Raw milk supporters speak out

Despite objections inside and outside the courtroom, an Amish
raw milk farmer was fingerprinted, photographed and booked
Wednesday in the basement of the Sauk County Courthouse in
Baraboo.

A crowd of supporters rallied outside the building just before
Loganville dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger appeared in court to
face charges filed last month by the state Department of
Justice.

“It’s not like raw milk is being forced on me,” said Deb Jacobs,
who lives east of Madison and leases a portion of a cow that
Hershberger cares for on his farm. “I seek it out. I’ve done the
research.”

Jacobs was one of about 50 people who gathered in front of the
courthouse entrance and drank from a cooler of raw milk in defiance
of the corporate food system.

State regulators have warned of health risks associated with the
consumption of unpasteurized dairy products.

DOJ prosecutors allege Hershberger operated an unlicensed retail
food establishment, and that he produced and processed dairy
products without state licenses. He also is charged with violating
a hold order that state inspectors placed on his products after
they raided his farm in June 2010. Hershberger openly violated the
hold order following the raid.

The maximum penalties for all charges total to $13,000 in fines or
2 1/2 years in jail.

Just before he headed inside the courthouse, Hershberger spoke to
the crowd with a megaphone and sang a hymn with his family.

“It doesn’t really matter what happens here today because we
already have won,” Hershberger said. “If people lived and obeyed
God’s law (in biblical times), they were free. If they disobeyed
God’s law, they were slaves.”

The raid on Hershberger’s farm occurred weeks after then-Gov. Jim
Doyle vetoed a bill that would have allowed limited sales of raw
milk in Wisconsin. Despite the timing, state officials said the
case had nothing to do with the debate over raw milk.

Hershberger did not renew his Grade B dairy license and was
operating a retail food establishment without a license, state
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection officials
said.

After the raid, Hershberger established a new system in which
groups of people lease the animals he cares for on his farm. The
leaseholders consume products only from the animals they own,
Hershberger says.

Hershberger claims the new system exempts him from state licensing
requirements. However, the criminal case against him is not likely
to test that claim because the charges allege criminal behavior
took place during time periods before the lease agreements were
established.

Inside the courtroom, Assistant Attorney General Eric Defort asked
the judge to place Hershberger on a signature bond. He requested
that conditions of bond prohibit Hershberger and others on his farm
from processing or selling food without the proper licenses.

“Since 2007, Mr. Hershberger has been advised of his requirement to
have a certified license,” Defort said, adding that Hershberger has
consistently refused to comply with state regulators.

He also asked that Hershberger be booked.

“I object, your honor,” said Hershberger, who appeared without an
attorney. “There is no proof of criminal acts against me.”

Sauk County Circuit Court Judge James Evenson ordered that
Hershberger be placed on a $500 signature bond, which included the
provisions requested by the prosecution. He scheduled Hershberger
for a pretrial conference with prosecutors Jan. 30 and a return
court appearance Feb. 13.

Send email to [email protected].

Vegetarian, Raw milk and Vegan with Bill & Sheila
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