I didn’t think this kind of thing happened anymore.
I got the first phone call two weeks ago from a local reader. She told me there was a pasture-based farmer like me in the next county over who was being brought up on misdemeanor charges for animal abuse.
I thought it was a hoax.
Then I got another email, and then a text message, a few FaceBook messages, and then a few more emails and phone calls.
That’s when I became more acquainted with Joshua Rockwood’s family farm, West Wind Acres.
I began investigating and researching further, and learned that Mr. Rockwood was being brought up on scads of charges that just about any small family farmer could have faced in any given winter, including:
water buckets that had frozen over between chore times –he was accused of not providing them water, even though his animals passed hydration tests
Pigs that were out in the open air -He was accused of not having them confined in housing in winter, because the free-ranging pastured pigs had chosen to be outside their shelters on the day the authorities visited, and one of them had a touch of frost bite on one ear
The dogs and sheep were confined together in an unheated barn – Ummm…seriously? They were merimma GUARD dogs, bred for that job. They have thick coats, and they are typically raised with sheep. And who has a heated barn and as for the sheep…what about WOOL?
There were feces in the sheep’s water – Yes, they do that from time to time. That’s why we dump out the buckets between feedings.
Animals didn’t have food – The authorities showed up between chore times and the animals had hay and were in good condition
An aging horse, adopted from a neighbor who was no longer able to care for it, that was under weight –A common condition of pituitary deficiency in old horses renders it nearly impossible to keep weight on them
– And pony and draft horses with chipped hooves in March – As my friend Dr. Cynthia Shelley, animal science professor at SUNY Cobleskill observed after visiting the farm, “NO ONE who owns draft horses, especially those that live barefoot, has good looking feet in March. It’s like March before bikini season!”
– There had been attempts at fining him for his manure compost, but none had successfully been filed yet.
Joshua Rockwood’s crimes are simply a farmer’s daily travails in winter.
When I first began researching agricultural sustainability as a graduate student in the late nineties, I would hear stories like this, about farmers who were working on the suburban and urban fringe who would be erroneously accused of mistreating livestock by well-meaning citizens with no roots in farming. But I hadn’t heard of any cases like this in years. I thought the broader public finally understood what real, sustainable farms look like when animals were given the opportunity to express their true nature. I thought this problem was behind us.
The more I looked into matters, the more concerned I became. These charges were not based on a sound understanding of agriculture. They were predicated on ignorance of the simple realities of farming. If Mr. Rockwood could be brought to court on those charges, so could thousands upon thousands of other farmers across the country who have joined the movement for sustainable farming.
I called my friend Troy Bishopp, a farmer and grazing expert who lives out in Madison County. I wrangled my dad, another animal scientist. We needed to go to that pre-trial hearing. The judge needed to see the whites of our eyes, I felt, to understand that not only were these charges deeply misguided, but that his decision on Mr. Rockwood’s case had broad implications. It impacted all of us who farm. It impacted the entire local food movement. It impacted our food sovereignty, our right to nutritious food produced using ecologically responsible practices.
Saoirse wanted to come with me. I used to make her stay home when I went out to raise my voice in protest. I wanted her to choose her causes freely when she felt ready. But she was ready for this one. “They can’t do this to us,” she explained to me, justifying her choice to accompany me. “They can’t do this to Joshua. Or to his family.” So she came along, too.
The car was full with four of us who simply wanted to stand with Joshua Rockwood and his family. I wondered if there would be more of us.
As we drove out, my mind fluttered with memories of my early graduate school research. We farmers have a history of organizing and helping each other out dating from the Revolutionary War and the Anti-Rent Wars here in New York. But we lost that part of our culture after World War II, once agriculture became more industrialized.
Farmers in the 1990s faced troubles such as these in isolation. I remembered my initial findings – that morale in farming communities had deteriorated so much in the wake of industrialization, followed by the farm crisis of the 1980s, that farmers didn’t work together any longer. In my interviews and focus groups, they cut each other down, denigrated one another’s practices, or refused to even speak to each other. “We’re just a bunch of vultures waiting for the next one to die so we can feast on his carion,” one farmer confessed to me. I recalled stories of the non-farming communities offering little support, drivers flipping the bird at farmers holding up road traffic with tractors, official complaints being filed for nuisance noise and manure smells. In those days, a farmer was alone with his troubles. Depression, divorce and suicide were all main stage players.
