SAUK COUNTY, Wis. (WTAQ) - State and local authorities tried twice Thursday morning to search a Sauk County farm whose owner defied a state order last week to stop selling raw milk products. But they were turned away both times.
And state agriculture spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner says his agency is now consulting with law enforcement on what to do next at Vernon Hershberger’s farm store near Loganville. Those who own dairy cows are allowed to drink their raw milk. And Hershberger says he has created a “members only” store in which customers pay fees to lease his dairy animals, thus making them the cows’ owners.
But state officials say Hershberger still runs afoul of the law by not having a dairy license or a retail food license. He didn’t renew those licenses earlier this year, saying he wanted to end the government’s ties to his operation.
The agriculture department has stepped up its enforcement of the state’s prohibitions on raw milk, after Governor Jim Doyle vetoed a bill last month to allow raw milk sales.
