ten on the team. He refused to answer their questions, saying the warrant does not list the requirement to answer questions. (The answers can and will be used against him in the legal proceedings to follow. ) The deputies sealed up the refrigerators with tape to mark them as evidence.

The raid team took product samples for chemical and biological laboratory analysis. The raid team also went to the large dairy tank of fresh, farm certified organic wholesome milk and intentionally contaminated it. They dropped a blue dye in it such that it turns all the milk blue. It is not saleable or drinkable. He cannot use it as valuable fertilizer as it is not an approved input—it may contain toxic compounds also.

After they left, Vernon and about two dozen friends, families and customers who arrived in ten cars during the six hour raid—BROKE THE SEALS (another criminal offence)—so that they could get to their milk, cream, butter, ice cream, yogurt and other products—that they produced and owned and needed so that their families can live and is required to maintain robust health and energy.

I asked Vernon if it would be OK to report his crime in the Journal for all to see: that he defied the orders of the State by BREAKING THE SEALS of state evidence—so that they could get to their food needed to live. “No problem, go right ahead and tell”, he told me. “We have no other choice but to break the seals and take our food”.

The raid team also demanded computers and customer lists and business records. Between the time the health department showed up and when the deputies came with the warrant to search and seize, Vernon and his family took the computer drive and records and hid them in an undisclosed off-site location. I made doubly sure it would be OK to report this here and to the DATCP and county officials who will be reading this—and Vernon said it would be OK to report this. (It is as if it is an invitation to the State to come and play hide and seek. The customer and supplier lists are then used to interrogate and request surveys of them as to further widen the witch hunt—as in Minnesota).

Vernon also had two statements to make for the Journal. He said

“It is time for the government to recognize the right to private property and respect the right to contract with private individuals.”

I asked Vernon what message he would like to leave Journal readers about farm and food freedom and the severe penalties he is facing with the charges pending from the court.

“We must all remember, united we stand, divided we fall—we must stand together unified to demonstrate that individuals have the right to choose the foods to eat they deem healthy and they have the right to contract privately with whomever they wish”.

There will be more video taken by customers at the scene posted with this one:

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A fundraiser is being set up on behalf of Vernon Hershberger and Grazin’ Acres farms and their customers for the mounting legal and related expenses to defend themselves. The fundraiser will be sponsored by the ARMi.

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Here are links to the stories:

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GREAT VIDEO OF VERNONS STORE with story

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_e5ded8ea-6f27-11df-906f-001cc4c002e0.html

According to Rosanne Lindsay, of Wisconsin ARMi:

“Two of us went to the farm today, early, and collected our orders. From what I’ve been told, its business as usual, so go and continue to support the Hershbergers and other local farmers before rogue state agencies usurp our rights to contract under the Bill of Rights.”

The woman responsible for the raid on Vernon Hershberger’s farm can be reached at

this work number (608) 224-4734 ,

this email address: jacqueline.owens@datcp.state.wi.us. ,

or this address: 2811 Agriculture Drive. Madison, WI 53718

Her full name and title is Jacqueline Owens, R.S. Field Services Director Bureau of Food Safety & Inspection.

All readers are urged to join the ARMi (Alliance for Raw Milk Internationale) with units in every state. There are close to 1000 members of the Wisconsin ARMi– their Facebook page is buzzing over the news.

In their mission to control food and agriculture to make it safe, the Wisconsin  Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is causing healthy farm fresh food to be withheld and unavailable to people who need it to maintain and restore their health. They have been doing that all over Wisconsin by raids and legal actions; and the trend is growing in many other states.

In effect, those who hold the beliefs that we are to work and produce of our chosen vocation and calling so as to be able to provide to others that have need, are prevented from doing such under any circumstances, without the permission of the State.

I met Vernon in March in Madison WI at the Raw Milk Symposium and I really enjoyed talking to him. I am waiting for his return phone call now. — Augie

ARMi/4-F FUNDRAISER IS  NOW READY FOR YOU TO DONATE SOMETHING!

FACEBOOKERS ONLY– The Hershberger Family Farm Food Freedom (4-F) Fund

  

Short link to this story for your use on Twitter etc http://wp.me/phmll-12W

SEE todays Journal story on Missouri Raw Milk Sting https://wholefoodusa.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/a-raw-milk-deal-farm-family-face-180-days-jail-and-could-lose-the-farm/