The accusations being leveled at West Wind Acres are outdated, reminiscent of the agricultural illiteracy that was rampant in this country 15 or 20 years ago that led to so many troubles. But the response to those accusations was totally modern.
We pulled into the courthouse parking lot and had trouble finding a place to leave the car. There were three television stations, several reporters, and about 250 farmers, neighbors and local food advocates standing in line, waiting to go through the metal detectors to witness the hearing. They were cornering the media with their concerns, flying flags, talking about their own frozen water buckets, their own happy pastured pigs, their foundering horses, their own ongoing efforts to keep up with the health and welfare of their livestock. They were talking about their right to local food, the importance of grassfed and pastured meats for their families, the ecological and humanitarian significance of small pasture-based farms. Online, farmers and local foodies across the nation have been contributing to West Wind Acres’ GoFundMe campaign to help cover their legal expenses and incidental costs.
I was angry at the charges being leveled in the court. But my heart welled with joy at what I witnessed outside. Unlike the farmers of the 1980s and 1990s, the Rockwood family is not alone. They are surrounded by neighbors, by community, by peers, and by a nation of farmers and local food advocates. We have remembered our past. We are once again standing together.
These misunderstandings and skirmishes still happen. But the power of small farmers has deepened. We are no longer willing to hide from the public eye. We know that what we do matters. We know we have to look out for each other. And now, thanks to the local food movement, we have customers rooted in our communities who value our work as well, who will fiercely defend our right to care for our animals and grow their food.
The battle is far from over. Joshua Rockwood’s trial is set for April 21st. We will be there for him. Our future depends on it.
Excellent reporting. And very encouraging — thank you!
Last evening, a group of women farmers (PA –WAGn) met to discuss the value-added enterprises on their farming operations. When Cath attends these meetings, the event always fires her creative, inter- farmer and these often transferable “other-farmer” experiences result in some positive change in our methods. Farmers talking with farmers about farming, beyond the casual,has become a necessary part of successful small farming.
very interesting
I’m one of the summer people in the catskills
and we live in laos
agriculture in laos is different and so is the culture
so we know nothing about the very important issues
that are playing out in this situation
shame on us
we will pay more attention
and thanks to you for sharing this info
who or what brought these charges against this farm family?
who defines “criminal negligence”?
Animal abuse!? Have these inspectors ever visit a factory farm?? Animals outside are so much happier and healthier than those who never even see the light of day.
My FAF (favorite Amish farmer), from whom we get delicious raw milk, is having a harder and harder time keeping the permit on his farm due to the Board of “Health” inspectors.
We go to great lengths to obtain wonderful and truly health-building foods from an array of local farmers, and are glad to help support them and their families. Thanks to them I very rarely have to step foot inside a grocery store. Time to make a contribution to GoFundMe…
Exactly what I was thinking… why aren’t they fining, and closing down factory farms. Of course we all know why…
Thanks for the accurate and concise update!
Love your writing and your passion, this is what America and Americans are about, when the times are tough the tough get going, but in this journey with lots of love and support. We as a family love our nation, community, God and humanity in general we stand for what is right and feel energized when others share an issue and go forward together to keep our nation what it was meant to be, good, strong, full of life of the body, mind and soul. May nothing get in our way. Please know we will be prayng on this as well as the issues of organic and home-schooling and valuing all forms or life, please remember our local representatives who will speak up and out especially when they see their constituents rally for a good thing such as this. God will bless you all and your supporters as all good things belong to God and he loves us all, if you ever feel tired just lean on Him, and all that He sends you. No matter what happens it is the entire journey, and maybe keep ths in mind as we as humans try hard to love what is good and each other in support for the good and what should be loved:
Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward. – Thomas Merton
We will forward this story to all whom we know and all our prayer lines, I will offer up all that I do with love for the blessings so needed this day and everyday.-
Great write up; it should be in the New York Times or Washington Post. As I have left my rural roots in more recent history I am constantly surprised by the ignorance of the typical urban or suburban person. Their hearts are in the right places, but their understanding of the “real world” in regards to farming leaves much to be desired. This would include everything from animal care to varmint control. Thanks for continuing to educate!
