We are dairy producers, farmers and consumers committed to changing the law in Wisconsin that prohibits consumers from having the freedom to choose the raw milk products that they want for their families.
We are people who care about what we eat.
A Recent History of the Raw Milk Battle in Wisconsin
When this group began, we didn't have an official name; just an online chat group to help busy producers come together and support one another. Shortly thereafter, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection [DATCP] began a calculated and strategic shut down of dairy farmers across the state. Their offense? Working within the present law system to legally sell fresh, unprocessed milk to the consumers who were asking for it. The DATCP quietly amended such laws to their own interpretations and were clear to hunt down and threaten any farmer not selling milk to a pasteurization plant. They even targeted small dairies with fewer than ten cows that did not sell commercially. This group of concerned dairymen and women and consumers alike banded together and hired a lobbyist to help them draft a bill for the waning legislative session of 2010. Several farmers' very livelihood depended on a bill passing. We knew that we couldn't beat DATCP's interpretation of the law, but we could change the law itself.
With more grassroots support and media coverage than anyone expected, the fresh dairy producers stormed the legislative scene, flooding representatives with phone calls, letters and emails from the very people who thrived off the milk they sold. In March, a double hearing was held for the bill. Both the Senate and Assembly committees assigned to the bill would meet together in order to accomplish what would be a historic event. Over 700 people from all over the state came to Eau Claire's technical college that day to physically show support and many voice their opinions. One farmer was able to find about 800 white hats and write "Freedom" on one side, "Raw Milk" on the other. At the entrance to the hearing, anyone in support of the bill would take and wear that hat. Not everyone who supported the bill consented to wear the hat, but most did. The room was filled with white hats and long before the hearing began, there were no more room. The college had to open up "overflow" rooms as classes got out and soon both overflow rooms were maxed out. Supporters lined the hallways, gutted the stairwells and dined from brown bags in the cafeteria. The hearing began at 8am. By 2pm, the auditorium had not cleared at all.
Josh Tolley interviews one of the WRMA consumer members on GCN Live.
With your help the WRMA can lead the way to food freedom.
Above, you can see the auditorium filled to the brim with folks spilling out to the sides and in the isles. The legislators are in the front, setting up for a long day of hearing both sides of the issue.
Close up of the Freedom hat worn by hundreds.
Opponents for the bill were grilled heavily by the legislators who never had a flippant question or comment. Supporters were likewise grilled as needed, but many just wanted to share what raw milk has done for them. Some of our own group were able to speak with clear sincerity and conviction, talking about the prosperity of their farm and the fact that they were within inches of losing it due to the heavy-handed nature of the current government policies. Patrons of these farmers were able to speak on behalf of hundreds who didn't make it that day.
Above, one couple speaks on behalf of their fledgling dairy and the customers they'd grown to know and love.
By the end of the hearing, nearly 70 people were able to speak out for the bill and a few stayed til the very end...9pm that night! The hearing made all the local news stations and papers from around the country told of the enormous grassroots showing in favor of food freedom.
The next month saw a flurry of activity as we awaited the votes in both the Assembly and the Senate. There was a majority of votes in favor of the bill: 25-8 in Senate and 60-35 in Assembly! Now all we had to do was wait for the governor to sign this bill into law and dairies across the state would be saved from bankruptcy and consumers would be able to have their personal choice of food once again.
There wasn't a lot of word about the bill for about a month, until it became clear that Governor Doyle was waffling in his previous statement that he would sign a reasonable bill into law. He waited until the very last day he could sign and decided to veto it instead. Months of hard work by hundreds and even thousands: killed by one person's stroke of a pen.
Some farmers lost their farm. Some people lost their source of life-giving milk. But all of us are ready to fight once again to have our personal freedom endorsed by our state government.
Who are we, you ask?
Nothing but the finest folks from Wisconsin only wishing to have their right to food choice recognized by law, in order to stop harassment from DATCP and other government regulators. Let this be the Dairy State in its purest form. Help Wisconsin lead the way in the food revolution!
By the end of the hearing, nearly 70 people were able to speak out for the bill and a few stayed til the very end...9pm that night! The hearing made all the local news stations and papers from around the country told of the enormous grassroots showing in favor of food freedom.
The next month saw a flurry of activity as we awaited the votes in both the Assembly and the Senate. There was a majority of votes in favor of the bill: 25-8 in Senate and 60-35 in Assembly! Now all we had to do was wait for the governor to sign this bill into law and dairies across the state would be saved from bankruptcy and consumers would be able to have their personal choice of food once again.
There wasn't a lot of word about the bill for about a month, until it became clear that Governor Doyle was waffling in his previous statement that he would sign a reasonable bill into law. He waited until the very last day he could sign and decided to veto it instead. Months of hard work by hundreds and even thousands: killed by one person's stroke of a pen.
Some farmers lost their farm. Some people lost their source of life-giving milk. But all of us are ready to fight once again to have our personal freedom endorsed by our state government.
Who are we, you ask?
Nothing but the finest folks from Wisconsin only wishing to have their right to food choice recognized by law, in order to stop harassment from DATCP and other government regulators. Let this be the Dairy State in its purest form. Help Wisconsin lead the way in the food revolution!
