(PHOTO: Wacky Judge Guy Reynolds tells raw milk farmer Vernon Hershberger's jury -- "You must base your verdict on the law I give you.")

(May 25, 2013) Hershberger Verdict In After Judge Orders Jury
NOT to Vote With Conscience

Into the wee hours of last night, after about 16 hours of deliberating, the Baraboo, Wisconsin court decided not to wait until Tuesday for a verdict.

Four criminal misdemeanor charges are aimed at Vernon Hershberger for providing fresh food to his community through a contractual agreement with members. Paraphrased by Derrick J Freeman the "crimes" include:

* distributing milk from his "Grazin' Acres" dairy farm without a milk producers license,

* operating a retail food establishment without a state license,

* operating a dairy plant without a state license, and

* violating a 'hold order' placed on his dairy products after the state raided his farm.

Prosecution (State) tried to drive home the twisted view that Vernon's family and barn was a "retail operation," instead of the membership agreement where the members (who are owners) thereof put in a lot of the hard work there, like a co-op.