Yes. I was there in the 1980’s for farmer rallies, crossing the country to support farmers being swept away. The public turned their backs to the farmers. Until at least the late 1990’s, key urban media editorialized for ever cheaper food.
As NY dairy farmers fought to stabilize milk prices with the Dairy Compact, NYC food groups banded together to break it up calling for cheaper milk. These days, we dairy on, listening to Dannon Stonyfield tell the public we are no damn good, while hauling cheaper milk in from California. Farmers, there are so few of us left. We are in this together.
Shannon, thank you for your vitally important coverage of this issue…local farming communities are so lucky to have your persuasive voice! <3
Folks, this came to me privately from another reader. It is heart breaking, but I think we need to be aware that these things go on more often than we realize:
I’m glad he has people to stand with him, a year ago we had no one, similar situation. They dragged the whole issue out, we ended up loosing the kids goats and heifers paying almost a $1000 in “vet costs”. This has also pacted us trying to get our 24 head of Dairy Cows that are being held by a farmed that had agreeded to care for them after we had to sell the farm. In the end we are out thousands of dollars, everyone thinks we are guilty even though charges are dropped and no one to stand with us, all against us. I hope with the help of friends he is able to win
Thank you for your support. I am Joshua’s down the road neighbor and fellow small farmer (I micro farm our less than an acre). His farm is a joy and blessing to the area. I was thrilled when the animals started appearing. I was joyous when I recognized pasture rotation farming practices. I was gloriously envious of the environment and care these animals receive….a way of farming I can’t quite do on less than an acre. I hope and pray he is cleared of all charges and comes back stronger than ever. His celebrity doesn’t make him a hero, his grit, heart, and soul do. Beyond just farming, he is being revealed as a humble gentleman, amazing husband and father, and a neighbor any of us would count ourselves blessed to have.
I became aware of this story through my cousin living in NY. I was raised in Waterville and went school with Troy Bishopp. I now live in SC. I love to see the support for Joshua and his farm. Although my farming days are long past the open spaces and lifestyle never leave your blood! Keep up wonderful support of Joshua and all farmers.
I find it hard to accept that this could be happening out of simple ignorance. It’s tempting to wonder if there are ulterior motives. Somebody had to file a complaint for the police to show up. Perhaps someone has intents on his land. Though there’s no shortage of arrogant ignorance, so maybe that’s all it is.
I’m saddened to see this family and their livelihood challenged in the courts. It’s a travesty to all who grow food for a living. It also worries me to hear denigration of larger farms, using the popular “factory farm” phrase as a derogatory term. The blog stresses the need to stand together as farmers. Respect for all farmers, among all farmers, is the first step to achieving a unified force of “food growers”! Ours could be called a factory farm by some definitions, but it is 99% managed and manned by 3 generations of family and has been in existence on the same land since 1855…..An example of Sustainability in the truest form.
I’m with you Deanna. My family has been fortunate and successful and now have a large farm. BUT WE HAVENT FORGOTTEN OUR ROOTS! We stand behind Joshua just like the rest of the farmers. Large intensive farming can be done well and produce much food while maximizing productivity and treating our animals well. It looks different from Joshua’s farm and I realize that. It doesn’t mean I think less of what he is doing. Our animals all depend on us for daily sustenance and if they suffer, we suffer.
I think there is much misunderstanding by those who throw the Factory Farm term around. If they would just talk to us maybe they could understand.
I don’t know this farmer but have friends & business associates who do & it’s heartbreaking to follow. My heart breaks most of all for the animals who have been displaced from their home…and wonder at the character of those who will profit from boarding them, those who know the obvious difference between healthy & abused or neglected animals. Shame on them and the authorities for allowing it to go this far. What happened to simple, compassionate warnings?
You neglected to mention that he was given a chance to correct the deficiencies yet instead tried to make himself a martyr. Do some real research and you will see he is not so innocent as he claims. I have no sympathies for him
Thank you for your concerns about the deficiencies in my research. We had two animal scientists and a grazing specialist review the practices and the recurring claims, and Mr. Rockwood in no way hid the history of the problems. His practices were found to be consistent with the same struggles that every farmer faces in the course of a hard winter.