Faith and Farming

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– but it is an example of how

we try to apply Catholic principles of giving to and caring for others. Compared to store products, the

raw milk is very expensive. But it has benefits that we know families need and so we try to provide that

opportunity to as many as we can. In this way we also bring our human element into this – we are not a

grocery store – in fact if you ask my wife she would say that grocery stores should not exist – in times

past – the butcher, baker, farmer with the produce or fruit knew those who regularly bought from him.

They were part of the same community – so too have we tried to make our own community of

shareholders – we want this to be a product that is accessible to those who want it not just those who

can afford it.

In our small way we are an example of a way of life. This way of life was prevalent for whole countries for thousands of years. Without farms, the world, collectively, would have no food. Here in America we rely on cheap food. It is our right to have cheap food - no matter who or what has to suffer to obtain it. And much does. Knowing the people who grow the food is important; the theory here is this: if you trust the grower, you will trust the food.

How many of you actually know one of the producers of the food that you rely on to feed your families?? Wait for the answer>>>>show of hands>>>>>>

A common misconception with many people today is the belief that food comes from the

’produce section’ ’dairy section’ or the ’freezer section’ or my personal favorite – “the meat

section” of the nearest grocery store, and whatever it is - it’s ’not’ supposed to have dirt on it.

While this is partly true, what they don’t, or may not realize is that the food must come from

somewhere to be at the grocery store. There was an actual article recently on a news site on the

internet where a statement was made that animals did not have to die because more people need

to get their meat from the grocery store. So many people are so far removed from the farm that

they don’t realize that lettuce, celery, cabbage and other vegetables are actually grown in dirt. Or

that meat comes from animals – bacon, sausage – all of it is so antiseptically packaged. I have

heard grown men say that they will never drink raw milk because it comes from the udder of a

cow – but then they put cream in their coffee or have a glass of milk and a cookie…..I wonder

where that stuff comes from because it does not resemble real milk at all…..! Probably

one of the most highly publicized highly controversial topics is dairy. Is raw milk really bad for

you or is it really ok to drink? Since most of the dairies here in the USA are commercial dairies,

the milk is pasteurized and homogenized at large factories, bottled, and sold in grocery

stores. We as a society are used to this and for the most part even farmers no longer drink their

own milk and instead buy it from the grocery store. People are afraid – we have been made to be

afraid – There was a recent case in Wisconsin about a farmer selling raw milk to his consumer

base which in Wisconsin is illegal. After his trial for breaking the law for selling raw milk, a

Wisconsin dairy official made this astonishing comment

Quote

" Many mainstream dairies and public-health officials have long warned of raw milk’s health concerns and see that, as well as its potential to steal away market share, as threats to the industry.

What ??? Really???

"It’s impossible to make an unsafe product safe," said Shawn Pfaff, spokesman for the Wisconsin Safe Milk Coalition, an industry lobbying group opposed to raw-milk sales. "We strongly urge lawmakers to keep it illegal to sell raw milk in Wisconsin to protect the state’s $27 billion dairy industry and the public health of its residents." End quote

Who understood the importance of how he phrased the last comment – they need to protect

Wisconsins 27 billion dollar industry and oh yeah the public health too…. Who really believes

that a few small farms with less than 20 – or 10 cows will hurt a 27 billion dollar industry???

Wisconsin is Americas Dairyland – but shouldn’t people have the right to choose –

I remember reading another article a few years ago – the journalist was obviously misinformed as he stated that raw milk couldn’t be good for you because among other things there wasn’t any Vita D in it which is why it is added to milk at the creamery. I wish that I could have let him know that Vita D is a heat sensitive vitamin as are many of the other benefits of raw milk – like vita C, A and beneficial enzymes, and they are destroyed in the heating process and have to be added back in -

- Over the course of the last

120 years or so, people have gotten away from purchasing raw milk directly from farms, or the

milk-man, who all but disappeared from the scene in the 1960s. Here in Virginia, Loudoun and

Fauquier Counties have a history that is steeped in dairy farming. “Loudoun County was one of

the leading dairy farming industries in the country for most of the 20th Century.” In the late

1950’s, Loudoun County had 259 dairy farms, averaging 200 acres in size, with approximately

40 cows each. Unfortunately, with farmers

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